San Diego Convention Center

San Diego Convention Center Sails Pavilion

Convention event support · Embarcadero

Turning ideas into action

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“Above the Line” refers to the list of individuals who guide and influence the creative direction, process, and voice of a given narrative.

— Wikipedia

525,701sq ft exhibit A–H
90,000sq ft Sails Pavilion
50loading docks

Events at San Diego Convention Center

Support for your hotel event is our priority. Our Southern California warehouse was sited to speed deliveries to top venues on the coast — including halls A–H and the Sails Pavilion at 111 W Harbor Drive — waterfront sails. Two ballrooms 80,706 combined. 72 meeting rooms.

The rooms

Sizes and capacities from the hotel’s published capacity chart. Production notes are how Above the Line typically outfits each space.

Exhibit halls A–H — exterior detail from licensed venue photo

Exhibit halls A–H

525,701 contiguous · ceilings 27'–64' · 8 drive-in accesses

Hall A theater 4,500. Combined A–C theater 20,000. Exclusive AV is typical — confirm overlay.

  • 20,000 A–C theater
  • 12,640 A–C banquet
  • Classroom
  • 20,000 A–C reception

Convention-scale LED and line arrays. Rig to house points.

Sails Pavilion interior at San Diego Convention Center

Sails Pavilion

90,000 sq ft column-free upper level · bay glass

Terraces 184,500. Prefunction 284,494. Ballrooms 80,706.

Plot to SDCC

Wide LED. Do not fight the sails.

50 docks — exterior detail from licensed venue photo

50 docks

30-ft elephant door at Hall H

House production rules first. We overlay when allowed.

Plot to visitsandiego.com

Ground-stack LED and a modest point-source PA so the room still reads as a hotel ballroom.

Comic-Con house — exterior detail from licensed venue photo

Comic-Con house

Marriott + Hilton attached

Confirm exclusive AV before the bid.

Confirm current limits

Outdoor-rated LED, weather-covered consoles, battery or generator. Plot wind and sunset off PCH.

Load-in — exterior detail from licensed venue photo

Load-in

Harbor Drive docks

Mid-size indoor room with terrace access. Strong for dinners of about 210 and receptions of 300.

Theater 224 · Banquet 210 · Classroom 162 · Reception 300

Point-source PA and a modest LED or laser projection under 15-foot ceilings.

Capacity chart

Published SDCC figures. Confirm current limits and exclusive AV with the center.

Room Sq ft H Banquet Theater Classroom Reception
Exhibit A–H525,70127–64'
Halls A–C combined249,33827–40'12,64020,00016,93620,000
Sails Pavilion90,000
Ballrooms (2)80,706
Confirm exclusive AV and current limits with SDCC.

Audio visual services

Audio Support

From compact speakers to full Line Array systems, Above the Line is here to help bring your event to life. CURV 500 columns in Huntington. Flown or truss-hung arrays for Breakwater.

Video Projection

Bright and detailed are the best words to describe our projection services. Laser projectors up to 30,000 lumens — enough to hold an image in Breakwater and on a terrace at dusk.

Lighting Design

Our lighting designers create looks that elevate every event. Chandelier uplight in Breakwater, stage wash in Huntington, terrace looks on the lawns.

LED Walls & Displays

Indoor and outdoor high-def LED panels customized to any size or shape. Cut to Breakwater’s 117-foot width or a compact Huntington stage wall.

Broadcast Quality Video

Nothing brings the show closer to your clients like IMAG. Live talent on LED walls or projection screens, with jib or robotic cameras for a 700-seat theater in Breakwater.

CAD and Layouts

Our staff will assist you with the floor plan using current CAD software. We draw the actual Waterfront floorplates — airwalls, terrace doors, chandelier drops — before the truck leaves our Southern California warehouse.

Hybrid and Online

Streaming systems and crew so remote attendees get a clean, clear program — the same show clock as the room on PCH.

Budget Assistance

Bring us in early for an itemized budget. Open, clear estimates — no hidden service charges — so the banquet event order matches what is actually in Breakwater or on the lawn.

What sets Above the Line above the rest

Friendly Technicians

Equipment is important, but human behavior is even more crucial. Expert technicians dedicated to service and your success — including the Hilton banquet and AV staff in the building.

Local Warehouses

The location of each of our warehouses was specifically chosen to speed up deliveries to top venues and other key accounts throughout Southern California. Support for your hotel event is our priority.

Quality Inventory

We trust brands like VUE Systems, Shure, Barco, Avid, Yamaha, and Sony. Equipment is in perfect condition, regularly cleaned, and maintained.

We Travel for You

From the US and Canada to Mexico, India, Switzerland, and Brazil — and next door from Hyatt to Waterfront on PCH.

Customized Content

Walk-in graphics, PowerPoint assistance, post-event editing and upload. Content that belongs in an 8,400 square-foot oceanfront room.

Budget Minded

Detailed, itemized budgets. We assist in execution so every dollar on the BEO shows up on the floor.

Communication

Decades of creating, managing, and producing events of all sizes. Working with you every step of the way.

Detailed Proposals

Open, clear estimates that track every item and explain why it is on the plot. No hidden service charges.

Above the Line has you covered

Event Production Services

Our team creates end-to-end solutions for all of your event needs, speaker services, content management and special events — from concept and digital design through content testing and event execution on the Waterfront floor.

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Audio Visual Services

From general sessions that “wow” to breakout rooms that run smoothly, we deliver the digital services, audiovisual technology, and back-end systems that engage attendees in the exhibit halls.

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Above the Line — your event services partner. Succeed Today →

Connect

Send us your RFP and we’ll be happy to put together an itemized quote.