10 Biggest Indoor Venues for Events and Meetings in Boston

Kara Baskin
May 7, 2012

Planning an event that requires the largest event space in Boston? Here’s a look at 10 venues with the biggest capacity: hotel ballrooms, convention centers, banquet halls, clubs, auditoriums, conference rooms, and more. We’ve included total square footage and maximum capacity to help you choose the best big space for your super-sized event.

1. The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center’s Exhibit Hall B holds 17,647 guests theater-style and 44,440 for banquets. The space is 184,000 square feet. The convention center has a free building app, called My BCEC, geared toward event planners, as well as Wi-Fi and an in-house audiovisual team. Food is provided by an in-house caterer, Levy, which focuses on sustainable cuisine from local vendors.
The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center’s Exhibit Hall B holds 17,647 guests theater-style and 44,440 for banquets. The space is 184,000 square feet. The convention center has a free building app, called My BCEC, geared toward event planners, as well as Wi-Fi and an in-house audiovisual team. Food is provided by an in-house caterer, Levy, which focuses on sustainable cuisine from local vendors.
Photo: Courtesy of Mass Convention Center Authority
2. The Hynes Convention Center
The Hynes Convention Center, located near Copley Square and the Prudential Center, has adjoining ballrooms—labeled A, B, and C—that have a combined 25,544 square feet of space and can hold 3,506 for receptions and 2,000 for banquets. The building is outfitted with Wi-Fi and is equipped for teleconferencing and videoconferencing.
The Hynes Convention Center, located near Copley Square and the Prudential Center, has adjoining ballrooms—labeled A, B, and C—that have a combined 25,544 square feet of space and can hold 3,506 for receptions and 2,000 for banquets. The building is outfitted with Wi-Fi and is equipped for teleconferencing and videoconferencing.
Photo: Courtesy of Mass Convention Center Authority
3. The Seaport World Trade Center
Crowned by 18-foot ceilings, the Commonwealth Hall at the Seaport World Trade Center is 118,000 square feet. It has banquet seating for 2,500 guests and can accommodate 3,500 for receptions. A chef-helmed, in-house catering team designs seasonally inspired menus for lunch, dinner, or all-day meetings. The center has an in-house audiovisual team and a telecommunications team available 24 hours a day, as well as an in-house floral team.
Crowned by 18-foot ceilings, the Commonwealth Hall at the Seaport World Trade Center is 118,000 square feet. It has banquet seating for 2,500 guests and can accommodate 3,500 for receptions. A chef-helmed, in-house catering team designs seasonally inspired menus for lunch, dinner, or all-day meetings. The center has an in-house audiovisual team and a telecommunications team available 24 hours a day, as well as an in-house floral team.
Photo: Courtesy of Seaport World Trade
4. The Boston Park Plaza
The stately Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers, located close to Boston Common, can host 2,000 for cocktails in its connected Imperial and Plaza ballrooms, which comprise 13,215 square feet. The gilded ballrooms, decorated with large chandeliers and ringed by balconies, also hold 1,130 for seated receptions. A banquet menu highlights regional specialties. Event-planning staff can coordinate audiovisual and decorative requests.
The stately Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers, located close to Boston Common, can host 2,000 for cocktails in its connected Imperial and Plaza ballrooms, which comprise 13,215 square feet. The gilded ballrooms, decorated with large chandeliers and ringed by balconies, also hold 1,130 for seated receptions. A banquet menu highlights regional specialties. Event-planning staff can coordinate audiovisual and decorative requests.
Photo: Courtesy of Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers
5. The Boston Park Plaza Castle
The Boston Park Plaza Castle, a national historic landmark built in 1891 in the Back Bay, is 14,520 square feet and has reception space for 1,800. The space is managed (though not serviced) by the nearby Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers. The sprawling raw space has glass skylights, vaulted ceilings, and ironwork balconies.
The Boston Park Plaza Castle, a national historic landmark built in 1891 in the Back Bay, is 14,520 square feet and has reception space for 1,800. The space is managed (though not serviced) by the nearby Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers. The sprawling raw space has glass skylights, vaulted ceilings, and ironwork balconies.
Photo: Aviran Levy for BizBash
6. The House of Blues
