Waco
Waco has a population of about 130,000 residents and about 15,000 students at Baylor University, so “they’re a pretty big portion of our whole community,” said Carla Pendergraft, director of marketing for the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They bring that younger vibe to Waco.”
McLane Stadium sits on the shores of the Brazos River, and the stadium’s Baylor Club offers several event spaces for large groups and smaller breakout sessions. The ballroom has floor-to-ceiling windows that provide views of downtown and can accommodate up to 500 guests for receptions or 380 for banquets. The President’s Suite, which “overlooks the stadium and sits practically over the river,” works well for 150-person receptions and has a balcony. Groups can also tour the riverside football stadium, where people tailgate and “sailgate” on the Brazos.
The Bill Daniel Student Center has a dozen event rooms and function areas, the largest of which is the 3,250-square-foot Barfield Drawing Room. Campus guests can also take advantage of free admission to the Martin Museum of Art, and groups can visit the Mayborn Museum and use it for events.
Two of Baylor’s most famous alumni are also driving huge tourism numbers in Waco: Chip and Joanna Gaines are the married duo behind HGTV’s smash hit “Fixer Upper” and the new Magnolia Market at the Silos.
Lubbock
In Lubbock, the energy from Texas Tech University (TTU) resonates through “the whole city; even if you didn’t go to Texas Tech, you know what’s going on,” said Amy Zientek, director of sales for Visit Lubbock. “The school helps give Lubbock a vibe. There’s an energy that goes along with the school, always.”
Meeting attendees can always find activities and attractions through the university — performances, concerts, games, museums and more — and planners can book several on-campus venues.
One of the most used is the 15,000-seat United Supermarkets Arena, which has hosted Promise Keepers, Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live and the statewide Texas FFA Convention, which drew 12,000 people. The arena also has event rooms and dedicated meeting space. The City Bank Conference Center has four rooms that can each accommodate 90 people for seated events or 120 for receptions, or the rooms can be joined to host receptions for up to 480 people. Club Red is also available for private events.
Groups can gather in function space in Jones AT&T Stadium, which will put up logos or welcome messages on the Jumbotron. The university drumline and cheerleaders once met a group at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center, which has 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, and led them more than a block to the stadium. There, TTU’s Raider Red mascot met attendees on the field for photos.
Laredo
The city of Laredo, Texas, sits on the banks of the Rio Grande River and on the border with Mexico. Laredo is home to more than 250,000 residents and to students at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), part of the Texas A&M University system.
Groups can take advantage of several venues on the school’s 300-acre campus. The largest event room in the Student Center is a ballroom that can seat 450 for meals or be split into three smaller spaces. The university’s Western Hemispheric Trade Center has several auditoriums and conference rooms, as well as a ballroom that seats up to 190 people for banquets.
The TAMIU Center for Fine and Performing Arts has several event spaces, including the 452-seat theater and a smaller black-box theater. The center’s recital hall accommodates over 800 guests, and another rehearsal hall has space for 100 people.
The Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium opened in 2005 and has a new-generation digital projector, which allows audiences to see what only high-powered telescopes can see. The glass-pyramid planetarium accepts group reservations and is available for events.
TAMIU also manages Casa Ortiz, an 1830 building in Historic Laredo that offers views over the Rio Grande River into Mexico and has a courtyard garden. Groups of up to 35 can use the house and meeting room for seminars or meals, or up to 75 guests can mingle in the courtyard for receptions.
