Beyond this building pulses the heart of Sāo Paulo’s event scene. This is the Anhembi Convention Center. As one of Latin America’s largest event spaces, Anhembi hosts fairs, conferences, and of course Carnival.
The Anhembi Convention Center is more than just a venue. It’s a cultural landmark. The city of Sāo Paulo chose GL events to manage this historic site. GL events took over in January 2022.
The Anhembi Convention Center boasts impressive features. There is a large exhibition area with three halls. This spans 76,225 square meters. An integrated congress center offers 36,000 square meters of event space. It includes auditoriums, halls, and modular rooms.
The “Grande Othello” is a unique space. This former Sambadrome is now called the “Cultural Promenade”. It hosts the Sāo Paulo Carnival each year. Concerts, shows, film shoots, and even car testing happen here.
Looking ahead, a major modernization is planned for Anhembi. GL events will renovate the exhibition halls. They will construct a new congress center. This new center will exceed 100,000 square meters. A state-of-the-art arena with 20,000 seats is also planned. Live Nation and Oak View Group are partnering in this project.
By 2024, Anhembi will be a large event complex. It will cover 400,000 square meters. The complex includes an arena and a theater. There is also the Cultural Promenade. The renovated exhibition center and a new international congress center will also be included. The goal is to restore Anhembi’s standing as a major event venue.
Before renovations, Anhembi could hold up to 50,000 people. The total area was 400,000 square meters. The exhibition area alone was 76,225 square meters. The congress area included auditoriums with 100 to 2,505 seats. Meeting rooms and an exhibition area were available. The Sambadrome held over 21,000 in seating. Its exhibition area was 102,682 square meters.
Anhembi hosts diverse events. These range from conferences and congresses to graduation ceremonies. Concerts, festivals, shows, and sporting events also take place here.
A key feature is the parking. It offers 6,000 spaces. There are also close to 7,600 hotel rooms nearby.
The Anhembi Sambadrome is part of the Anhembi Convention Center. Oscar Niemeyer designed it. It opened in 1991. Its capacity is impressive at 103,200 people.
The Sambadrome is 530 meters long and 14 meters wide. It has a flood-proof concrete floor. The water polo holds 40,000 liters of water. It has 750 kW of track lighting.
The Sambadrome hosts about 30 events annually. The Sāo Paulo carnival is a major highlight. Musical performances, concerts, and Independence Day celebrations occur here. It also hosts sporting events and classic car fairs.
Anhembi stands as a testament to Sāo Paulo’s vibrant culture. It is a space where events come to life. It is a place where memories are made. As we conclude our visit here today, remember Anhembi. Remember its impact on Sāo Paulo. Remember its role in Latin America’s event landscape.