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A large meeting room at a Minneapolis conference center with many attendees at tables

An Award-Winning Minneapolis Conference Center

Ten Unique Conference Rooms with Adjacent Parking and Hotel

McNamara Alumni Center is a beautiful 36,000 sq. foot conference center on the University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus. Our ten unique conference rooms include Memorial Hall which accommodates 400 for a keynote address. Our nine other meeting rooms to rent accommodate breakout needs, registration, networking, exhibiting and food buffets. See why McNamara is one of the most popular event venues in Minneapolis!

What Could Your Conference at McNamara Look Like?

Conference

100

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Conference

250

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Conference

400

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Picture your conference here…

Benefits to Choosing Us:

Twin Cities Most Awarded Caterer—D’Amico Catering—Onsite

D’Amico Catering is the exclusive caterer of the McNamara Alumni Center and must provide all of the food and beverages for events. They are the Twin Cities most awarded caterer and have a kitchen facility here onsite with fulltime sales and kitchen staff. They have extensive experience in preparing delicious menus that meet dietary and cultural requests.

Adjacent 500-car Parking Ramp

McNamara has an adjacent 500-car parking ramp that is connected by tunnel to the center. McNamara staff can reserve parking for you and your guests and provide helpful digital maps for you to forward to your conference attendees.

Adjacent Graduate Minneapolis Hotel Connected by Tunnel

The Graduate Minneapolis Hotel is connected by tunnel and offers 315 sleeping room with off-peak discounts for McNamara event clients. Two other hotels are within walking distance.

Superior AV Including Streaming Capabilities for Online Conference Participation

Voted Best High-Tech Venue by UniqueVenues.com, the alumni center has superior AV, offering the highest quality of projectors and screens in all rooms. Onsite technicians can be hired to work your event and our partners can assist with streaming. 

Many Nearby Conveniences

The McNamara Alumni Center is located in Stadium Village, a dynamic University of Minnesota neighborhood. With numerous restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and convenient stores, the alumni center is a great venue for conferences and events. Have a conference break or need to run an errand? Within walking distance from McNamara you’ll find:

  • Starbucks and Caribou Coffee
  • Walgreens
  • US Bank, Wells Fargo, Huntington Bank
  • The University of Minnesota Bookstore
  • Numerous restaurants including longtime alumni favorite Sally’s Saloon
  • The Weisman Art Museum and gift shop
  • Miles of walking and running trails along Mississippi River
Minneapolis, Minnesota is a great place to visit!

Located just 10 miles from MSP airport, Mall of America and across the river from downtown Minneapolis, our state is loaded with landmarks, museums and sites to visit. Jump on the Green Line of the Light Rail located a short walk from McNamara and you’ll be in downtown Minneapolis in just 3 stops!

Researching conference venues and need to forward your findings to a committee or boss?

Download and share this digital brochure on McNamara that showcases our numerous benefits!

Download Conference Brochure PDF

Applause from our Clients

“This was the 4th time we have held our event at McNamara.  Each time the staff and catering have done a tremendous job contributing to the success of our workshop.  Each and every one was as professional and helpful as they could possibly be.  Our participants come from all over the country, representing 17 different universities, and they all commented that we definitely want to hold our future events at McNamara.”

— Bob M.

“We had an inaugural ‘Electroposium’ event at McNamara.  It was a fantastic experience, expertly and graciously handled – and that’s saying a great deal, because we had over 400 guests, 28 exhibitors (including electric vehicles) and 14 presentations in six different breakout rooms.  There were a lot of moving parts, including complicated AV, and even getting the Governor in for the keynote!  Every crazy idea we brought up was aced by the staff, with no questions asked.”

— Charles L., Technological Leadership Institute

“The McNamara staff were wonderful to work with–very responsive from start to finish and very accommodating of our needs. The venue is beautiful and worked well for our Parkinson’s group. We also enjoyed the catering and loved the proximity of the Graduate Hotel to McNamara. Our guests had such a wonderful experience, we’re considering coming back here next year. I highly recommend for conferences!”

— Jessica Y., Davis Phinney Foundation

“We recently hosted our 400-attendee annual conference at the McNamara Alumni Center and had a phenomenal experience. The venue is beautiful, with several unique rooms and features that really added character to the event, as well as lots of outdoor space and easy access to hotels, restaurants, etc. The venue, AV and catering staff are some of the best I’ve worked with – professional, creative, responsive, and organized. They made it easy and fun! I would definitely go back if we were to host anything in Minneapolis in the future.”

— Jackie, ReFed

Mac Video

See for Yourself

This two-minute video showcases our beautiful venue and our many conveniences as a premier Minneapolis conference center.

Two Ways to Save!

We may be running a booking promotion—see if your event qualifies!
Alumni, see if your event qualifies for a U of MN Alumni Association discount!