Prairie Capital Convention Center

This is my third time at this venue (for the ICCA Championships) and while it's clean, the stairs are steep with no lights on the steps. During the cheer competition the lights are off, which is necessary for the performances but it's not safe for the spectators moving around the facility. The ICCA runs a nice even at this facility.
For safety purposes I would definitely recommend some type of lighting in the stairs.

I spent some time in Springfield this past weekend. I went to a Delorean Convention! It was a blast. This convention center is modern, immaculate, and located downtown next to the Abraham Lincoln Doubletree by Hilton Hotel. The hotel catered the dinner on Thursday night and the food and service were both excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to return.

Ugh this place is f*cked. I had the displeasure of attending the bf's graduation ceremony last week at this venue, and, as a former house manager, I can safely say that this was one of the most ill-planned events I have ever attended. Combined with the envelope of the way this place was constructed, it was horrible. Here are the specifics:

When we walked in (a few minutes after the 3-hour long ceremony had begun), the lobby was THRONGED with masses of uncomfortable, anxious, and confused-as-hell people who could not negotiate the cord and get into the auditorium. Why were they trapped in the lobby, do you ask? BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY TO GET UPSTAIRS TO ANY FREAKING SEATS WAS VIA TWO SMALL ELEVATORS. There were stairs on the other side of the doors to the auditorium, but some genius thought those doors should be Officially Closed once the graduates took their seats. That meant at least a 30-minute wait to get up to the seating area to climb to the very top row of the third tier of seating and suffer from vertigo. BOOOO.

Came here for the 2011 inaugural ball.... pretty Baller! That's really all I have to say...

My family and I Just attended an ICCA (cheer Competition) here at PCCA. Theconvention center staff was grossly lacking in customer service skills.
My impression only got worse as the day went on. I would NEVER schedule a conference or event here!
The first inconvenience was just confusing. At each of the qualifying competitions, the halls were full of shirts, bags, and merchandise for sale. At this event, however, the merchandise was set up in the basement of a hotel ACROSS THE STREET.
The restroom stink! They weren't clean!
The cheerleaders were instructed to sit in the mezzanine and their families below. When my step daughter was finished I went to give her a hug, climbed the rail, and reached over to hug my girl I was so proud of. Before I knew what happened someone was shining a flashlight directly in my face from inches away. A man RUDELY said "don't climb on the rail!" I surprisingly said "oh, I'm sorry." he just stared at for several awkward seconds with his light still in my face. If it didn't take me so long to realize "uh, oh yeah. I'm an adult" I would have had enough whit to respond "sorry, Kirk" just a simple "excuse me, ma'am. Please don't climb the rail" would have sufficed... And been much less awkward for all those around including the two SEPARATE people who commented on the rudeness of it.
Later in the afternoon I saw a young teenager climb over a small rail and jokingly said "hun, I got in a lot of trouble for that earlier. No joke. Like light in my face. Yelled at me in front of my kid. And I'm an adult. But really it's not safe." she quickly climbed down and get friend said "I know it's ridiculous here! I was going to give my hoodie to my mom earlier and some lady pulled me back and yelled at me. She was like, 'I will give it to your mom! You're a cheerleader and you're not suppose to be in the bleachers!"I asked if it was someone with ICCA cheer or with the convention center. She said "its the girl with the band and blonde hair in the neon green shirt. She pulled me back." she was obviously referring to one of the convention center employee who was in charge of the stanctions during performances. I told her to make sure and tell her mom what the lady had done. She repeated, "it's ridiculous how rude some people are"
My third incident (yes, the list continues) is when we get a text from the cheer coach that there's a group of girls at the concessions who are hungry. By the time w get to concessions, it's closed. My step daughter said, "they yelled at us and closed it." the cheer coach explained, "yeah. She was really rude. She was like yelling 'we're out of food. We're out of food " my step daughter interrupted to say they had chips and muffins. The cheer coach asked if they could at least but drinks. They did then they closed the only concession stands in the entire center... Before the competition was over. !?? There were two soda machines... One of them was even working!
Fortunately we left before awards were over because on the way home we got a text that the convention center parking garage arm was "out of order". At least six vehicles with our school were stuck in the parking garage for over 30 minutes. That's unlawful restraint. They could have lifted those arms. My step daughter is a diabetic. There have been times that being restrained in a car for 30 minutes and unable to move could become dangerous.

Terrible, terrible customer service!