Bayfront Convention Center is a waterfront convention and event venue on Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pennsylvania. The center hosts conventions, conferences, trade shows, banquets, weddings, sporting events, consumer shows and community gatherings.
The facility offers more than 128,000 square feet of event space. Its principal spaces include the 28,800-square-foot Great Hall, a 13,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom, 15 meeting rooms with more than 14,000 square feet combined and an 8,800-square-foot Sunset Terrace overlooking the bay.
Bayfront Convention Quick Details
| Detail | Information |
| Official name | Bayfront Convention Center |
| Address | 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie, PA 16507 |
| Location | Bayfront Landing on Presque Isle Bay, Erie, Pennsylvania |
| Total event space | More than 128,000 square feet |
| Great Hall | 28,800 square feet |
| Great Hall theatre capacity | Approximately 4,000 |
| Great Hall banquet capacity | Approximately 2,000 |
| Grand Ballroom | 13,500 square feet |
| Grand Ballroom theatre capacity | Approximately 1,929 |
| Grand Ballroom banquet capacity | Approximately 900 |
| Meeting rooms | 15 rooms with more than 14,000 square feet combined |
| Sunset Terrace | 8,800 square feet of outdoor event space |
| On-site parking | More than 470 surface parking spaces |
| Parking garage | Convention center parking garage available |
| Nearest airport | Erie International Airport (ERI), about 6 miles from the bayfront area |
| Opened | 2007 |
| Operator | Erie Events / Erie County Convention Center Authority |
Address and Location
The convention center’s main public address is:
- 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie, Pennsylvania 16507
The center occupies a waterfront site on Sassafras Pier at Bayfront Landing, just north of downtown Erie. Floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor event areas provide views across Presque Isle Bay, while the Bayfront Parkway gives the campus direct road access from the city and regional highways.
Nearby destinations include:
- Presque Isle Bay and Erie’s waterfront
- Bicentennial Tower and Dobbins Landing
- Erie Maritime Museum
- UPMC Hamot and downtown Erie
- Erie Insurance Arena
- Warner Theatre
- expERIEnce Children’s Museum
- Bayfront restaurants, hotels and waterfront attractions
The Bayfront Landing area places lodging, dining and waterfront attractions close to the convention center, making the venue convenient for multi-day meetings and large events.
Facilities at Bayfront Convention Center
Bayfront Convention Center combines large-scale exhibit and banquet space with meeting rooms, outdoor event areas, catering and technical support. The building can handle a major convention while also dividing into smaller spaces for breakout sessions and private functions.
Principal facilities and services include:
- More than 128,000 square feet of event space
- 28,800-square-foot Great Hall
- 13,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom
- 15 meeting rooms totaling more than 14,000 square feet
- 8,800-square-foot Sunset Terrace overlooking Presque Isle Bay
- Wireless internet and data connections in meeting areas
- Audiovisual capabilities and public-address systems
- Assisted-listening equipment
- Utility connections for electricity, water, drainage and compressed or natural gas
- Loading-dock access for exhibitions and production
- In-house culinary, catering and concession services
- Box-office, ushering, security and event-support services
Hall Capacity and Layout
1. Great Hall
The Great Hall is the center’s largest individual indoor event space. It provides 28,800 square feet of column-free floor area and is suitable for exhibitions, general sessions, banquets and large public events. The room has a ceiling height of about 23 feet and can be divided for different event layouts.
The full Great Hall is listed for approximately 4,000 attendees in theatre-style seating and about 2,000 guests for a banquet. It can also accommodate around 160 standard 10-by-10-foot trade-show booths. Final occupancy depends on the approved stage, seating, aisle and production plan.
2. Grand Ballroom
The Grand Ballroom provides 13,500 square feet and can be separated into West and East sections. The West Ballroom is 8,100 square feet, while the East Ballroom is 5,400 square feet.
In the full combined configuration, the published capacity chart lists approximately 1,929 theatre-style attendees, 900 banquet guests, 900 classroom attendees or 77 trade-show booths. The ballroom is commonly used for business meetings, awards programs, dinners, receptions and social events.
3. Meeting Rooms
The convention center has 15 meeting rooms providing more than 14,000 square feet in total. Individual and combined rooms support groups ranging from small boardroom-style meetings to several hundred attendees.
Several rooms can be combined with movable walls, giving planners flexibility for conference breakouts, training sessions, workshops and meal functions.
