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 LOS ANGELES' SHOWPLACE:
The Shrine Expo Center
The City of Angels — Los Angeles — is well known for its many hotels, which afford companies, organizations and
associations with a variety of space to accommodate their meetings and events. But the city has a limited number
of large spaces designed to accommodate crowds up to 4,000. Perhaps the city's best kept secret is the Expo Center
adjoining the Shrine Auditorium, North America's largest auditorium.
"The Exposition Center on its own is a great space with unlimited possibilities," explains Douglas Worthington,
Auditorium Manager. "But coupled with the size of the Auditorium and the type of engagements it attracts,
the two facilities create an all inclusive and convenient combination."
With a recent $125,000 refurbishment, the Expo Center boasts over 54,000 square feet of usable space making it
simultaneously utile and dashing. Reflecting the same Moorish styling to be found elsewhere on and around the building,
the Expo Center makes a magnificent setting for business and social events alike. Part of the new decor are stylish
dune colored wall coverings, classic Spanish textured off-white pillars, upgraded restrooms and a completely repainted
exterior. For improved guest service, the center is furnished with air conditioning and heating and an enclosed
entry from the new parking structure. The center features complete industrial kitchen facilities, has 34,000 square
feet of floor space on the main level and features 20,000 square feet of space in it unusual, open mezzanine overlooking
the ground floor. As many as 4,000 people can make use of the Expo Center at one time.
 In much the same way that the Shrine
Auditorium has played host to some of the world's most loved and watched performances, the Expo Center has been
home to a variety of events such as: auto shows; antique shows; a cross-section of domestic trade shows; conventions;
international trade exhibits; a national cat show; a variety of dances and dinners; baseball card and comic book
conventions; scholastic functions (i.e., graduations and recitals); seminars; location shoots and has even been
used as a roller skating rink!
Last, but not least, the Shrine Expo Center is utilized by nearly every entertainment company which performs upon
the Shrine stage for rehearsals, dinners, adjunct shows, set construction and scenery storage. Events held there
include: the Academy Awards Governors Ball, post show press and green rooms for the Grammys, the American Music
Awards, the Soul Train Music Awards and the televised production of the American Comedy Awards. It is important
and useful space not usually found in theaters across the country and around the world.
The Shrine Auditorium complex was completed in 1926 at a cost of $2.5 million; its estimated replacement cost is
between $80-$ 100 million. The debt-free complex is entirely owned by the Shriner membership. |
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