The House of Blues, near Fenway Park, is a 50,000-square-foot live music venue and reception space. The Music Hall accommodates 1,800 standing. Menu items include Cajun and Creole specialties like shrimp po’ boys and pecan-crusted catfish fillets. The venue is equipped with television monitors throughout, as well as a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system in the Music Hall. Additionally, House of Blues staff specializes in procuring musical talent for events.
The House of Blues, near Fenway Park, is a 50,000-square-foot live music venue and reception space. The Music Hall accommodates 1,800 standing. Menu items include Cajun and Creole specialties like shrimp po’ boys and pecan-crusted catfish fillets. The venue is equipped with television monitors throughout, as well as a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system in the Music Hall. Additionally, House of Blues staff specializes in procuring musical talent for events.
Photo: Courtesy of the House of Blues
7. Cruiseport
Boston’s tri-level Cruiseport, a historic World War I-era warehouse in the Seaport neighborhood, holds 1,200 for receptions and seats 800 on its 21,000-square-foot third floor. The warehouse has original beam work, Italian stone flooring, and waterfront patio space.
Boston’s tri-level Cruiseport, a historic World War I-era warehouse in the Seaport neighborhood, holds 1,200 for receptions and seats 800 on its 21,000-square-foot third floor. The warehouse has original beam work, Italian stone flooring, and waterfront patio space.
Photo: Courtesy of Massachusetts Port Authority
8. The Fairmont Copley Plaza
The Fairmont Copley Plaza’s 5,720-square-foot Grand Ballroom—celebrating its 100th anniversary this year—hosts cocktail receptions for 1,100, theater-style receptions for 800, and banquets for 600 guests. Hotel chefs create menus tailored to individual receptions. The ballroom is Wi-Fi enabled, and a full-service audiovisual company caters to lighting and sound requests. The hotel’s meeting-planning staff can handle music and other individualized details.
The Fairmont Copley Plaza’s 5,720-square-foot Grand Ballroom—celebrating its 100th anniversary this year—hosts cocktail receptions for 1,100, theater-style receptions for 800, and banquets for 600 guests. Hotel chefs create menus tailored to individual receptions. The ballroom is Wi-Fi enabled, and a full-service audiovisual company caters to lighting and sound requests. The hotel’s meeting-planning staff can handle music and other individualized details.
Photo: Courtesy of the Fairmont Copley Plaza
9. The New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium has an 11,100-square-foot Main Exhibit Gallery that seats 250 and hosts receptions for 900. The gallery is home to a towering four-story coral reef exhibit. Signature menu items are maple-glazed shrimp wrapped in bacon and blue-cheese-stuffed grapes. Audiovisual amenities are available throughout the museum, including in the Main Exhibit Gallery and at the museum’s IMAX theater. An in-house event coordinator can arrange flowers, linens, entertainment, and tours of the city.
The New England Aquarium has an 11,100-square-foot Main Exhibit Gallery that seats 250 and hosts receptions for 900. The gallery is home to a towering four-story coral reef exhibit. Signature menu items are maple-glazed shrimp wrapped in bacon and blue-cheese-stuffed grapes. Audiovisual amenities are available throughout the museum, including in the Main Exhibit Gallery and at the museum’s IMAX theater. An in-house event coordinator can arrange flowers, linens, entertainment, and tours of the city.
Photo: Next Generation Images
10. The Wychmere Resort
The Wychmere Resort, part of the Longwood Events & Lifestyle Group, hosts 450 for seated functions and 800 for cocktails in its glass-walled Harbor Room, which is 5,200 square feet. The waterfront resort is about an hour and a half south of Boston in the beach community of Harwich Port and was renovated by Longwood in 2010. Popular menu items include the Glam Bake (the resort’s version of a clambake) and regional seafood like miniature lobster rolls with preserved lemon and pancetta-wrapped sea scallops. The resort’s private club has two pools, a beach, and a beachfront tiki bar.
The Wychmere Resort, part of the Longwood Events & Lifestyle Group, hosts 450 for seated functions and 800 for cocktails in its glass-walled Harbor Room, which is 5,200 square feet. The waterfront resort is about an hour and a half south of Boston in the beach community of Harwich Port and was renovated by Longwood in 2010. Popular menu items include the Glam Bake (the resort’s version of a clambake) and regional seafood like miniature lobster rolls with preserved lemon and pancetta-wrapped sea scallops. The resort’s private club has two pools, a beach, and a beachfront tiki bar.
Photo: Courtesy of Longwood Lifestyle & Events
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