Purina Event Center

A Best-In-Class Show Facility

For more than 80 years, Purina has been a leader in pet care and nutrition. And with 16 years of hosting outdoor dog shows and sporting events, Purina has become an important partner with kennel and parent breed clubs. Now with the opening of the new Purina Event Center, Purina Farms is a full-service destination for canine and feline enthusiasts who want to host or participate in an indoor or outdoor show.

The Purina Event Center, an 84,000-square-foot state-of-the-art indoor facility that opened in August 2010, can accommodate the largest of dog and cat shows as well as an array of performance events, and includes all the extra amenities to make every event exceptional.

Amenities

• The Great Hall is a 45,000-square-foot main exhibition space featuring custom-textured, sport flooring that is padded for optimal comfort and safety.
• A 13,500-square-foot Gateway Hall for benching and grooming features easy access to the dog bathing room and handler changing rooms and it can also double as an exhibition hall for smaller shows and trials. Ample electricity accommodates more than 150 grooming spaces.
• Lighting in both exhibition spaces is designed to approximate natural sunlight, for showcasing dogs' coats.
• Fully-equipped show office complete with built-in sound system, phone and office equipment, plus work and storage space
• Checkerboard Café adjacent to The Great Hall provides on-site food service at all shows and banquet catering by reservation
• A Founder's Room on the second level of the Purina Event Center offers a phenomenal view of all activities taking place below and can accommodate banquets, meetings and special receptions. A balcony off the Founder's Room offers scenic views of the main exhibition space below, and is ideal for videotaping dog shows.
• Large conference room on the second floor away from the exhibition halls
• A Service Center behind the Purina Event Center features an exam room, meeting space, showering facilities, dog bathing tubs, and an off-leash canine exercise area that is off to the side of the building.
• Complimentary agility and obedience equipment, ring gating, tables and seating for 200
• Ample parking for vehicles and full-service RV spaces with 50 amp electric, water and sewer.
• Multiple drop-off lanes for exhibitor and Club unloading and loading of supplies and equipment
• A separate loading dock is provided on the west side of the building for large Club deliveries.
• Two special tribute walkways leading to the North and South entrances of the building: Walk of Champions and Path of Honor
• Artificial turf (90 x 110 rings) available upon request for indoor agility trials.

Click here to view the Purina Event Center Facility Video

Click here to view photos of the Purina Event Center

Book Your Dog or Cat Show

We strive to provide the best experience available. For more information or to book an event, contact Kaite Flamm, Purina Event Center Manager at 1-888-688-PETS (7387) or email her at kaite.flamm@purina.nestle.com. Commercial rates are also available for miscellaneous events held at the Purina Event Center.

Click here to download the Purina Farms Event Packet (pdf) including layouts (Purina Event Center RV lot, Purina Event Center first floor, Purina Event Center second floor, Gateway Hall grooming, Service Center), amenities, emergency plan, property rules, local dog-friendly lodging, added offerings and property map

Located about one hour southwest from downtown St. Louis and the Lambert–St. Louis International Airport, the Purina Event Center in Gray Summit, Missouri, provides a central location for people traveling from all parts of the country. Within 10 minutes from the Purina Event Center are several hotels that accept dogs with little or no additional fees; some even offer dog-bathing rooms. Besides the RV parking available at the Purina Event Center, five campgrounds are located near the show site. A variety of restaurants can be found in the area, and there are major entertainment attractions throughout the metropolitan St. Louis area. We invite you to schedule your next dog show or event with us. Our Purina Event Center promises to deliver "Best in Show" amenities and we will do everything possible to help ensure your event goes smoothly. Through our partnerships with parent breed and kennel clubs as well as registries, we help promote purebred dogs and pedigreed cats. Doing so, we believe enhances the lives of the dogs, cats, and the people who love them.

Testimonials

"I've always enjoyed exhibiting at Purina Farms. "I've been showing for quite some time and I'm loving the new Purina Event Center facility. The floors are my favorite part because I spend a lot of time on my feet from 6 a.m. – 6p.m. showing dogs and the cushion in the floor makes kneeling and running a lot easier on me."

"The Purina Event Center is great not only for the dog fancy and Purina, but for the community. I think it sets a new standard for what dog show facilities should be, and with keeping the outdoor venues as well, Purina Farms offers the complete package."

Doug Carlson
Professional Handler

"Purina Farms has always been super. Brock Fitzgerald, Director of Purina Farms, and his staff have been so accommodating, helping us put on the best shows possible. Now they've taken it to an incredible new level with the Purina Event Center. I don't know of any other indoor space in the country set up just for dog shows, and I know the Event Center will be the premier dog show facility in the country."

Cledith "Clete" Wakefield
AKC Delegate, AKC Judge, President, Spirit of the Heartland Kennel Club, and Show Chairman, Jefferson County (Mo.) Kennel Club

"Besides the obvious advantages of plenty of space, good on-site food concession, and the wonderful flooring, the natural lighting seemed to be the most common thread in exhibitor's likes. Since coat color is an even more important judged attribute with cats than dogs, it is understandable that daylight-type lighting was such a big hit."

Beth Cassely & Mark McKenzie
Co-Show Managers for the Midwest T.G.I.F Fanciers Cat Show

"When we chose to hold our 2011 National Bouvier des Flandres Specialty in St. Louis at Purina's new facility, we had high expectations. We were holding all of our events there...herding, agility, obedience, rally, conformation and our Top 20. The staff and the Center not only met our expectations but also exceeded them. As a result, with a unanimous vote of our membership, we will be returning in 2014."

Lee Calhoun
Show Chairman, 2011