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Go Bigger in Texas with these Large Austin Event Venues

From high-energy sports arenas to high-tech live music theaters, these large capacity event venues around Austin can accommodate a crowd. Choose from indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as versatile venues that feature distinct areas and breakout rooms.

Aerial view of the Palmer Event Center and greenspace with the downtown Austin skyline in the background
Palmer Events Center. Courtesy of Austin Convention Center Department.

Austin Convention Center

Capacity: largest room: 20,333; rooms and set-up capacities vary
Centrally located in the heart of downtown, this sprawling space covers six city blocks and includes the four-story convention facility (comprised of five contiguous exhibit halls with more than 247,000 square feet of column-free space, plus seven ballrooms, 54 meeting rooms and show offices), as well as the 10-story Brazos Street parking garage and the five-story East 5th Street parking garage. The Austin Convention Center has amenities such as complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, catering and beverage services, an exclusive security team, and LEED Gold Certification and Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation — the gold standard for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention and preparedness.

Palmer Events Center

Capacity: 5,552 max indoor capacity; rooms and set-up capacities vary
Overlooking Lady Bird Lake and downtown Austin, this indoor-outdoor venue offers two column-free exhibit halls with 70,000 square feet of space, 5,000 square feet of meeting space on the second level, plus outdoor canopy-covered space adding 50,000 square feet. The Palmer Events Center has LEED Gold Certification and GBAC STAR™ accreditation, and includes a dedicated 24-hour security team. The on-site catering department works with 30-plus vendors to provide local flavors, from Tex-Mex to barbecue.

Todd Henry stands on stage at ACL Live at the Moody Theater with three screens behind him, during a presentation at Spredfast
Courtesy ACL Live at the Moody Theater.

Austin City Limits (ACL) Live at The Moody Theater

Capacity: 2,750
This venue in the heart of the Live Music Capital of the World® is home to the longest-running music series in television history — Austin City Limits Live — and hosts more than 100 private events per year, including SXSW, industry conferences and benefit galas. Meeting planners can utilize an array of event management services at The Moody Theater such as ticketing, live stream capabilities, staging, talent buying, event marketing, security, valet services and more.

Moody Center at The University of Texas

Capacity: 15,000+; 10,000 seated for basketball games
Slated to open spring 2022, this brand new $338 million indoor event venue was designed specifically for concerts, and will also host The University of Texas women’s and men’s basketball games. In addition to arena seating, the Moody Center will also offer four distinct club areas: the Ultra Premium Club, a speakeasy-inspired space with a private entrance; South Club, touting classic Austin design touches; Establishment Club, with rich oak and mahogany; and Dell Technologies Club, featuring interactive technologies. The venue will also offer local culinary and beverage options.

Empty Meeting Room at Circuit of the Americas with five two-top tables in front of a wall of windows. Outside the window, the racetrack is visible
Courtesy of Circuit of the Americas.

Circuit of The Americas™ (COTA)

Capacity: 150,000
With numerous indoor and outdoor event venues, Circuit of The Americas' sprawling complex can accommodate up to 150,000 attendees across its 1,400-acre property, able to host everything from premier motorsports events and live music festivals to corporate events and conferences. Adding to the existing amenities, COTALAND, a kid-friendly amusement park with more than 18 rides and attractions, is slated to open in the grand plaza of the racetrack complex in summer 2022.

Carson Creek Ranch

Capacity: 50,000 total; seated terrace: 2,000
With 60 acres of wide-open ranch grounds, this outdoor event space features a waterfront amphitheater on the Colorado River, parking areas, and well-maintained camping and trailer grounds for on-site accommodations. Carson Creek Ranch's versatile space is ideal for food festivals, concerts, multiday events, and public or private events. Its close proximity to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and downtown Austin make it convenient for both locals and out-of-town attendees.

Aerial view of Moody Amphitheater in evening sun. There is a crowd on the open lawn and in seats near the pavilion stage. The State Capitol building is visible behind the amphitheater
Waterloo Park, Moody Amphitheater. Credit John Sutfin.

Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park

Capacity: 5,000
Situated in the heart of the 11-acre Waterloo Park in downtown Austin, with the Texas State Capitol building as its backdrop, the outdoor Moody Amphitheater provides a vibrant space for festivals, concerts and performing arts productions. An ADA entrance, seating, restrooms and parking are available for guests with disabilities. Interpreter services are also available, with a two-week notice.

Travis County Exposition Center

Capacity: 40,000 total; banquet hall: 1,000; arena: 9,000; Skyline Club: 450
Just seven miles from downtown, the Travis County Exposition Center hosts indoor and outdoor music showcases, formal banquets, private parties, car shows and various sporting and livestock events (like the annual Rodeo Austin). The banquet hall offers 20,000 square feet of versatile space, with a capacity of 800-1000. The Leudecke Arena offers 25,000 square feet of arena space, with room for 6,400-9,000 guests depending on set up. And the Skyline Club has a capacity of 450, with 10,000 square feet for space with a balcony and panoramic view of the Austin skyline.

Austin FC's Q2 Stadium Captain Morgan Club with a long bar along one wall and people seated at tables in front of the open windows
Q2 Stadium, Captain Morgan Club. Credit Gensler.

Q2 Stadium

Capacity: Stadium: 20,500; amphitheater: 2,500; Captain Morgan Club: 700
Q2 Stadium is a multipurpose venue in north Austin which hosts a range of large-scale spectator events, including Major League Soccer (home of Austin FC), U.S. Women’s National Team and U.S. Men’s National Team soccer matches, live concerts and cultural events. Beneath the 4,000 space supporters on the south end sits a permanent concert stage, with a multicolored LED sport lighting system that can be used for festival-style shows. Next to the stadium, on the east side, is another 2,500-capacity amphitheater, with the adjacent 700-capacity Captain Morgan Club for indoor-outdoor events, making it easy to host events of a variety of sizes.

Need more venue ideas for your next large Austin event? Search and compare venues in Austin with the Austin Special Event Venues Tool, which allows you to filter and find the right event space based on capacity, location, amenities and more.