Posted: November 30, 2009, 5 a.m. EST
The American Kennel Club unveiled a new location for the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in 2011: the new Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
The move follows the 2010 event in Long Beach, Calif.
The 2011 show takes place Dec. 17 and18, for the “next several years,” according to AKC Chairman Ronald Menaker.
“In an effort to satisfy constituent requests for balanced geographical representation and to accommodate our continued growth, we have selected a new venue in Orlando, Fla,m to host the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship,” Menaker said. “We appreciate the excellent service the city of Long Beach and its convention center have provided us, and we know that our world-class event will share the same success in Orlando.”
The Orange County Convention Center, the second largest convention center in the nation, is in the heart of Orlando’s tourism district and 15 minutes away from Orlando International Airport. The convention center, with more than 600,000 square feet of space, is surrounded by more than 113,000 hotel rooms.
The annual show attracts more than 25,000 attendees. The 2011 event will continue to showcase the top American dogs as well as offer the Bred-by-Exhibitor competition, AKC Meet the Breeds, and the Eukanuba World Challenge.