Concourse Exhibition Center & Trade Show Facility

Daaaaang, this place is MASSIVE! But what do you expect for an exhibition center. I loved how much space we had for a packed event with tons of activities to do. As well as a place to bust a move, because you know, that’s important.
I thought when I first walked in that it was some sort of sporting facility. I think I was thrown off my the AstroTurf looking carpet. It’s a little 70’s looking as well, but worked in well with the theme of the event.
I also enjoyed the multi-​levels. It wasn’t quite an upstairs and downstairs scene, more like elevated platforms. Broke up the expansive space. My only gripe is the bathrooms. Unless there’s more bathrooms, the one at the far end of the venue only had 4 stalls. That’s not a lot for a large venue. But there might have been another bathroom I wasn’t aware of.

Well on our last day of a travel work week, we were bussed to the Concourse Exhibition Center to party like it was 1999 or should I say 1989 at a summer Camp! The huge building was decked out like a huge summer camp, type writers to write letters to home, craft stations, archery, and 3 legged races! All while under the influence of tons of food and drinks!
This building is pretty rad cause it has 2 levels, so upstairs was a huge dance floor with DJ Ruggy spinning the jams!
I really dug what they did to make this space feel like a camp ground and I think the space is very versatile! I have no idea if the staff who was on hand was from the Concourse but they were all very polite and nice! All and All this is a great party spot in San Fran!

Imagine the possibilities. Anyone who walks in here with an imagination for large-​scale events will surely be inspired by the grandness of this facility, with its high arched roof, multiple levels and vast floor space. I came for a company party with a crowd of close to 2000 and there was still plenty of room to spare.
While the party we were at was pulled off brilliantly, I wouldn’t say this is the most up-​to-​date event facility in town. You could describe it as rustic, minimalist or the like. Strip away the subterfuge of any event and you have nothing but bare walls and beams. In my book, that just means a greater challenge and a larger canvas when trying to put together a memorable event.
Sadly, I hear they might level this place in the next year. San Francisco needs as many of these big event spaces as it can get. If this is true, the Concourse will be missed.

Had our company offsite here, a sleep away camp theme. It definitely fit the bill, wooden walls and meh green carpet all around. This place is definitely spacious — but I wasn’t too impressed with the overall facility. Campy offsite? Definitely. Classy soirée? No way. Next door to Zynga which probably had sweeter digs.

Been here for a few events and I agree with the other Unilocalers it might need a makeover. It could be when you come here you are so excited about what you are attending but then you realize where you are.
The past few times I’ve been here it gets sooo hot inside! Its not a bad venue I think it just needs so updating.

I came here to pick up my bib and shirt for the SF Half Marathon. They did a pretty good job with the flow of picking up your bib and shirt. Luckily I went early on Saturday and there were no lines. They had pretty good vendors at the expo and the best part was not waiting in a huge line to get taped up with KT Tape. The lines at the LA Marathon Expo was ridiculous! I also liked that they provided shuttles to and from Sports Basement. The expo was smaller in scale but I loved that they sold previous years race shirts. I scored one for only $ 5!

Popped in the Concourse Exhibition Center very quickly this past Saturday morning for the Wipro San Fran expo.
The space was decent. Older but spacious enough. Not as luxurious as some of the other larger convention centers I have been to in Vegas and LA but served it’s purpose and I have no complaints.
Bathrooms were neat and tidy,
I believe parking is $ 15 but there are a ton of metered spots around the neighborhood, hence the reason we didn’t stay longer as I had only paid for about 25 minutes — so we rushed through.

