Deco Ballroom and Event Center — Local services in San Antonio

This place is a complete scam. Deco Ballroom advertised a $2,000 karaoke competition that has been going on since May 2025. My boyfriend and I found out in August through their paid ads on Facebook and Instagram. The only rule we were told: buy something at the bar, get tickets, and use them to vote. Nothing about limits, nothing about only alcoholic drinks qualifying.

For four weeks, we drove an hour each way every Friday and Saturday to participate. We bought drinks, waters, sodas, energy drinks, and candies — and the bartenders always gave us tickets. By week two, my boyfriend was ranked #1 on the leaderboard that the manager, Mat, posted weekly. They even gave out $50 bar tabs for weekly winners, so clearly they had no issue with how tickets were being earned.

In the finals, everyone’s tickets reset, and we continued participating the same way. Last week, Deco Ballroom announced publicly on Facebook that my boyfriend had officially won the $2,000 grand prize and told us to come collect in person.

But when we arrived, Mat pulled my boyfriend aside, accused us of cheating, and claimed only alcoholic beverages were supposed to count. That was never said online, at the bar, or during weeks of purchases. Then he tried to blame us, saying we “should’ve known better” than to accept tickets if bartenders gave too many out. How is that our fault? We don’t work there, and no rules were ever specified.

To make things worse, instead of honoring the $2,000 prize, Mat offered $1,400 — completely unprofessional and shady. Now, after refusing to pay us what we won fair and square, Deco Ballroom has already started advertising another karaoke competition for $1,000. This place clearly uses false advertising to drag people in, collect bar sales, and then twist rules at the end to avoid paying out.

Mat was yelling, unprofessional, and completely out of line. This entire experience was misleading, a waste of time, and shows a clear pattern of dishonest business practices.

If you value your money, time, or respect, avoid Deco Ballroom...

Me and my fiance wanted to have our wedding there so we first talked to the owner in the beginning when they were remodeling to have events he gave us a good price said we could use the whole facility. Fast forward a year later closer to the wedding we did a walk around with our planner and the owner we walked both rooms and made plans the owner was there and said great. Come the week of the wedding he was then arguing with our planner that we could not use the second room for our ceremony. And started saying we would not be able to use the full facility and also he wouldnt be able to open Saturday till the afternoon to let our planner set up. Because he was having an event the day before we had to review the contract and argue with the owner to use the full facility. Then the day of not only was the place still messy when we were setting up there was a toilet that was clogged from when we arrived early till we left and the owner asked for food for his employees. This was completely unprofessional of him to change the agreement the week of and then provide a dirty facility if your having a wedding or any kind of special life event this...

Deco Ballroom and Event Center is absolutely one of the best and most versatile event centers in San Antonio, TX, It is extremely spacious and accommodating with multiple stages available for all type of events. It has big beautiful dressing rooms, spacious bathrooms and the full bar prices are well below expected compared to other local venues. Parking is ample and there is always some kind of food to be had. I love the customer service one gets from the owners. They will always do their best to accommodate you! From comedy shows to Quinceaneras! If you are looking to host an event...Well look no further! You will not be dissatisfied. I know I wasnt...They may not have an elevator and you may have to climb stairs but, what do you expect from a beautiful historic building, let me tell you it's worth the climb!! Thank you Matt Towery for providing options to people...