America's Center Convention Complex — Attraction in St. Louis

I was here for an event around October 7th 2022 and was really disappointed with the general experience. Security was a joke, no one was trying all that hard to check passes. No prearranged seating either. I wandered from one section to the other with zero issue. I got bored and just walked around and past Security into vip sections. I didn't sneak at all, just walked right past them into the pvt areas. Metal detection was a joke too. I got in with 2 phones, a battery pack, full set of car keys, big metal belt buckle, and a solid metal pocket knife. Did that 3 days with no issue. Why bother having them if you're not going to use them? I got to hop on some VERY expensive golf carts and just rode around for half an hour with no one saying I should stop, twice. Gave some people a ride too. Wandered into restricted access areas and people just assumed I should be there and they gave me some free food and swag that was ment for the vip and event staff. I just shrugged and took it. Not stealing if they gave it to you right? Food stands were mostly card only. And the 2 or 3 that took cash, closed up partway into the first night of then event and never opened back up. Really missed out on sales there. Bathrooms for men were smelly and dirty. Sinks water taps are too close to the back splash so you can't easily get your hands in the water to wash them. Men's room was pretty lacking on toilets overall but tons of urinals. Not sure what was going on at the lady's room. They always had a line coming out the door. Was a damaged pane of glass hanging overhead of the front of the building sidewalk. If that broke anymore large chunks could fall and kill someone. Really should get that fixed before it's a lawsuit, lol. Even the arena seating was too close together. My knees were rubbing the seats in front of me all night. Overall I really didn't like this visit. The facilities really need to step it up. Maybe renovate the building and make it look nicer. Parking needs to be improved. My event was only half the arena of possible people. I can't imagine how awful it would be for bigger stuff. Even leaving is a mess of people streaming all over the place. Can't turn out due to the massive crowds crossing the roads with no regard for traffic lights. Definitely avoid this...

America's Center Convention Complex has hosted between July 3 and July 12 the 62nd Session of the SDA Church, a world event.

Besides the election of the Church Leaders, there are also hundreds of exhibits based on the various work the SDAs are doing. These exhibits are open to the public.

The one star rating of the GC Session is due to the following:

The predictable elections. We could have provided a list of the "elected" before the "elections" had started.

Unpalatable food offered to the visitors. One look at the menu assured us that the food was much too expensive (30 dollars per person - 60 for a couple, which was exhorbitant for the food offered) and not worth our time. We chose to have our dinner at one of the restaurants near the Convention Center that offered a great menu and great food at half the price.

Lack of adequate information about the exhibits. We wanted to know how many exhibits were in the Exhibit Hall but nobody in the exhibits knew, although the information was available - 315 exhibits.

Lack of adequate information about the books sold at different exhibits. For example, we knew more about the ISDABC that the people who patronized the booth.

Too many exhibits where the attendants had just one purpose - to collect funds from the visitors.

Unkind, arrogant, dismissive, and even rude behavior from the attendants at some exhibits. At the Adventist Review exhibit, for instance, a black female activist appeared to threaten the visitors with offensive and belligerent behavior.

Surprising opening of the exhibits on the Sabbath afternoon and evening. We chose not to attend the exhibits at that time, but we were receiving a constant stream of sale offers on our GC Session apps. Did the visitors have the opportunity to purchase books and other items from the exhibits on the Sabbath? We don't know, because we were not there, but the appearances were not favorable.

On the whole, then, the GC Session did not impress us, but did disappoint due to the predictable "elections," inadequate meals, and lack of information about...

The convention center is beautiful and an ideal place. I have helped to run several conventions in the past. Ballrooms and exhibit hall area were great spaces and set up wonderfully. The staff however, are incredibly rude. I understand mask mandates and making sure everyone feels safe during COVID. However, I witnessed a staff member stalking people who didn’t wear them properly, following them if they didn’t comply, and even grab another woman’s shoulder to confront her for not listening. At the coffee area, the young man running it yelled at my friends and I saying he would refuse to serve us if we didn’t put our masks up. I simply forgot while talking. A simple “Ladies, could you please pull your masks up?” Would have been all that was necessary. I worked customer service jobs for years and never would I have harassed and bullied my customers the way these people did. Good treatment of customers is integral to a business succeeding. These were only a couple of things that happened. The customer treatment I witnessed was reprehensible. There was also the rule of no outside food in the convention area. This wouldn’t be a problem except there were no food options available in the convention area. All that one could buy was coffee, chips, and candy bars. If outside food is not allowed, other options should be available. All in all, I would hope that Great Homeschool Conventions finds a different location in the future if this is the standard of St. Louis Convention center. I also feel the convention center should really review its customer service policy and make sure employees know that harassment...