Company holiday party here
The place was quite big and decorated nicely
The food is only ok but I am not sure if it was cater in or from Concourse

Versatile warehouse-​like convention center for the masses.
Big?
Humongous!
Elbow room?
Tons
I have been here for a grand total of two occasions.
Occasion 1:
Women’s expo, spacious, tons of booths, goodies and freebies (I can’t complain about that). Guest speaker was Helen Hunt one year.
Atmosphere:
Casual
Occasion 2:
Formal Company Christmas party.
I have to make up a term called prom clubbing…
I am over here wondering how they are going to accommodate a large, formal company Christmas party and how silly I was to wonder.
Atmosphere:
Formal
Decorations:
Grand and beautiful
Food:
Served buffet style
Dance floor:
Enormous
It turns out formal events can be done at the Concourse…

I came here for a company party and boy oh boy, is the exhibition center HUGE! So the party was a «Casino» party. Fun idea especially when its unlimited amount of food and alcohol. Who doesn’t like free? And who doesn’t like getting a little dressed up?
All I really have to say is the Concourse Exhibition Center is definitely a huge venue! It’s ridiculous!

If I see a rad concert scheduled for this venue, it’s definitely a turn-​off. This place is absolutely ridiculously large.
Picture a huge, sprawling outdoor concert festival with endless people, and then take away the sunshine and slap a roof on it.
This place is just so massive. It’s just a giant exhibition hall, so it doesn’t make for a very good concert venue. The sound is mediocre, and the venue is just so long. If you’re in the back, you’re waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy in the back and you wouldn’t even be able to make out that there’s even people on stage.
Also there’s a super weird layout. There’s a raised level on the each of the sides of the room above the floor. It sound nice, but there’s hardly any staircases, and when it’s dark and crowded, you’ll never find them. They’re not anywhere near logical places or landmarks.
There usually isn’t any large screens to help you see the acts on stage either. I’ve seen a few concerts here, and they’ve all been lackluster due to the venue. If you can see a show elsewhere, I’d suggest that.
This place is made for trade shows and that’s about it. Stop trying to make it something it isn’t.

Merm merm merm. I already non-​explained what that means in an earlier pizza review, so if you want to know what I non-​mean, please do some pointed searching.
What a weird place. I’ve been to many Green Festivals here, a book show (remember those?), and a 311 concert. It’s an absolutely horrid concert venue; so if you have a choice between seeing a band here and somewhere, anywhere else, choose somewhere, anywhere else – unless, of course, somewhere, anywhere else is the Shoreline.
I will admit that during the 311 concert I loved the fact that I was very aware of my mental Green Festival map of the place. During «Amber,» I was tripping because the lead singer was dancing where I had seen Amy Goodman in her lucky purple pants only a few months before, talking about Afghanistan or Juan Gonzalez or something else. And my friend Matt and I helped this girl find her dropped phone, which was a dangerous operation because people were moshing and just jostling left and right. We felt sorry for her because she was distraught and slightly tipsy and was so intent on looking for it that she was going to get seriously injured. We found the phone; and neither of us even tried to get her number or use our good deed to our sexual or romantic advantage, because we’re good men, honorable men, men that most women in this city ignore because dbags and mustachioed hipsters are dreamier, oddly.
I thought I had already reviewed this place. I was going to drop two stars on it, but I’ve spent too much time thinking here to be that cruel. It is kind of a joke. It would be a better warehouse. The wood smells cool, especially when it’s too warm. I hope they never tear it down, although they will at some point. Hopefully, that will be long after I’m torn down.

This place is alright! Being a Bay Area native I’m not sure why I’d never heard of the place before or been to an even there.
We went for APE, the Alternative Press Expo. We got pretty lucky with parking and were never more than a couple blocks away. It’s kind of a bummer that the street parking we found was only 1 – 2 hours, so I had to go out and move the car. The inconvenience meant we only stayed 3 hours when we may have stayed longer otherwise.
The venue is pretty interesting; it seems adaptable to most uses. Another writer complains about the bathrooms. I found them to be clean and accessible. No lines, either.
The concessions weren’t overpriced like they are at the county fair or a movie theater, so I was relieved to be able to get a snack and a Coke for under $ 5.

Nothing spectacular.
I was there to pick up my bib, shirt, and check out the merchandise and left.

