The 500,000-square-foot Raleigh Convention Center re-opened during the week of January 12 following repairs from a fire that broke out on December 1.
Last month’s fire, which harmed no one but did cause some December cancellations of local events, originated in an HVAC unit on the roof.
“We’re so thrilled to have guests back in our building and thankful for all the planners who we’ve gotten to work with this past month to make sure their [January] events can still happen,” said Kerry Painter, executive director of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, in a press release.
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In its first week of operation since the disaster struck, the convention center was able to host the following events: Prometheus Group’s Sales Kickoff, the CHG Roadshow, Smartsheet user group and City of Oaks Challenge Volleyball tournament. Reopening in the second week of January helped the convention center retain $4 million in revenue and 28,000 hotel room nights.
“City of Oaks Volleyball was also our first large scale event following the COVID-19 pandemic, so to have them in right now after this is special. They’ve been part of several great comebacks with us,” Painter said.
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The center’s kitchen is still in need of repairs. To assist with catering and F&B for the time being, a temporary, mobile kitchen was constructed at nearby Red Hat Amphitheatre. The construction lasted five days, concluding on January 11. The main kitchen’s repairs will be completed so that the temporary one will be closed by the start of the amphitheater’s concert season in April.
Painter said the mobile kitchen has been set up and utilized in the past for some of the city’s larger events, like Formula One racing.
“We know how crucial these events are not only to us and our clients, but also to our partners at hotels and restaurants here in downtown Raleigh as well,” she said. “Our team, other city departments, and our contractors have worked day and night for the last month to get here, and it’s incredible to see where we were on December 1 and where we are today.”
