Grand Central Terminal Events - Best Event Sites in New York City

As a go-to executional partner for leading brands and PR agencies for experiential events, Synergy Events is reviewing the best event sites in New York City as part of a series of nine videos and blog posts.  We'll be taking a look at Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, Union Square Park, Herald Square, South Street Seaport, Bryant Park, Penn Station, Madison Square Park and the World Financial Center.

These site reviews will be helpful if your brand or client is planning a media-driven product launch, pr stunt, sponsorship activation or consumer event in New York City.

Here is Synergy's overview of one of the most iconic commuter hubs in the world, 'Grand Central Terminal'.  Here is a one minute higlight video:

There are three different venues at or around Grand Central Terminal: Vanderbilt Hall (inside), Pershing Square (outside across 42nd St.) and Vanderbilt Ave (outside adjacent).

Vanderbilt Hall - The former waiting room in Grand Central Terminal is called Vanderbilt Hall.  It is located on the south side of the terminal and can be accessed directly from 42nd St.  There are two sides to the Hall (East and West) which are bisected by a common walkway.  The Hall is available for rental on a daily basis and brands have the option to rent 1/2 the space or the entire hall.  The footprint is sizeable allowing for roughly 5,000 sq. ft of usable space on each respective side.

Pershing Square - Directly across the street from the main entrance to Grand Central's Vanderbilt Hall is Pershing Square.  Closed to vehicle traffic, the Square is actually a street that provides access between 41st and 42nd Street.  The street has a sloped grade.

Vanderbilt Ave - Adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, Vanderbilt Avenue runs north to south between 42nd and 43rd Street.  It begins at the SW corner of the Terminal, one of the busiest locations for commuter traffic in New York City.

Things we like about Grand Central Terminal:

• Built in traffic - As a main hub for both Metro North and the MTA Subway, more than 500,000 people pass through each day.

• Media friendly - Grand Central Terminal is located in the heart of Midtown, making your event easily accessible to the media.

• Cost - Low to Medium site fee depending on 3 options.

• Weather Friendly - Being an indoor venue, Vanderbilt Hall takes one of the greatest variables out of the equation. 

Additional tips when considering an event at Grand Central Terminal:

• No availability early November to early January due to the Holiday Fair in Vanderbilt Hall.

• Moving event elements in and out of the event space is restricted during rush hours.

• Give yourself adequate time to prepare for an event in Vanderbilt Hall.  The approval process is detailed including site visits, approvals, cad drawings and structural engineering reports.  

• There are both weight and height restrictions for events at Vanderbilt Hall. The chandeliers are priceless and the flooring is pink Tennessee marble. 

• Traffic is measurably slower between 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• You need to plan for emergency access by maintaining a clear lane of access at both Pershing Square and Vanderbilt Ave.

Grand Central is an ideal venue for your next product launch, PR event sponsorship activation or experiential consumer event.

Here are just a few examples of some of Synergy's event work at Grand Central throughout our 19+ years:

• Created both a Wimbledon Tennis and US Open Golf viewing experience.

• New product launch for a major golf brand.

• Launched a major campaign for a leading oral care brand.

• Staged the first public use of the one dollar coin as part of its launch.

Synergy Events is a go-to event partner for PR agencies and brands. We work with high-profile venues all across the country, including Grand Central Terminal and many others in New York City. Synergy's turnkey solution includes site selection and negotiation, fabricating event elements, staffing, permitting, and signage and branding.