I want to love this place. There is so much potential here, but it just never seems to fully hit its stride, no matter what event is happening. I've been to many different events at this location over the past 10+ years from high proms and comic cons to library conferences and craft shows and I'm just never fully happy in the end. For starters, every craft event I have ever been to at this location always seems so chaotic. I always feel bad for folks selling in the hallways because there is just never a good flow to get from booth to booth. The concession stand food prices are outrageous for what you get...$6 for a pretzel that had clearly been chilling in the case from the day before...and just bleh. There could be something great here, but it just misses the mark every time. read more

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We went to a train show here and it was nice! The vendors had a bunch of N scale supplies and a lot of scenery to buy from! They have a lot of train displays to get inspired from and a lot of brands to choose from when shopping! Superb! read more

Gateway Center - Train Show - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Collinsville, Illinois

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I've been here multiple times for a variety of events and have not been disappointed. They've provided good services and the amenities for all the different events matched accordingly. My first experience was a dog show. They had the various vendors set-up in lobby and extra wide hallways wrapping around the various ballrooms and conference rooms. In the large ballroom, was the actual show. Everything went smooth. I just was just an attendee, but saw no problems. Second and third visits were doing the pandemic. I came here to get my first and second vaccines. The flow and organization was pretty amazing, I was in and out very quickly. Then my most recent visit was for the, River & Routes Tourism Bureau Annual Summit. The set up had a good flow, it was able to handle over 375 guest registering and then going through a buffet line for lunch. In the ballroom the acoustics were acceptable and every table had a good view of the stage. The staff working the conference room, were quick to clear dishes quietly and to refill water pitchers on the tables. Overall, in my opinion, they do a good job. read more

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Lots of great events hosted here, a very professional environment rather you are hosting or attending an event.

We recently held our wedding at Gateway Center, and although it was quite pricey and we had some communication hiccups along the way, the day went off without a hitch and everyone had a blast. I don't think I would have changed a thing. Thank you all for your help and making our big day amazing! read more

Everything is wonderful at the Gateway Center - from the location, facilities, amenities, to the staff. And believe me, we took full advantage of it all! My husband and I decided on the Gateway Center for our wedding ceremony and reception (2007). It's located conveniently near all major St. Louis interstates and only a short distance from downtown St. Louis. There are several hotels in the area and restaurants to suit every taste. We selected a private room at Porter's Steakhouse (next door to the Gateway Center) for the rehearsal dinner. Our wedding ceremony was in one of the Gateway Center's conference rooms which comfortably seated 180. The smaller room offered the intimate setting we were hoping for. And it was incredibly close to our beautiful reception location - across the hall in one of the Gateway Center's ballrooms! The caterer worked with us to get the food selection we wanted at a price we could afford. And when disaster set in with news of our wedding cake from the baker, I was more than amazed when the Gateway Center staff stepped in to help pull it all together. We wanted a simple, intimate wedding with all the elegant touches. Black and white table accents, beautiful lighting, lots of candles, and the reassurance it was all taken care of in one place. My husband and I agree, if we were planning our wedding all over again, we wouldn't change a thing. The Gateway Center has it all. read more

Gateway is hosting a Pokémon turn. there doing a good job with the kids and young adults, But the problem i have they don't want you to bring out-side food but the lines are long they don't have time too be standing in line before there next round and the cost of the food is a lot for these Boys and girls $9 for a box lunch and $5 for a hotdog, $3 for a bottle of pop or water, just silly!! read more

Gateway Center - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Collinsville, Illinois

I was here for a work conference. The room was freezing. You had to stand in the lobby to use the Wi-Fi. Food was okay. They ran out of coffee. Not my favorite place. read more

