ABOUT US | MEYDENBAUER CENTER FACTS & HISTORY
Located in Bellevue, Washington, the 48,000 square foot Meydenbauer Center opened in 1993 to help grow and sustain Bellevue's economic vitality. The Center hosts a wide variety of corporate meetings, banquets, consumer shows, conventions, and community events and employs 39 full- 43 part time and up to 60 casual employees. In 2007, the facility's largest space, the 36,000 square foot Center Hall was renovated. The new space features bold new ceiling and acoustical wall treatments, carpeting, a striking new color scheme, enhanced lighting and decorative elements.
Key Statistics
In 2006, Meydenbauer Center:
- Hosted 401 conventions and events
- Welcomed 205,316 attendees
- Generated $22 million in economic impact
- The Theatre at Meydenbauer Center hosted 170 performances by local and regional performing arts groups attended by approximately 40,700 patrons
Main Features
- 48,000 sq. ft. of functional space
- 36,000 sq.ft. Center Hall, divides in two
- With the recent renovation, Center Hall is one of the largest carpeted meeting/event/banquet spaces on the Eastside
- 12,000 sq.ft. meeting rooms; divides into nine separate rooms. Largest room is 6,000 sq. ft.
- Full-service kitchen and in-house catering
- 410 seat performing arts theatre
- 434 parking spaces in underground parking garage
Download a PDF version of this fact sheet.
Management
Meydenbauer Center is owned and operated by the Bellevue Convention Center Authority (BCCA) a public development authority. The seven-member board is appointed by the Bellevue City Manager and confirmed by the city council. Meydenbauer Center's staff of approximately 39 full- 43 part-time and up to 60 casual employees is lead by a team of directors and department managers who head up the day to day management of the Center and report to the BCCA Board.
Funding
In August of 1991, the BCCA issued $29.4 million in bonds to finance construction of Meydenbauer Center. This consisted of $7.4 million in Special Obligation Revenue Bonds, Series 1991A and $22.0 million in Special Obligation Revenue Bonds, Series 1991B. The bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the City of Bellevue.
The City of Bellevue issued bonds of $5.1 million in 1995 and $10.5 million in 2002 on behalf of Meydenbauer Center. The 1995 bond proceeds financed various capital projects, including design work for expansion. The 2002 bond proceeds purchased the land under Meydenbauer Center and parcels adjacent to Meydenbauer for future expansion.
Meydenbauer Center is a self-sustaining facility which uses no general funds or taxes from Bellevue residents. The Center's 2008 annual operating budget is approximately $8.2 million. Operating expenses are funded by revenues generated from direct charges to facility users for rent, catering and other meeting services and Bellevue hotel/motel taxes.
The Future
The Bellevue City Council in 1997 approved preliminary plans to nearly double the convention center's functional space. In January 2000, Bellevue City Council closed a deal to buy the land beneath Meydenbauer Center and in 2006 the City purchased the option parcel for expansion. Currently that parcel is leased to Schnitzer West for construction staging for the Bravern project.
Historical Perspective
In the summer of 1850, Northwest settler Colonel Isaac N. Ebey (1819-1857) explored "Lake Geneva" (or Lake Washington as it is now known) and paddled in view of the hillsides of future Medina. Throughout the early 1850s, other Puget Sound settlers using the great inland body of water for fishing, hunting and picnics.
Several years later, German-born William Meydenbauer (1832-1906)-owner of Seattle's famous Eureka Bakery-filed a claim on the bay next to Medina at the foot of old Bellevue. Meydenbauer Center was named for this early Bellevue settler-and today, Meydenbauer Bay is the principal water portal to Bellevue.
Meydenbauer Center Mission
Our commitment is to provide an outstanding event and performing arts center that generates community and employee pride, creates economic stimulation, and provides exceptional guest satisfaction.
Meydenbauer Center cares about the environment and about conserving natural resources for future generations. We recycle over 50,000 tons of materials each year.
Learn More
To learn more about Meydenbauer Center and our services, please contact Sharon Linton, Marketing and Communications Manager at 425-637-1020 Meydenbauer Center 11100 N.E. Sixth Street Bellevue, Washington 98004 info@meydenbauer.com.
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