SAVANNAH, Ga. — The newly expanded Savannah Convention Center held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on April 30, 2025, with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in attendance.
Rising Through the Ranks
The $276-million expansion doubled the complex’s total size, bringing it to 660,000 square feet, and exhibit space, bringing it to 200,000 square feet. It includes 15 meeting rooms, a boardroom (raising its total to five), a 900-space parking garage and a 40,000-square-foot Governor’s Ballroom with panoramic views.
Based on data from Trade Show Executive’s (TSE) 2024 World’s Top Convention Centers report, this raises the facility from the position of 160th largest in the U.S. — in terms of prime exhibit space — to the position of 75th, tied with Duke Energy Convention Center, The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas, Gillette Stadium, Oklahoma City Convention Center and the Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
“The increase in exhibit space from 100,000 to 200,000 square feet has allowed some of our long-standing customers, like the Savannah Boat Show, to expand their footprint and grow their show,” Kelvin Moore, Senior Vice President & General Manager of the Savannah Convention Center, said. “It has also made us a more attractive option for other pure trade shows that may not have considered Savannah as a viable option in the past. By doubling our size, we can host larger and more-simultaneous events which enhances our ability to drive even more economic impact to the region and the state.”
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The expansion also added features aimed to meet the needs of current and evolving organizers and attendees, such as Zoom Rooms, huddle spaces, pre-function spaces with public furniture options that have plug-and-play capabilities, and three Savannah-themed dining options: The Hangar, a restaurant near the venue’s new 22,000-pound hangar door, Savannah Bean at the Brick, a coffee concept, and The Port, a wine bar.
Also, the project introduced a frictionless, pay-by-phone parking system and the venue’s team is in the process of complementing the expanded space with a new digital signage network.
“The new exhibit hall and Governor’s Ballroom have all of the latest and greatest lighting and technology capabilities,” Joseph Marinelli, President and CEO of Visit Savannah, said. “This makes the SCC and Savannah an attractive option because those items help to save dollars for our customers in terms of lighting, Wi-Fi [and] high-speed connectivity. Saving dollars helps to make any trade show or convention more beneficial to the organization’s bottom line.”
Looking Ahead
“We have been marketing and promoting the expanded space since the fall of 2020, so we have developed a substantial list of future prospects that are interested in seriously looking at bringing their business to Savannah,” Marinelli said. “We already have over 100 definite bookings on the books in the new and expanded space.”
Moore shared that the next step for Savannah is a new headquarter hotel that will be connected to the convention center.
“We’re just getting started,” Moore added. “It is a great time to be in Savannah and an even better time to bring your events to Savannah!”
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