4. Sunset Terrace
The Sunset Terrace provides 8,800 square feet of outdoor event space with views of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie sunsets. It is suited to cocktail receptions, networking functions and outdoor social events when weather and event conditions allow.
Parking at Bayfront Convention Center
The convention center provides parking around the Bayfront Landing area, including more than 470 surface spaces and access to a convention-center parking garage. Availability can vary during major events, waterfront festivals and periods of high attendance.
Accessible parking spaces are available for vehicles displaying a valid state-issued disability placard or plate. Visitors should follow posted event-day signs and confirm any current garage rates or special parking arrangements before arrival.
Reaching the Convention Center
1. From Erie International Airport
Erie International Airport is roughly 6 miles from the bayfront area. Driving time is commonly around 15 to 20 minutes depending on traffic and the route. Taxis, rideshare services and rental cars can be used for the trip to Bayfront Landing.
2. Driving from I-79 and I-90
The convention center is accessible from I-79 and I-90 through the Bayfront Parkway. Drivers should follow signs toward downtown Erie and the Bayfront, then continue to Sassafras Pier. Event-day traffic control may affect the final approach during large shows and waterfront events.
3. Taxi, Rideshare and Shuttle Access
Rideshare vehicles, taxis and private shuttles can use designated passenger drop-off areas near the convention center. Large conventions may establish special coach or shuttle loading points coordinated through event management.
4. Walking and Local Access
The Bayfront Landing area is designed to keep convention facilities, lodging and waterfront amenities close together. Downtown attractions and additional bayfront destinations are also within a short walk or drive, depending on weather and the exact destination.
Popular Hotels Near Bayfront Convention Center
The Bayfront and downtown Erie areas provide several lodging choices close to the convention center.
- Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel: A waterfront property near the convention-center campus.
- Courtyard Erie Bayfront Hotel: A Marriott property on Sassafras Pier with convenient convention access.
- Hampton Inn & Suites Erie Bayfront: A bayfront hotel on East Front Street near Erie Maritime Museum.
- Cobblestone Hotel & Suites – Erie Bayfront: A waterfront-area hotel on West Bayfront Parkway with convenient access to Bayfront Landing.
For major conventions and summer waterfront events, nearby rooms can fill early, so attendees may benefit from booking through the event’s official hotel block when one is offered.
Dining at and Near the Center
Bayfront Convention Center offers culinary and catering services for meetings, banquets, receptions and concessions. Event hosts can coordinate menus, beverage service and dietary requirements through the venue’s food-and-beverage team.
The wider Bayfront and downtown districts also provide waterfront restaurants, cafés and casual dining. Large groups should check operating hours and reservation requirements during major events.
Accessibility
Bayfront Convention Center provides accessible parking, step-free entrances, wider doorways, accessible restrooms and other accommodations for guests with disabilities. Assisted-listening devices and accessible seating arrangements may also be available depending on the event setup.
Guests who need sign-language interpretation or other event-specific assistance should contact the venue or event organizer in advance.
Sustainability
The convention center incorporates energy-conscious operating practices for meetings and events. Heating and air conditioning may be adjusted according to event schedules, occupancy and move-in or move-out requirements.
Its Bayfront Landing location also places convention space, lodging and other visitor services close together, helping reduce the need for repeated vehicle trips between separate venues during multi-day events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where is Bayfront Convention Center located?
A: The address is 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie, PA 16507, on Presque Isle Bay at Bayfront Landing.
Q: How large is the Great Hall?
A: The Great Hall provides 28,800 square feet and is listed for approximately 4,000 theatre-style attendees or about 2,000 banquet guests.
Q: How large is the Grand Ballroom?
A: The Grand Ballroom provides 13,500 square feet. Its full configuration is listed for about 1,929 theatre-style attendees and approximately 900 banquet guests.
Q: Does Bayfront Convention Center have parking?
A: Yes. Surface parking and a convention-center parking garage serve the Bayfront Landing area. Parking availability and rates may vary by event.
Q: How many meeting rooms are available?
A: The convention center has 15 meeting rooms providing more than 14,000 square feet of meeting space in total.
Q: Does Bayfront Convention Center have outdoor event space?
A: Yes. The 8,800-square-foot Sunset Terrace provides an outdoor setting overlooking Presque Isle Bay.