WasabiCon

Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center is a unique 275,000 square foot convention center located in downtown Jacksonville, Florida, that combines grand historic architecture with modern technology. Originally built as the Jacksonville Union Terminal in 1919, it was the largest railroad station in the South and served as the rail Gateway to Florida for six decades, handling up to 142 trains and 20,000 passengers daily at its peak. The terminal was converted into a state-of-the-art convention center in 1986, making it the only southern railroad station in the nation to be transformed into a convention facility. The center features 78,500 square feet of continuous exhibit space divisible into two separate halls with 33-foot ceilings, accommodating up to 448 booths. It includes a magnificent Grand Lobby spanning 10,000 square feet with 75-foot ceilings and exquisite marble walls, two ballrooms totaling over 10,000 square feet that can host receptions for up to 800 guests, and 22 meeting rooms designed for various configurations. The venue serves diverse industries hosting conventions, trade shows, meetings, banquets, corporate events, and specialty shows like WasabiCon and the Jax Auto Show. Located in the historic LaVilla neighborhood and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, the center offers abundant parking with 860 spaces, is minutes from Jacksonville International Airport, and sits less than a mile from over 2,300 hotel rooms. The facility is currently managed by Legends Global for the City of Jacksonville and continues to serve as North Florida's premier convention destination.