900 Barton Springs Rd · 70,000 Sq. Ft. Column-Free · $0 Outside-AV Fee
While the downtown Austin Convention Center undergoes redevelopment through 2029, Palmer Events Center stands as Central Texas's indispensable large-scale exposition, SXSW Gaming/Creative Expo, and 1,800-seat black-tie gala campus—delivering 70,000 column-free indoor sq. ft., a 52,000 sq. ft. Downtown Skyline Canopy, 1,200 garage spaces, and $0 punitive outside-AV or union drayage fees.
Campus Architecture, Dock Logistics & TX Statutory Tax Rules
Hall & Canopy Dimensions
122,000 Total Sq. Ft.
North Exhibit Hall (45,000 sq. ft.) + South Exhibit Hall (25,000 sq. ft.) with 32-ft clear-span steel trusses and zero pillars, wrapped by a 52,000 sq. ft. covered Skyline Canopy facing Lady Bird Lake.
Open-Shop AV & Drive-In Docks
$0 Outside-AV & Drayage
5 semi-truck dock bays + drive-in floor freight doors. Roll 3-bid local Austin LED video walls, concert audio, and display vehicles straight onto the floor—saving $35,000–$85,000+ vs. captive hotel ballrooms.
Transit & 501(c)(3) Tax Rules
4-Min Bridge · Form 01-339
Attached 1,200-car garage + dedicated Barton Springs multi-coach charter loop 4 minutes from JW Marriott/The LINE. Eligible 501(c)(3) galas exempt 8.25% TX sales tax via Form 01-339.
On-Site Dossier + 4–6 Minute Bridge & SoCo VIP Buyouts
12m walk · Palmer Events Center Main Hall (On-Site) & Downtown Hotels (4-Min Bridge Hop)
Austin's premier open-shop municipal exposition & gala powerhouse: 70,000 sq. ft. column-free hall + 52,000 sq. ft. covered skyline terrace with $0 outside-AV fee.
2m walk · JW Marriott Austin (2-Min Walk) & Austin Marriott Downtown (3-Min Walk)
Converted 1960s 6th-floor open-air parking deck perched literally on the water's edge of Congress Avenue Bridge—unbeatable sunset & bat-flight views.
3m walk · Austin Marriott Downtown (2-Min Walk) & JW Marriott (3-Min Walk)
Two acres of century-old Texas live oaks sloping directly to the Lady Bird Lake waterfront—steps from Congress Ave with instant Four Seasons ballroom backup.
7m walk · ACL Live at The Moody Theater (2-Min Walk) & JW Marriott (7-Min Walk)
Kelly Wearstler-designed 5th-floor indoor-outdoor poolside restaurant & sunset terrace overlooking Shoal Creek and Lady Bird Lake—$0 outside-AV fee.
12m transfer · Palmer Events Center (6-Min Drive) & Downtown Congress Core (9-Min Drive)
Beloved 1893 South Austin Victorian homestead shaded by 300-year-old live oaks & roaming peacocks—Austin's soul-stirring wedding, rehearsal & anniversary estate.
2m walk · JW Marriott Austin & Austin Marriott Downtown ('Unconventional ATX' Core)
Iconic 1900 grain-mill exposed-brick hall & 3,500 sq. ft. open-air pine rooftop deck 90 seconds on foot from JW Marriott & Austin Marriott Downtown—$0 outside-AV fee.
Located at 900 Barton Springs Rd inside Butler Park, Palmer Events Center offers 70,000 sq. ft. of column-free indoor exhibit space (divisible into the 45,000 sq. ft. North Hall and 25,000 sq. ft. South Hall with 32-foot clear-span trusses) encircled by a 52,000 sq. ft. open-air steel Skyline Canopy overlooking Downtown Austin. Under Texas Right-to-Work (TX Labor Code Ch. 101), Palmer Events Center operates 100% open-shop with $0 punitive outside-AV fees and $0 union drayage on drive-in local AV trucks.
With the downtown Austin Convention Center closed for demolition and expansion until 2029, Palmer Events Center is Austin's premier column-free exposition, hackathon, trade-show, and 500–1,800 seat black-tie 501(c)(3) gala campus—sitting just a 4-minute charter bridge hop (or 12-minute Lady Bird Lake walk) from Congress Ave and 2nd Street convention hotels, with an attached 1,200-space covered garage.
Sponsors exhibiting at Palmer Events Center typically host sunset cocktail receptions on-site under the Skyline Canopy or 4–6 minutes away at P6 at The LINE, Four Seasons Lady Bird Lake Lawn, Austin Proper La Piscina, South Congress Hotel, or under 300-year-old live oaks at Mattie's at Green Pastures.