Industry Hills Expo Center

Industry Hills Expo Center is a 125-acre gated property on a hilltop in the City of Industry, looking out over the San Gabriel Valley. It has been open since 1981, and the grounds rent out for everything from private parties to large public festivals.

The building that matters for shows is the Grand Arena. It's an all-weather enclosed structure with a 45,000 square foot floor and room for more than 3,500 spectators in the stands. A scoreboard hangs over the floor with four 70-foot projector screens, and the house sound system is a 10,000-watt JBL and QSC rig. Speedway racing, professional boxing, cultural festivals and music festivals have all used it, so the floor can look like a dirt track one month and a dance floor the next.

There are two smaller rooms on the property. The Pavilion is a 10,000 square foot indoor hall that seats up to 500 guests, and the Avalon Room seats about 100, with a lawn next door that couples use for ceremonies. The Expo Center sells all the drinks on site, alcoholic or not, so outside beverages generally aren't part of the plan.

Because the venue rents the space to outside promoters, the house rules on age, bags and parking come from each event. Read your ticket page closely. To get here, take the Pomona Freeway (60) and exit at Azusa Avenue. From the 57 or the 605, connect to the 60 first. The center points out that it's within reach of four major freeways and three airports, which helps when half your group is coming from Orange County.