Find The Perfect Alternative Venues (With a Sizing Tool)

GUIDE

Venue Sizing Tool
Alternative Venue Ideas
Ideas By Location
Alternative Venue Case Studies
Why Choose an Alternative Venue?
Planning Events at Your Alternative Venue

Are you planning a corporate event but still need to find a location? Our agency has experience working with various locations, including traditional venues and unique options like museums and arboretums.

We have the expertise and resources to help you find the perfect venue for your event.

This article includes our sizing tool, real-life examples of unique event spaces, and our top venue alternative ideas.

Company’s Anniversary Party at the California Science Museum

Venue Sizing Tool

When selecting a venue, we recommend keeping in mind:

The Date of Your Event
Location of the Event
Estimated Guest Count
Your Venue Budget (learn all about event budgets here)

Our sizing tool below requires only basic information to calculate the best venue offers for you. This tool is great for selecting a traditional venue, meeting space, or alternative party venue specific for corporate events. Wedding venues are not included unless they are designed for multi-purpose.

Alternative Venue Ideas

Alternative venues come in numerous shapes, sizes, and forms. Whether you prefer the city or nature, we have something for everyone.

For example, we turned this wide open space into a branded and themed experience for NEOM’s gala. Let your imagination run wild with the following alternative venue ideas.

Urban Gems:

Parks
Factory Tours
Urban Tours
Bowling Alley
Brewery
Food Truck Party
Stadium
Industrial Space

Hidden Treasures:

Art Galleries
Museums
Historical Reenactments
Train Stations
Planetariums
Observatories
Forts/Missions

The Great Outdoors:

Farms
Ranches
Vineyards
Gardens
Arbetoreums
Lakefronts
Beaches
Yachts
Harbors
Nature Reserves

Unique Spaces:

Lofts
Empty Buildings
Empty Malls
Popup Spaces
Ghost Tours
Private Jet
Hot Air Balloon Tours
Drive-in Theater
Wellness Retreat
Your Own Location

The Power of Hybrid Events

Adding state-of-the-art hybrid elements into your event planning can be a game-changer. Hybrid events save money and boost attendance. They allow people to join in person or online.

This approach improves the overall return on investment. This flexibility ensures a broader reach and a more inclusive experience. Discover more about this in our article titled “Should My Next Event Be Hybrid?”

Your Venue, Your Rules!

An onsite event can be a great alternative. Bell’s Family Day, hosted at their own location, gave loved ones a glimpse into the business and their family’s professions.

See what our event planners do to prepare your location in our article “Bring Your Family to Work Day: Your Guide”.

Bell’s Family Day hosted onsite instead of a traditional venue

Even More Ideas

Think outside the box about alternative reception venues and event spaces. Is your preferred location most active during daytime hours? Consider a nighttime event or vice versa.

What about turning your entire city into a venue by hosting a city tour?

This remote team toured Las Vegas as a company event, making the entire city their alternative conference venue.

Host an outdoor event with a unique experience, like this company did with their beach bonfire.

Top Alternative Venues By Location

Visit the LA, San Francisco Bay, DFW, and Las Vegas pages for more specific ideas.

Los Angeles

Name	Capacity	Description	Amenities	Estimated Price Range
California Science Center	500	Mingle under the Space Shuttle Endeavour!	Indoor venue, Unique museum exhibits	$$ – $$$$
Griffith Observatory	500	Stunning views of the Los Angeles basin	Hilltop location, Planetary exhibits	$$ – $$$
California Botanic Garden	8,000 (total garden)	Diverse botanical collections with walking paths and scenic views	Outdoor venue, Educational programs, Variety of plant collections	$$ – $$$ (depending on event type and size)
Descanso Gardens	500	Serene and picturesque setting	Variety of outdoor gardens, Rental facilities	$$ – $$$
Santa Monica Pier Carousel	100	Unique and whimsical setting	Iconic landmark, Limited capacity	$ – $$

San Francisco

Name	Capacity	Description	Amenities	Estimated Price Range
The Exploratorium	800	Interactive science exhibits with Bay views	Indoor venue, Interactive exhibits	$$ – $$$
San Francisco Ferry Building	1500	Bustling marketplace with historic architecture	Multiple event spaces, Grand Hall	$$ – $$$$
111 Minna Gallery	500	Modern art gallery with open space	Stylish venue, Exposed brick walls	$$ – $$$
Foreigner Sake Brewery	200	Unique venue with sake production tours	Brewery tours, Sake tastings	$$ – $$$
Rooftop at The Battery	500	Stunning rooftop with Bay Bridge views	Outdoor venue, Breathtaking views	$$ – $$$$

Dallas/Fort Worth

Name	Capacity	Description	Amenities	Estimated Price Range
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden	1500	Variety of event spaces with beautiful gardens	Multiple event spaces, Scenic backdrops	$$ – $$$
Panther Island Pavilion	800	Scenic setting alongside the Trinity River	Pavilion space, Outdoor space	$$ – $$$
Six Flags Over Texas	5000	Theme park with event spaces and entertainment	Unique event venues, Excitement and activities	Varied (depends on chosen space)
Fort Worth Stockyards	1000	Historic district with rustic saloons	Variety of event venues, Western atmosphere	$$ – $$$
The Dallas World Aquarium	1500	World-renowned aquarium for events	Unique venue, Underwater atmosphere	$$$ – $$$$

Las Vegas

Name	Capacity	Description	Amenities	Estimated Price Range
The Neon Museum	1000	Restored historic neon signs with outdoor space	Unique atmosphere, Iconic Las Vegas signage	$$ – $$$
Topgolf Las Vegas	700	Entertainment complex with climate-controlled golf bays	Games, TVs, Food & Beverage service	$$ – $$$
Dueling Axes Las Vegas	72	A safe and fun environment for social axe throwing	Team-building activity, Private event space	$$ – $$$
Flightline at Las Vegas Motor Speedway	500	High-speed ride-along, racing simulators, and driving courses	Adrenaline-filled experiences, Racetrack backdrop	$$$ – $$$$
The LINQ High Roller	40 (per pod)	Private pods on the world’s tallest observation wheel	Breathtaking 360-degree city views, VIP experience	$$$$ – $$$$$

Case Studies of Alternative Venues

Company Picnic

We’ve planned countless events at alternative venues across the nation. Huy Fong hosted its annual picnic onsite at its headquarters. Holding your event at your office or at different branch locations makes it easier for employees to travel.

Hybrid Event

This business’s meeting turned their alternative conference venue into a hybrid event. By combining an in-person and remote event, they ensured high attendance.

Corporate Anniversary Party

For a unique venue, this business hosted its 150th anniversary party in the California Science Center. The event’s unique location included a space shuttle!

Company’s alternative party venue example: California Science Museum

Team Building Event

Children’s Aid hosted a team building event inside the Armory track for its annual staff summit. Tying the theme to the location, they held an Olympics-inspired game session.

Why Choose an Alternative Party Venue?

Having an alternative party venue in mind is helpful because:

Venues book out quickly
A unique location can take your event to the next level
Often, alternative venues are more sustainable than traditional venues

Planning Events at Your Alternative Venue:

We handle the logistics so you can focus on looking forward to (and then enjoying) your next work event. Our event managers are experts in booking, permit acquisition, and turning any venue into your creative vision.

Ready to select a location and start planning your event? Contact Event Solutions today by filling out the form for full service event planning, including finding your ideal venue.