Schaumburg Convention Center looks to build on two decades of success
Marking their 20th anniversary this month, the Schaumburg Convention Center and adjoining Renaissance Hotel are preparing for a future that exceeds the successes of their past.
This year’s opening of Andretti Indoor Karting & Games and a six-level, 900-space parking deck heralded the commencement of a long-awaited and much-anticipated entertainment district.
“For 20 years, the hotel and convention center were looking forward to the area developing to build on the full potential,” said Dieter Heigl, general manager of the Renaissance for the past decade.
The original environment — neighbored by a single-story office complex with Motorola’s corporate headquarters just across the road — wasn’t the usual setting for such an enterprise, Heigl noted.
Schaumburg Village Manager Brian Townsend said it was long recognized that the bold first step to choose that site couldn’t be the last.
“It was vacant a long time for a reason,” he added. “We wish it hadn’t taken 20 years. I think the board’s plan and hope was that it would be a catalyst for future development north of I-90. We’ve been working actively on this (entertainment district) for 10 years.”
Since 2022, the convention center and Meet Chicago Northwest visitors bureau have marketed this new endeavor. Due to those efforts, Heigl said this year will be the first to exceed $50 million in revenue for the hotel and convention center.
Since the convention center opened, Schaumburg has seen seven more hotels built. Chicago Prime Steakhouse is a high-end restaurant that took a chance on the convention center's success as well.
Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly mentioned external factors also slowed redevelopment. The Great Recession came just two years after the convention center opened, then the COVID-19 pandemic affected growth timelines as well.
The latter was probably the death knell for village leaders’ long-held preference for a large performing arts center to be the entertainment anchor, he added.
Still, Dailly, Heigl and industry experts agree on a key belief proven over 20 years.
“What it’s shown is that people still want to get together en masse,” Dailly said.
Whether for weddings, gymnastics or trade shows, the hotel and convention center have met these needs since 2006.
“Human beings are social animals,” he added. “People need to get together.”
Trevor Mitchell, president and CEO of the International Association of Venue Managers, sees Schaumburg’s growth as part of a larger industry trend.
“Today’s attendees are looking for convenient access to dining, entertainment and other amenities that enhance their overall experience,” he said. “As a result, event organizers are increasingly evaluating not only the venue itself but also the surrounding destination when selecting where to host their events.”
Mitchell said continued growth at Schaumburg’s venue “creates greater flexibility to attract a diverse mix of events.”
The 20th anniversary brings events including this weekend’s BotCon for Transformers fans, the World Tang Soo Do Association Championships for martial arts fans and the SoCo Expo from July 30 to Aug. 2 for soccer card enthusiasts and collectors from over 40 countries.
With room to grow, the audience for the convention center, hotel and entertainment district could widen in coming years. The opening of Andretti Karting in March has attracted serious interest in the adjacent building pads, Dailly said.
“I think the building of the convention center and hotel really opened the door to what’s happening north of the tollway,” he added. “People used to say they only wanted to be near Woodfield. I think it’s coming to fruition, what’s happening in that area. I think the future is really looking bright.”