CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

From breaking ground to hosting presidents and setting world records, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center's 20-year journey is a testament to its community impact. We thank you for celebrating with us, and look forward to hosting you in the future.

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Take a step back in time

In 2004...

In September 2004, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center opened its doors, sparking a new era for Columbia, South Carolina.

By 5 years...

The convention center had already made its mark by January 28, 2008, with the opportunity to host President Barack Obama as its first presidential visitor. Just one year later, in September 2009, it celebrated its 5th anniversary after hosting 1,940 events and welcoming over 813,000 guests.

By 10 years...

The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center became a place of remembrance in September 2011, with the dedication of its 9/11 Memorial and annual 9/11 ceremonies, bringing the community together in reflection. Several years later, in February 2014, it set a Guinness World Record for the most bow ties tied simultaneously – 823 in all! That September, it marked its 10th anniversary, having hosted 4,275 events with nearly 1.8 million attendees.

By 15 years...

In May 2018, the convention center expanded with new spaces like the Lincoln and Senate Rooms, just in time for President Joe Biden’s visit in June 2019. By its 15th anniversary in September 2019, downtown Columbia had grown too, with 13 hotels and nearly 1,900 room, and the event tally had reached 6,635, with over 3.1 million guests.

Now celebrating 20 years...

The pandemic brought challenges in 2020, but the convention center was among the first venues to reopen in June, leading the way with new health protocols that set a standard nationwide. Now, in September 2024, it is celebrating 20 incredible years. With over 8,000 events and nearly 3.92 million guests welcomed, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center has grown alongside Columbia, becoming a true source of bringing people together.

OnThe Record

“ The Columbia Convention Center has been a tremendous economic engine. It's been a source of pride, and it's something now that's part of our fabric… Children, grandchildren will be going to and benefiting from the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center for decades to come. ”

- Bob Coble, former Mayor of the City of Columbia

“ I think what it's done is it helped expose people to who Columbia really is. And I think it's a great thing that's helped bring us the restaurants and retail and get the hotels here that we needed. This was the anchor for the area. ”

- Daniel Rickenmann, Mayor of the City of Columbia

“ We have a lot of repeat clients. Once they experience the hospitality within our facility as well as our food and the quality of the amenities here, they do return year after year after year. We've had some clients with us all 20 years the building's been in existence. ”

- Cheryl Swanson, GM and VP of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

“ We have thousands of residents that have passed through this building to attend the events and those events have generated fond memories for those people, so they have a personal attachment to our building, and I think that's something we're very proud of – that we have a lot of community pride in the building and that it's touched their lives. ”

- Bill Ellen, CEO and President of Experience Columbia SC

“ I cannot say enough positive things about the staff and how we've worked together to create that environment as our event has grown to the size that it has grown. ”

- Donald Brock Jr., Co-Founder of Soda City Comic Con

“ I thank you all for allowing us to be able to continue to come here because it's been a great 20 years, and we look for it to be 20 years longer. ”

- Barry A. Watson, South Carolina Funeral Director Association President