I guess it all depends on what kind of show you’re going to, really. To be perfectly clear, I’ve never been to a concert at the Concourse, so if you’re wondering about that there are other people and reviews with much more insight into the musical and acoustical qualities of the building.
What I do know is that I’ve been to a couple of old-​timey events that were quite well suited to the building. The first was an art deco and modernism sale and show several years ago. I understand it’s an annual (biannual?) show that comes to the Concourse and it fit right in. Most recently I attended a vintage fashion show and sale that was pretty fascinating and felt like it was a natural fit for the space.
I’m not claiming the building is smart and sexy. Bad carpet is bad carpet no matter the event. But having throwback events make the building «charming» as opposed to «old and busted» so I’m going with that feel.
I’ve never had any trouble parking, but these events weren’t blockbusters. It’s a decent neighborhood with lots of street parking.

Been here several times for shows, concerts and raves. This place gets cold easily. On nice warm days, it is refreshing, on cold nights people be freezing.

Eh…
I’ve been to a few great events here, but oftentimes, if I’m on the fence about attending an event and I learn it’s at the Concourse, I’ll skip it. I’m not sure what it is, but I just don’t vibe with it at all. Perhaps it’s because I feel like I’m hobnobbing in a barn with tacky berber carpet? I don’t know, but it just takes a lot of the oomph out of any event that calls this venue home.
Take, for example, this past weekend’s ZAP Zinfandel Festival. Arguably, ZAP is my favorite annual event in the entire city, and for the last two years, it took place at the Fort Mason Center (which I dig). This year, it was at the Concourse, and while I had a great time (mainly because of the company I was hanging with), I felt like it didn’t have the same pizzaz as previous year’s gatherings. It almost reminds me of a retirement village bingo hall or something.
Wamp, wamp, wamp…

We attended the winter Renegade Craft Faire here, and were pleased with the venue.
The bathrooms were plentiful, and fairly clean, (which is VERY important.)
There was a good amount of space between vendors, and although there were lots of vendors as well as shoppers, it didn’t feel crowded at all.
They have their own parking area, but we were able to find free, (and close) street parking.
I would definitely come back to this venue.

The Concourse gets such a bad rap.
It’s unfortunate.
I’ve been to a number of diverse events here now — and each one– in my opinion has been a huge success — largely due to the fact that the Concourse is massive and adaptable.
I think the unfortunate part of the lackluster reputation surrounding the Concourse — is that it often stems from the Concourse being used in the wrong way. The Concourse shouldn’t be used as a concert space. It lacks charm and the acoustics aren’t the best for a sole artist or group. Sound gets muted. Distorted. It’s too narrow.
But when it comes to multi-​dimensional events — with a variety of things going on — such as Sea of Dreams, art shows, trade shows, vintage clothes events etc — the Concourse rocks it.
The space inside is huge and raw. There seems to be very few restrictions when it comes to what you can bring in — such as food etc. Big pluses for events and event planners.
One of my most monumental nights was spent exploring the Concourse at the Sea of Dreams. When Glitch Mob commanded the stage with vigor and unreal passion — I felt my feet float — my hips move in a pronounced sway and my heart pound in sync with beats that demanded to be heard. The sound was crisp and tremendous. I believe that was largely because the Glitch Mob played in an isolated and specific portion of the Concourse. The sound was directed. Targeted. Towards me and towards the countless others moving in unison with me.
I’ve always had four star and five star experiences at the Concourse — but I think that largely had to do with the event planners.
The three stars is because though uniquely massive — the Concourse doesn’t have much soul. It’s an uninspiring space — still trying to find it’s footing. I hope they retire from doing specific one-​off concerts and shows –and stick to the creative multi-​layered events — that really capture the size and potential of the space.
Trust.

Today, Gavin Newsom’s San Francisco Summer Resource Fair was hosted at the Concourse Exhibition Center. It was a really great event and a perfect venue for this event.
Exhibitors set up tables about everything from summer camps to circus workshops to healthy eating and tutoring. There was free coffee and pastries for the exhibitors and tons of freebies from the exhibitors for the visiting families.
Another highlight for the children was a huge rock-​climbing wall and jumpy house. For the parents, there were chair massages and food and coffee stands.
I’m surprised there were so few bathrooms for a very huge venue but it didn’t really matter for this event because it was never overly-​packed during the 10 — 3 event time…