Walk around downtown Wichita long enough and you’ll eventually hit the river. When you do, you can't miss it. A massive, pale-blue saucer that looks like it was plucked straight out of a 1960s sci-fi flick and plopped onto the Kansas prairie. That’s the Wichita Century II Convention Center. Some people love it. Others? They’ve been trying to tear it down for years.
Honestly, it’s the most polarizing building in the state.
Opened in 1969 to celebrate the city’s centennial, Century II isn’t just a "building." It’s a multi-headed beast. It’s a theater, a concert hall, an expo center, and a historical lightning rod. If you're heading there for a Broadway show, a massive gun show, or maybe just a corporate seminar on logistics, there is a lot of ground to cover. Literally. We’re talking nearly 200,000 square feet of exhibit space.
The Design: A Love Letter to the Prairie?
John Hickman, the architect behind the blue dome, was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. You can tell. It has those low, sweeping lines and that organic feel Wright was famous for. Hickman’s daughter, Susan, once mentioned that the sand-colored pillars represent wheat fields, and the blue roof is meant to mirror the endless Kansas sky.
It’s poetic. But it’s also a giant circle.
Logistically, circles are weird for conventions. Most booths are square. Most stages are rectangular. When you try to fit those into a "wedge-shaped" room, things get interesting. The lobby actually wraps around the entire main level. If you get lost, just keep walking; eventually, you’ll end up back where you started.
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What’s actually inside the Wichita Century II Convention Center?
The place is divided into several distinct zones. You’ve got:
- The Concert Hall: This is the big one. 2,195 seats. It’s where the Wichita Symphony Orchestra lives. The acoustics are surprisingly tight for a building that looks like a UFO.
- Mary Jane Teall Theater: A much more intimate 652-seat spot. Perfect for local plays and lectures.
- Convention Hall: A massive space that can hold about 5,000 people. It’s got retractable seating, so it can go from a general session to a banquet floor pretty quickly.
- Bob Brown Expo Hall: This was a 1986 addition. It’s huge—93,000 square feet on its own. If you’re at a car show or a home expo, you’re probably spending your time here.
The $500 Million Question: To Raze or to Renovate?
If you want to start a fight at a Wichita coffee shop, just bring up the "Save Century II" movement. For a decade, city leaders have been back and forth on whether the building is a landmark or a money pit.
Experts say it needs roughly $272 million just to get up to modern standards. To tear it down and build something state-of-the-art? You're looking at closer to $500 million. In 2020, the building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places, which made the "tear it down" crowd’s job a lot harder.
The critics aren't just being mean-spirited. They point to real issues. The loading docks are awkward. The electrical systems are aging. The layout makes it hard to attract those massive national conventions that want sleek, glass-and-steel boxes. But the preservationists argue that you can't buy history. Once that blue dome is gone, it's gone.
What's Happening in 2026?
The schedule for the Wichita Century II Convention Center is surprisingly packed this year. It remains the heartbeat of the city's cultural scene despite the drama over its future.
- Broadway is back. Shows like Water for Elephants (January) and Hadestown (March) are anchoring the Concert Hall season.
- The Home Shows. The 72nd WABA Home Show & Market Place is hitting the Expo Hall at the end of January.
- Local Traditions. The Wichita Flea Market and the "Cars for Charities" show are still staples.
One of the coolest hidden gems inside is the 1926 Wurlitzer Organ. It originally lived in the Paramount Theatre in New York City. When that theater was demolished, the organ was saved and eventually found its way here in the 1970s. It’s a monster of an instrument and it still sounds incredible during special performances.
Pro-Tips for Your Visit
If you're actually planning to attend an event at the Wichita Century II Convention Center, don't just wing it.
Parking is a thing. There are about 1,200 spaces nearby, but for a sell-out Broadway show or a massive Expo weekend, those fill up fast. Use the parking garages north of Douglas or look for the surface lots near the Hyatt Regency.
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Stay connected. The center is physically attached to the Hyatt Regency Wichita. If you're coming from out of town, just stay there. You can walk from your room to the convention floor without ever stepping outside into a Kansas windstorm.
Explore the Riverfront. Don't just sit in the hall. The building is right on the east bank of the Arkansas River. Walk north to see the Keeper of the Plains statue or south toward the Delano District for some actually good food.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Trip
- Check the Layout: If you're an exhibitor, remember the wedge shape. Standard 10x10 booths work fine in the Expo Hall, but the Convention Hall's circular nature requires a bit more planning.
- Book Early: For Broadway shows, the Concert Hall's "continental seating" (no center aisle) means you want to be careful about which side of the row you’re on.
- Support Local: Visit the Wichita Symphony or Music Theatre Wichita. These organizations are the reason this building still has a pulse.
- Voice Your Opinion: The city is still making long-term decisions about the riverfront. If you care about the architecture, keep an eye on the city council sessions.
The Wichita Century II Convention Center is a survivor. It's outlasted its predecessor (The Forum), survived multiple demolition threats, and remains the most recognizable silhouette in the 316. Whether you think it’s a masterpiece of Mid-Century Modernism or a relic that's past its prime, you have to admit—it gives Wichita a personality that a standard glass convention box never could.
What to Do Next
If you're planning a visit, check the official Century II event calendar for the most up-to-date ticket availability. For those interested in the preservation side, the Save Century II archives offer a deep look into the legal and cultural battle to keep the dome standing. If you're a history buff, head to the Bob Brown Expo Hall entrance to find the bronze plaque marking the site of "Dutch Bill" Greiffenstein's original 1871 home.