Erie Events history

The brigs Niagara and the Lawrence, which Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry led to victory in the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie, were launched from Dobbins’ shipyards, securing Erie County’s place in the history books.

After an 1823 fire destroyed that building, a second, similar structure was built near the same site.

That building, which cost the county $63,000 to construct in 1852, remains today as the west wing of the existing courthouse.

In 1889, the building was expanded north and east, with a large courtroom added on the second floor.

The county continued to outgrow the building, and the current east wing of the courthouse was added in 1930.

1959 St Lawrence Seaway opens, a young Queen Elizabeth marks the occasion with a visit on the royal yacht.

A feasibility study was undertaken in 1999 to explore the possibility of building a convention center on the Bayfront.

2000 Congress establishes Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to help preserve and interpret New York State’s historic canal system and the communities along its banks.

In 2001, the Commonwealth approved a $32 million RACP grant for the convention center project.

In 2003, the Authority redoubled its efforts to find a private hotel developer which would build a host hotel that was of a size and quality necessary to make the convention center a success.

Since 2007, the Convention Center development has been a vital catalyst behind the City of Erie’s bayfront reclamation and revitalization.

That bond issue served as a necessary match to the $44 million State RACP Grant (increased from the previously approved amount of $32 million). A new waterfront site was selected and the Erie Sheraton Bayfront Hotel opened in 2008,shortly after the Bayfront Convention Center was completed.

2014 146,451 Convention Center attendees, 30 conventions and conferences, 422 business meetings and corporate events, 88 banquets and 29 other events. $16.7 million in direct spending.

2015 150,277 Convention Center attendees, 45 conventions and conferences, 333 business meetings and corporate events, 96 banquets and 34 other events. $18.4 million in direct spending

The Courtyard Bayfront Hotel opened in 2016 and was immediately ranked in the top 1% of the 980 Courtyard brand hotels in North America.

2017 143,014 Convention Center attendees, 40 conventions and conferences, 182 business meetings and corporate events, 104 banquets and 37 other events. $22.8 million in direct spending.

2018 133,686 Convention Center attendees, 36 conventions and conferences, 151 business meetings and corporate events, 109 banquets and 30 other events. $19.4 million in direct spending.

The market house plan has already received a $1.5 million state grant, awarded in 2019, and Erie Events was seeking up to an additional $3.5 million from Gov.

The board will have an official website for all information moving forward, by the end of 2020.