The Venetian Expo (also known as the Venetian Convention and Expo Center) is a
convention center
A convention center (American and British English spelling differences, American English; or conference centre in British English) is a large building that is designed to hold a Convention (meeting), convention, where individuals and groups ...
located in
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an Unincorporated towns in Nevada, unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the city of Las Vegas. It was formed on December 8, 1950. Its population was 191,238 at the ...
, near the
Las Vegas Strip. It is part of the
Venetian and
Palazzo resort complex, owned by
Vici Properties and operated by
Apollo Global Management.
The convention facility was developed by
Las Vegas Sands and opened as the Sands Expo on November 9, 1990. It was built as part of the
Sands Hotel, since replaced by the Venetian. The Sands Expo was renamed the Venetian Expo in 2021, while Vici and Apollo were in the process of purchasing it. The facility is frequently used for
conventions booked at the Venetian and Palazzo. It is also used as overflow space for conventions that outgrow the
Las Vegas Convention Center.
History
In October 1989, the
Sands Hotel received county approval for a convention center with approximately 1.1-million-square-foot, rivaling the
Las Vegas Convention Center. The new facility was developed by
Las Vegas Sands, owner of the Sands Hotel.
Groundbreaking took place on November 12, 1989. The Sands Expo, located behind the hotel, opened on November 9, 1990. The
COMDEX computer trade show was the first event held in the space. At its launch, it was the only privately owned and operated convention center in the United States, and was the second largest convention center in the world.
The Sands Hotel closed in 1996, and the
Venetian resort opened in its place three years later. Since then, the Sands Expo has helped popularize Las Vegas as a convention city. An expansion was completed in 2003, and a $35 million renovation took place 10 years later, adding new carpeting, lighting and motion sensors as part of environmental efforts.
The convention center has .
[ Notable events have included the ]Consumer Electronics Show
CES (; formerly an initialism for Consumer Electronics Show) is an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Held in January at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Winchester, Nevada, United States, the event typi ...
, the Adult Entertainment Expo, and the Global Gaming Expo. In 2020, the 12th season of '' Shark Tank'' was filmed at the convention center.
In 2021, Las Vegas Sands announced that it would sell the Venetian-Palazzo complex, including the Sands Expo, to Vici Properties and Apollo Global Management. Under the deal, Vici owns the real estate while Apollo purchased the operations for the three facilities. Las Vegas Sands renamed the convention center as the Venetian Expo in September 2021, while still in the process of selling the facility.
References
External links
Official website
{{Las Vegas Sands Corporation
Convention centers in the Las Vegas Valley
Buildings and structures in Paradise, Nevada
Event venues established in 1990
1990 establishments in Nevada
Convention centers in Nevada