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BRING YOUR GROUP TO THE NUTMEG STATE' FOR THE MOST MEMORABLE MEETING EXPERIENCE B Y R U F U S M C K I N N E Y Conveniently located between New York and Boston, Connecticut is easily accessible by car, air, bus or train, all with- in a 300-mile radius of 23.5 million peo- ple, making Connecticut an affordable and ideal location for your next event. The renowned arts, historic and cultural attractions can provide wonderful unique venues for meetings and social events. Pristine golf courses, sparkling waterways, and two of the world's largest casinos add "memorable" to your experience. Connecticut has five unique, diverse Regions that will excite you in all four sea- sons, from city, country or coast! Wherever the region, whatever the need, big or small spaces, independent or brand hotels, boutiques, shining new or historic old venues, Connecticut has it all and can accommodate any type of event. • • BRIDGEPORT • • Bridgeport is home to over 144,000 residents, 1,300 acres of public land for parks, 13 officially delineated neighbor- hoods across 16 square miles of land. Landscapes, highways, and commu- nities define Bridgeport's neighborhoods. Bridgeport offers a wealth of attractions: majestic shoreline parks, fascinating museums, regional baseball, hockey, and festivals and national musical acts and performances. This quaint New England suburb provides the perfect ambiance for intimate gatherings like weddings and family reunions. The city offers a wealth of meeting venues accommodating your group's needs depending on size and theme. The Klein Memorial Auditorium is a 1,447- seat performing arts center that serves as a hub for Bridgeport and surrounding communities. The auditorium is a great venue for holding events, providing a unique location to explore and meet. The Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater locat- ed on the bank of the Long Island Sound in Bridgeport, CT promises to be the live music entertainment destination for Southwest CT and the entire region. The venue is accessible from I-95, the Merritt Parkway, MetroNorth, Amtrak, and dedi- cated Port Jefferson Ferry. Conference attendees and leisure trav- elers can explore the new venues for arts and recreation that have been introduced and are showing a positive effect. If the trend continues, Bridgeport may make a full comeback as a vibrant New England metropolis. A hot spot in town is the Arena at Harbor Yard. This sports and entertain- ment complex attracts crowds back to the city for AHL Sound Tigers hockey, Fairfield University NCAA basketball, and live fam- ily entertainment. The theater-going crowd thrills to the Downtown Cabaret Theater where award-winning musicals are performed before audiences sitting at tables enjoying brown bag picnics. Other points of inter- est include: The Barnum Museum, Beardsley Zoo, and the Discovery Museum. Besides spectator sports, there are a number of participatory activities in the area. At the 678-acre John A. Minetto State Park, there are facilities for fishing and hiking. Carol Marie Charters carries anglers out on a 29-foot boat for fishing expeditions. They also offer scuba diving charters. And, Wonderland of Ice offers year-round public ice-skating. Lessons are also available. Within a short distance, there are sev- eral excellent golf courses. The closest is Brooklawn Country Club. Other greens within five miles are South Pine Creek Golf Course, H. Smith Richardson Golf Course, and Smith Richardson Golf Course. Bridgeport, the largest city in the Nutmeg State, is in the southwestern sec- tion of Connecticut on I-95. • • NEW HAVEN • • There is something for everyone in the New Haven area. Whether you're a leisure traveler looking to discover new parts of the region for the first time, or a AREA GUIDES C O N N E C T I C U T 48 B M & T ••• January/February 2024 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Trumbull Marriott Shelton 325 Courtyard by Marriott Shelton 161 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Klein Memorial Auditorium SeatIng 1,447 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Connecticut Tourism Office (888) 288-4748 www.ctvisit.com/Bridgeport Klein Memorial Auditorium