Business

Convention space opens with Elements Event Center

Jul 8, 2015

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From the perspective of Louis Manuel Jr., chairman of the Ak-Chin Indian Community, the new Elements Event Center is another path for the community to realize its economic potential.

From the perspective of Adam Saks, general manager of UltraStar Multi-Tttainment Center, Phoenix now has nothing on Maricopa when it comes to convention space. “And this doesn’t exist in Pinal County,” he said.

Once intended to be retail space, Elements Event Center opened Wednesday morning next to UltraStar. It provides convention space, meeting rooms, banquet facilities and areas for special events like weddings.

Elements has 11,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. The name represents earth, air, water and fire, which are the names of the banquet rooms.

“It holds all the components of an agriculturally based community,” said Jennifer Birk, director of sales.

Maricopa Chamber of Commerce CEO Marla Lewis said it fills a long-standing need in the area for meeting space. “Now we need a bigger hotel,” she said.

The Water Room has a seating capacity for 238 people. The Fire Room can fit up to 77 people, and the Air Room seats 73.

There is also an Earth Room, called the VIP Room, for private functions of up to seven people. Birk said it can be used as a bridal suite in preparing for weddings or green room for bands waiting to perform and is connected to a bathroom and shower.

Outside, the Firepit Lounge has room for 59 people. The Green, which will eventually have six-foot blooming shrubs surrounding it, will accommodate up to 226. Food served at the center is under the direction of UltraStar’s Executive Chef Frank Abeyta. Daniel Alcantara is banquet captain.

Elements rents audio/visual equipment and other needs like whiteboards, easels, wired podium and a laptop.

Manuel said the tribal council had an in-depth discussion about the purpose of the event center and how it should represent the community. The building was built for retail shops, but Saks said there was no movement on leasing the property.