It’s on the doorstep of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s in the heart of the “new” Daytona Beach. It’s a multi-use facility that hosts conventions, tradeshows, concerts, banquets, family entertainment shows and sporting events. It’s the Ocean Center, open for business with 200,000 square feet of interior meeting space.

The 164,000-square-foot expansion of the Ocean Center, which has doubled the facility’s size, is nearing completion. The $76 million construction project will elevate the facility to one of the largest in Florida, and in the second tier of convention facilities throughout the world.

Business hours
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 
Box office hours
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
 

 

Contact information
Ocean Center
101 N. Atlantic Ave.
Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Phone: (386) 254-4500
Toll-free: (800) 858-6444
Fax: (386) 254-4512

 

 

New space bookings stretch through 2012 and beyond
The first major event in the new Ocean Center space is slated for January 2009 with dates also on the books for 2010, 2011 and beyond. There are several contracts pending and the 2009 calendar shows nearly 300 days of bookings, including a wide variety of dates. To check out the Ocean Center calendar of events, click here

Unique proposal keep costs under control
Two years ago, the Ocean Center expansion was in jeopardy due to construction crews in high demand, spread thin by a hot real estate market. So, in a strategic move to cut costs and increase efficiency, the Volusia County Council directed staff to take over management of the construction project, assigning day-to-day oversight to its owner representative, OCORP Inc. This has helped to keep costs under control, and has protected the contingency fund.

Revenues have kept pace with expenses, even with $76 million in new debt. The one-penny increase in the bed tax, the 2-percent resort tax and operating revenues have contributed to the Ocean Center’s profitable status, something that is welcome news to the Volusia County Council as it grapples with budget shortages on many fronts. County Chair Frank Bruno enlisted community support for a penny increase in the tourist bed tax to fund the expansion project. 

Planning a grand opening to remember
Construction of the new elements of the complex is nearly complete. Renovation of existing elements of the complex will be finished by year’s end. Grand opening festivities grand opening events are planned for early 2009.

Ocean Center expansion: Did you know…

Ocean Center planning grand entrance for grand building

Thanks to a $3 million grant from the voter-approved ECHO program, the county’s Ocean Center will have a grand entrance that will enhance tourism throughout Volusia.

The exceptional category grant from the ECHO grants-in-aid program will be used to create a Cultural Information Center (CIC). The funds will be used for site preparation and construction of the CIC, an enhancement of 51,635 square feet of lobby space with gathering areas, restrooms and concession facilities. It will display works from the “Arts in Public Places” program and have dedicated areas for permanent and visiting art works and cultural displays from all areas of Volusia County. The grand entrance also will include a new façade and entrance along N. Atlantic Avenue.

The CIC will have a staffed desk to provide countywide cultural attractions information to beachside and Ocean Center event attendees. The center will be open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and longer during facility events.

Other features of the new entrance lobby and CIC will be a marquee mural on the west wall above the ballrooms doors, seen from inside and outside the facility. The mural will change with the center’s exhibits. The center and its displays will be in the highest pedestrian traffic area for the venue.