10 New Dallas/Fort Worth Venues for Spring 2019 Meetings and Events

In November, Esports Stadium Arlington debuted in the space formerly known as the Arlington Convention Center. Located in the Arlington Entertainment District and created purposefully for esports gaming competitions, the venue is now the largest dedicated esports stadium in North America. The modern, high-tech space includes 85 feet of LED screens and can accommodate gaming tournaments, conventions, banquets, trade shows, TED Talk-style events, award shows, and more. With seating for nearly 12,330 guests, the venue measures 80,000 square feet in total, including 48,600 square feet of column-free exhibit space and a 24,000-square-foot competition arena.

The Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas opens later in March. Situated adjacent to the Irving Convention Center and Toyota Music Factory, the hotel offers 350 guest rooms, three food and beverage outlets, a fitness studio, and an outdoor pool. More than 32,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space includes the 10,000-square-foot Harmony Ballroom, which holds 1,450 guests for receptions; the 4,239-square-foot Melody Ballroom, with space for 300 for receptions, a 9,480-square-foot event lawn, and two boardrooms.

Located in the Hogan Building, which dates back to 1900, is new downtown Fort Worth event venue Century Hall. Restored original details such as hardwood floors, tin ceilings, aged plaster, and exposed brick create a modern-industrial ambiance with several spaces for private events. The 6,400-square-foot upper level features a reception room that seats 240 for dinners or accommodates 320 theater or reception style, as well as two breakout rooms measuring 300 square feet and 225 square feet, respectively. A 1,700-square-foot room on the lower level seats 60 for banquets or fits 180 for cocktail receptions or theater-style presentations. Food and beverage service is provided by CN Catering.

Elm Street Cask & Kitchen opened in downtown Dallas in February. The contemporary restaurant is cosmopolitan yet casual, serving Southern-inspired comfort food like bourbon-braised short rib, blackened Texas redfish tacos, and cast iron bread pudding. A comprehensive beverage program features 200 varieties of bourbon and American whiskey. Measuring 5,030 square feet, the restaurant includes several areas for events. The bar and patio each accommodate 30 seated guests or 40 for receptions, the front dining space seats 50, the back dining space seats 20, and the upstairs area seats 30.

In February, The Henry opened in Uptown, adding a third outpost to existing locations in Phoenix and West Hollywood. The eclectic yet sophisticated venue includes lush greenery, city views, and Texas-inspired vignettes. The restaurant spans 15,664 square feet and includes a coffee bar, two full-service bars, a private dining room, and indoor and outdoor dining areas. Several areas are available for events: the 7,025-square-foot first floor seats 169, the 3,590-square-foot second floor seats 92, and a 1,200-square-foot private dining room seats about 50 seated guests or holds 75 for cocktails. Outside, the 2,009-square-foot first-floor patio seats 82, while the 3,040-square-foot second-floor patio seats 147. The menu includes trendy items such as grilled portabella tacos and short rib potstickers.

In October, Parks Coffee Roastery opened a brick-and-mortar café in Carrollton. In addition to coffee, the menu includes light bites like granola parfaits, turkey sandwiches, and tarragon chicken salad from Bird Bakery. The outpost includes a 1,410-square-foot kitchenette and an adjoining 750-square-foot indoor/outdoor patio, which together offer table seating for about 85 guests, plus 10 more at the bar. Three 485-square-foot conference rooms each seat 12 and include projectors with whiteboard screens, speakers, podiums, and seminar tables and chairs. Since the venue is attached to the 50,000-square-foot Parks Coffee Roastery headquarters, planners can arrange group tours of the facility as well as coffee education classes during events.

Legacy Hall, a three-story, 55,000-square-foot European-style food hall in Plano, completed a renovation in February that included the addition of High Bar Kitchen & Tap. The menu features shareable dishes like chicken tenders tossed in Thai sweet chili sauce, along with entrees like chicken chopped salad and Kobe beef sliders. Located on the hall’s third floor, the new restaurant and bar measures 9,500 square feet and holds about 165 guests for cocktail receptions.

As part of a multimillion-dollar renovation, Sheraton Dallas Hotel added the contemporary American restaurant Open Palette in February. The 2,800-square-foot venue seats 225 guests and offers an ambiance that is at once casual and elegant. The menu features flavorful dishes like a beer-steamed bacon cheeseburger, Nashville-style hot chicken and waffles, and tempura-fried green beans. The downtown hotel’s renovation also included the addition of coffee shop Moka Pot, Draft Sports Bar & Lounge, and cocktail lounge the Parlor.

Alamo Club, an upscale neighborhood restaurant and bar, opened in February on Lowest Greenville Avenue. Featuring inviting details like exposed brick and a marble-topped bar, the 1,875-square-foot restaurant seats 68 guests inside, while an outdoor patio seats an additional 80. The menu includes classic American and internationally inspired dishes like onion dip, snapper ceviche, burgers, and spaghetti with tomato sauce, while the bar focuses on simple cocktails, beer in cans and on draft, and a 50-bottle wine list.

In December, the Fort Worth Cultural District welcomed FoodHall at Crockett Row, an open-concept, modern-industrial space that is home to 13 food vendors specializing in cuisine varying from Mexican and Mediterranean street food to cheesecake and cupcakes. Seating is available for as many as 115 inside the 16,000-square-foot venue, with room for 70 additional guests outside. A 1,200-square-foot area designated for events seats 50 guests or holds 100 for receptions. The space is available for private events from Monday through Thursday only.