I go to a lot of cons, and thus, have experienced a lot of Convention Centres. I went here for the 2007 NASFiC which was also Archon for the year and was simply unimpressed with the space. It's sad because I really would have liked it. The first thing is that it's located in the middle of freakin' nowhere from the point of view of someone who isn't from around those parts. It's about 30 minutes out of town, with no direct way to get there except for SuperShuttle, which costs a ton. A Taxi will run you 'OH MY GOD!" and if you try to take the lightrail you're a fool. Just a fool. Now, once you're there, there's everything you need to keep yourself from experience too much of the world outside the convention center area. There are varying levels of restaurant within walking distance and a dozen or so hotels. I stayed at the Drury Inn. There's a Mexican place, whcih is OK, and there's a White Castle, which I put a hurt on the first day I was there. There's a lovely Rudy Tuesday, and after years of seeing their commercials in a state that has no Ruby Tuesday, I was glad to get to see one in person. The real problem is the Convention Centre itself. The rooms are weirdly set-up and I had a real problem finding the rooms where the various programmes were. The signage was poor and at a couple of points it seemed to indicate that the same room was in two different places. The thing could handle a good-sized con, but it also had some serious bottlenecks that you don't have to deal with at the best CCs. read more

Attended a wedding here this past weekend. Although the venue was very nice, the food was horrible. The chicken was really dry, like it was cooked the day before or left over from the day before and tried to reheat. The pasta dish was cold, the cheese was very hard...dry, dry, dry. Needed lots of water to get this stuff down. The only thing that was good was the salad. read more

This facility has a lot of flexible space for the groups of 10 all the way to 2,000. They have an on-site catering team for any food and beverage needs. They also have in-house audio visual and decor items. Everyone is great to work with there from booking the space to the planning to finalizing menus. read more

Recently we attended an awards banquet at the Gateway Center and I was really impressed. Located in Collinsville, IL, the Center is fairly easy to find off the highway. We were in one of the ballrooms that they transformed for the evening! All the staff was extremely nice and helpful, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was elegant. One big perk, they had tons of women's restrooms! Yea for a conference center with plenty of stalls! I bet this would be a nice place for a wedding. Something to consider next time you need a place to hold an event. read more

Was at a wedding reception in July, water was undrinkable. Servers were rude and made no effort to assist at anytime. Food was mediocre at best. If your friends invite you to a get together there, make other plans. read more

I would never recommend as a venue for a wedding very inflexible. The day of the venue not allowed into the facilities not until very late in the afternoon and they don't have available refrigeration for the cake. Amazing what they charge and lacking in assistance. I don't understand why you pay a deposit if they are not accommodating. Amazing in the hospitality business but are not very hospitable. Would recommend so many other venues out there. read more

NEVER, *EVER*, schedule a wedding or anything you want to go right here. The staff was more obsessed over some dance competition--which what was heard thumping, loud music, and cheering RIGHT next door DURING the ceremony--than my friends one special day. This place is huge; YOU DONT SCHEDULE A *WEDDING* RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO A LOUD AS ALL GET OUT DANCE COMPETITION!!!! We were late TO the wedding because of their precious little competition next door, because they wouldn't let us walk BACKSTAGE in order to get TO the wedding. Not only that, after the wedding they told us to wait to get the reception because there were girls rehearsing in the lobby. OH! And when you get to the bar for a reception? Don't expect them to serve alcohol when you get there; expect to wait a couple hours for them to serve you $5.45 beers. They told my friend everything would be taken care of.... SHE HAD TO DECORATE NEARLY EVERYTHING HERSELF!!! And this was only HOURS before the wedding that we realized practically NOTHING was done in the reception hall; they put tables and chairs, black table cloths and that's IT! NEGATIVE one million stars, I PRAY the family gets their money back read more

As a staff member of Illinois State University, we have used the Gateway Center for serveral years for one of our annual Freshman Information Nights. The staff are amazing - they take care of all the details for you. The meeting rooms are clean, spacious, and accommodating for your needs. I have often said I wish I could take this venue on the road! The Gateway Center rocks! read more

Very disappointed in the banquet I attended. Staff was not refilling water at the table, even when we asked several times. The staff was very loud during our presentation and had to be asked to be quiet. Food was good. read more