Community impact
TVE connects memorable experiences with meaningful community impact through its operations and reinvests revenue generated at its venues.
Tacoma Venues & Events (TVE) operates the City of Tacoma’s major public venues, including the iconic Tacoma Dome, Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Cheney Stadium, and Tacoma City Theaters. These venues host concerts, conventions, sporting events, graduations, festivals, and civic events that bring people together and contribute to Tacoma’s cultural and economic vitality. The department is also home to the City’s special events permit, grants, and community recognitions programs.
TVE’s operations at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Tacoma Dome, and special events operate as an enterprise fund, financed primarily through income earned rather than taxes. Revenue generated at these TVE venues is reinvested directly into venue operations, staff, maintenance and improvements, and community-facing programs—without reliance on the City’s general fund.
When guests attend events or gather in TVE venues, their participation helps sustain public spaces and supports free and low-cost community events, festivals, and recognitions throughout Tacoma strengthening neighborhood connections and helping ensure Tacoma remains a welcoming place to gather, celebrate, and belong.
At its core, TVE’s work is about responsibly stewarding the public gathering spaces and serving our community. By caring for shared spaces and reinvesting in the community, TVE helps ensure Tacoma’s venues continue to reflect the people they serve—today and for generations to come.
Revenue generated at TVE’s core venues is reinvested locally, helping sustain public spaces and community experiences across Tacoma.
A portion of concessions and catering revenues for every event held at the Tacoma Dome and Greater Tacoma Convention Center creates a ripple effect. Excise tax revenue on these food & beverage purchases helps fund free community events, festivals, and recognitions across Tacoma. From neighborhood celebrations to citywide cultural moments, a night out or a large-scale event helps sustain experiences that are open, shared, and reflective of Tacoma’s diverse community.
Tacoma 2035
Strategic Priorities
Tacoma Venues & Events is leading a comprehensive master planning effort for the Tacoma Dome, Tacoma City Theaters, and Cheney Stadium to ensure these iconic facilities continue to serve the community well into the future. The project will begin with a detailed needs analysis and feasibility study informed by venue users, partners, and the public. Building on that input, the second phase will develop long-term campus concepts and renderings that envision modern, accessible, and sustainable venues.
This initiative supports Tacoma 2035’s vision by strengthening the city’s cultural, economic, and community assets while enhancing livability and regional vitality.
IMPACT 2025
To learn more about Tacoma Venues & Events community and economic impact, see our 2025 Annual Report.
Education Outreach
Tacoma public schools and Korsmo Construction’s
Trades and Hiring Fair
The Tacoma community learned about opportunities across industries and career pathways in the trade. This free event included:
100+ local employers
Hands-on activities
Q&A with industry professionals
Graduations
In 2025, between the Tacoma Dome and the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, 26 graduations were held with more than 72,000 people in attendance to celebrate their graduate.
Career Development – Internship Cohort
TVE’s commitment to developing a diverse pipeline of future venues and events employees hit an important milestone in 2025 with its first paid intern cohort for college students/graduates. Three students participated in the 12-week hands-on program that included workshops, capstone projects, and mentorship.
Economic Vitality 2025
Award-winning Convention Center – 33,723 room nights generated
177 events and $33M in economic impact
Tacoma Dome – $62M in economic impact and cultural tourism
Cheney Stadium - 432K+ attendance
Cultural Community
Asia Pacific Cultural Center
“In 2026, APCC will hold its 28th Annual Asia Pacific New Year Celebration at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.
WOW, that's 28 years we've been using the Tacoma Dome for our largest event each year!
The Tacoma Dome staff have become our family members over the years. We enjoy our working relationship; they are top quality in their expertise, and they are warm to work with our people. Respect and honor are extremely required to work with our Asia Pacific people, especially our elders. We love working with all of the Tacoma Dome staff. Thank you, Tacoma Dome!”
- Faaluaina “Lua” Pritchard, Executive Director, Asia Pacific Cultural Center
Community Event funding & support
Summer Blast
Presented in partnership with Parks Tacoma, Summer Blast is a family-friendly day of live music, food, entertainment and crafts vendors, culminating in a fireworks display (funded by community partners and City of Tacoma excise tax collection at TVE venues) over Commencement Bay. Designated a Citywide Event, TVE supports this event along with multiple City of Tacoma departments including Tacoma Police Department, Tacoma Fire Department, Public Works, and more than 200 community volunteers.
Special events funding
Special events funding grants are issued to qualified events based on merit, community impact, access and belonging, and capacity to present the event. The City’s Events and Recognitions Committee oversees the program.
“Working with Tacoma Venues & Events has been a pleasure thanks to their thoughtful leadership and dedication to excellence. The most valuable aspect of our work together is the shared focus on creating meaningful, well-executed experiences that serve the city, its partners, and the broader community.” - Jessica Johnston, City’s Events and Recognitions Committee
City Event Services
City Event Services program provides support for the safe production of events throughout Tacoma neighborhoods from City departments including Public Works, Tacoma Police and Fire Departments, Environmental Services and more.
Skillshops
SkillShops are capacity-building workshops to support event organizers to obtain grant funding, advance access and belonging at their events, successfully budget for and produce safe events, permitting basics, and many more topics.
recognition ceremonies and awards
The City’s Events and Recognitions Committee presents the annual City of Destiny Awards and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebrations. These free events celebrate and recognize contributions from community members that make Tacoma a better place.
A Place for Community
Eloise’s Cooking Pot
Offering a drive-thru community food bank on Wednesdays at the Tacoma Dome to help serve Tacoma neighbors experiencing food insecurities. In 2025, more than 1.2M meals were provided for more than 12K households.
“Choosing the Tacoma Dome was an easy decision because of the team’s flexibility and support. Working with the TVE staff has made every distribution smoother, and their responsiveness to our needs really sets them apart.” - Ahndrea Blue, President & CEO, Making a Difference Foundation and Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank
Commencement Bank
Hams for the Holidays
In partnership with Tacoma Dome sponsor Commencement Bank and Nourish Pierce County, the 2025 drive-through Hams for the Holidays giveaway at the Tacoma Dome welcomed 950 cars and distributed 1,500 hams and 250 turkeys to neighbors in need.
Tacoma police department turkey giveaway
Blitz and Seattle Seahawks joined volunteers from the community, Tacoma Police Department, and TVE, at the 2025 drive-through Turkey Giveaway at the Tacoma Dome, welcoming more than 642 cars and distributing 730 turkeys to neighbors in need.
Tacoma Rescue Mission
Socktober - A sock drive partnership to collect warm socks for people experiencing homelessness throughout the month of October, with over 400 pairs of socks contributed.
Thanksgiving Banquet - With over 130 volunteers, Tacoma Rescue Mission and TVE served 284 Thanksgiving meals to community members in need on Thanksgiving day at the Tacoma Dome.