Conferences & Meetings at the RP Funding Center
Located within Lakeland’s walkable downtown, and close to a number of locally owned restaurants and retail shops, the RP Funding Center is the largest multi-purpose convention and entertainment destination in Central Florida. Offering more than 100,000 square feet of meeting, conference and exhibition space, the RP Funding Center is large enough to host socially-distanced events, but small enough to offer exclusive use of the facility. In addition to the exhibit and meeting space the RP Funding Center is also home to a full Broadway production theater, and a 5,000 seat arena. When paired with the two on-site hotels, the newly completed SpringHill Suites and the Hyatt Place, the RP Funding Center can offer a conference experience similar to that of an anchor hotel and conference center.
The RP Funding Center, which completed a full renovation in late 2019, is operated by the City of Lakeland and offers full service conference planning and execution. The facility provides clients with a wide variety of on-site service offerings including an audio/visual production team, building/site security catering and non-union labor and event management services. With a full renovation completed in late 2019 that enhanced the versatility of the RP Funding Center’s meeting and conference spaces, the facility provides the ability to host a wide variety of conventions, exhibitions and trade shows.
Exhibit Hall
The Exhibit Hall is the largest contiguous floor space with 27,848 square feet and is dividable in up to four rooms. The Exhibit Hall is fully carpeted and has the flexibility to host a wide variety of social gatherings, formal dinners, conference sessions and consumer shows. With a 19 foot ceiling height and in-floor power and telephone connections, the Exhibit Hall is also host to trade shows and athletic events.
Sikes Hall
Sikes Hall is the second largest contiguous floor space at the RP Funding Center, with 24,600 square feet of carpeted space. While the entirety of Sikes Hall can accommodate 1,300 attendees in a classroom setup (pre-COVID) and up to 1,100 attendees in a banquet setup (pre-COVID), the versatility of Sikes Hall is that it can be configured in up to seven separate multi-purpose rooms and breakout spaces.
Lake Hollingsworth Ballroom
The Lake Hollingsworth Ballroom is a 5,089 square foot carpeted ballroom, perfectly suited for wedding receptions, banquets, business meetings, lectures and seminars. The full ballroom can accommodate up to 464 attendees theater style (pre-COVID) or be divided into two equal spaces totaling 2,518 square feet each.
Youkey Theater
The Youkey Theater is a full Broadway production theater that hosts a wide variety of national performing acts, comedy shows, dance competitions, symphony performances and plays. On non-performance dates the 2,168 seat theater, and its 4,400 square foot theater lobby, provide the perfect setting for general sessions, keynote addresses, product launches and a variety of corporate events.
Jenkins Arena
Prior to the construction of the RP Funding Center, the Jenkins Arena was the center of the concert universe in Central Florida, hosting music legends such as Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin and Rod Stewart. Today it plays host to the Orlando Magic’s G-League Affiliate Team, The Lakeland Magic and the Lakeland Tropics who play in the Major Indoor Soccer League. On non-event days the Jenkins Arena hosts a wide variety of events including trade shows, banquets, product launches, automobile shows educational events and commencement ceremonies. The Jenkins Arena offers 4,100 fixed area seats, a 24,000 square foot arena floor, four small meeting rooms, LED scoreboard and ribbon boards and concert sound capabilities. Even for more intimate events the arena can be configured into an “arenatorium” half-house setting.
Smaller Event/Breakout Spaces
The Lake Parker Room is 2,000 square feet of carpeted space, that can be divided into two rooms and the Lake Morton Room offers 1,298 square feet of carpeted space. Both rooms are perfect for hosting breakout sessions, board meetings, seminars and small banquets. For events looking for an executive boardroom, or dedicated event office space, the VIP Suite provides a conference table for 8-10 attendees and a separate private restroom.
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Conferences & Meetings at the RP Funding Center
Located within Lakeland’s walkable downtown, and close to a number of locally owned restaurants and retail shops, the RP Funding Center is the largest multi-purpose convention and entertainment destination in Central Florida. Offering more than 100,000 square feet of meeting, conference and exhibition space, the RP Funding Center is large enough to host socially-distanced events, but small enough to offer exclusive use of the facility. In addition to the exhibit and meeting space the RP Funding Center is also home to a full Broadway production theater, and a 5,000 seat arena. When paired with the two on-site hotels, the newly completed SpringHill Suites and the Hyatt Place, the RP Funding Center can offer a conference experience similar to that of an anchor hotel and conference center.
The RP Funding Center, which completed a full renovation in late 2019, is operated by the City of Lakeland and offers full service conference planning and execution. The facility provides clients with a wide variety of on-site service offerings including an audio/visual production team, building/site security catering and non-union labor and event management services. With a full renovation completed in late 2019 that enhanced the versatility of the RP Funding Center’s meeting and conference spaces, the facility provides the ability to host a wide variety of conventions, exhibitions and trade shows.
Exhibit Hall
The Exhibit Hall is the largest contiguous floor space with 27,848 square feet and is dividable in up to four rooms. The Exhibit Hall is fully carpeted and has the flexibility to host a wide variety of social gatherings, formal dinners, conference sessions and consumer shows. With a 19 foot ceiling height and in-floor power and telephone connections, the Exhibit Hall is also host to trade shows and athletic events.
Sikes Hall
Sikes Hall is the second largest contiguous floor space at the RP Funding Center, with 24,600 square feet of carpeted space. While the entirety of Sikes Hall can accommodate 1,300 attendees in a classroom setup (pre-COVID) and up to 1,100 attendees in a banquet setup (pre-COVID), the versatility of Sikes Hall is that it can be configured in up to seven separate multi-purpose rooms and breakout spaces.
Lake Hollingsworth Ballroom
The Lake Hollingsworth Ballroom is a 5,089 square foot carpeted ballroom, perfectly suited for wedding receptions, banquets, business meetings, lectures and seminars. The full ballroom can accommodate up to 464 attendees theater style (pre-COVID) or be divided into two equal spaces totaling 2,518 square feet each.
Youkey Theater
The Youkey Theater is a full Broadway production theater that hosts a wide variety of national performing acts, comedy shows, dance competitions, symphony performances and plays. On non-performance dates the 2,168 seat theater, and its 4,400 square foot theater lobby, provide the perfect setting for general sessions, keynote addresses, product launches and a variety of corporate events.
Jenkins Arena
Prior to the construction of the RP Funding Center, the Jenkins Arena was the center of the concert universe in Central Florida, hosting music legends such as Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin and Rod Stewart. Today it plays host to the Orlando Magic’s G-League Affiliate Team, The Lakeland Magic and the Lakeland Tropics who play in the Major Indoor Soccer League. On non-event days the Jenkins Arena hosts a wide variety of events including trade shows, banquets, product launches, automobile shows educational events and commencement ceremonies. The Jenkins Arena offers 4,100 fixed area seats, a 24,000 square foot arena floor, four small meeting rooms, LED scoreboard and ribbon boards and concert sound capabilities. Even for more intimate events the arena can be configured into an “arenatorium” half-house setting.
Smaller Event/Breakout Spaces
The Lake Parker Room is 2,000 square feet of carpeted space, that can be divided into two rooms and the Lake Morton Room offers 1,298 square feet of carpeted space. Both rooms are perfect for hosting breakout sessions, board meetings, seminars and small banquets. For events looking for an executive boardroom, or dedicated event office space, the VIP Suite provides a conference table for 8-10 attendees and a separate private restroom.
