Gone are the days of thinking outside the box. In Box Elder, the action is happening inside it.
The Box Elder Events Center, or “The Box,” is the Midwest’s newest state-of-the-art facility serving as the backdrop for events of all shapes and sizes on the outskirts of Rapid City and Box Elder.
“We want to provide a world-class event venue for whatever event you want to host,” said general manager Adam Patton.
“We’re essentially an empty box,” he continued.
The Box boasts over 60,000 square feet of versatile space, catering to everything from intimate gatherings to large athletic tournaments.
” WHATEVER YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT DOING, WE’RE ABLE TO HELP EXECUTE IT.” -adam patton
The building is complemented with sleek, modern architecture with escalated ceilings and flexible spaces. The Box features not one, but two main event areas: the Ellsworth Salon and the Lancer Ballroom.
“The Ellsworth is our largest space, it’s big enough for three full-size basketball courts or four full volleyball courts,” explained Patton.
The 22,000-square-foot ballroom is multifaceted, ready to accommodate large-scale conferences, trade shows, or galas for up to over 3,000 people.
Patton shares that The Box is capable of accommodating the space to fit the event’s aesthetic.
“We can carpet it or put our tarps down to turn it into a convention space or a trade show,” shared Patton. “When the carpet is down, it looks elegant.”
The Lancer sits as the second-largest area in The Box, equipped to host conference speakers, receptions, and luncheons.
“The Lancer Ballroom can seat up to 220 people and can be used for whatever the client is thinking,” Patton said. “It’s a very versatile space.”
The Ellsworth and Lancer can be divided into different floor plans to accommodate the number and size of upcoming events.
What’s In The Box?
The Box’s flexible event space can be split into different floor plans.
» The Ellsworth Salon
» Grab-n-Go Concessions
» Green Room
» The Lancer Ballroom
» Pre-Function Areas
» Raider Salons
» Spirit Room
» Team Room
It doesn’t stop there, as break-out rooms and meeting areas are available in the Raider Rooms and Spirit Room for low-scale events such as birthday parties, before-game team huddles, and intimate receptions.
In addition to its adaptable spaces, The Box offers an in-house, full-service catering kitchen run by talented chefs and culinary teams. Patton shares that there are various menus available to choose from elegant plated meals, and large buffet selections, to a tournament menu for all sporting events.
The Box ensures that each meal is served in an artful blend of simple, yet contemporary flavors that are created to fit everyone’s taste and budget.
“We’ve got everything you need from a food and beverage standpoint,” said Patton.
The kitchen and staff ensure that every detail is covered to the smallest bite.
But The Box isn’t just about functionality, it’s about creating experiences. The venue’s state-of-the-art A/V technology is sure to create a memorable event.
The technology equips hosts with intelligent audio, projected scoreboards, and visual effects, like smooth machines, lightning themes, and video projection.
“With these capabilities, we can create a fun tournament with kids by turning on our smoke and sparkler machine,” shared Patton.
The Box also has livestream capabilities; the Ellsworth Salon comes equipped with streaming cameras all around the ballroom. This allows family and friends to watch any function from anywhere they would like, should the tournament or event coordinator want to take advantage of this incredible feature.
The Box offers customizable audio and visual options to add an extra element to their events.
“We can customize the building from a layout perspective to whatever the guests need,” said Patton.
“We’re also able to add a theme to the building. We have control over the lights, so if a couple wants to add lights to their wedding, we can change the lights to their set colors, which can set the tone for the event,” he added.
The possibilities are endless, thanks to the venue’s dedicated team of event professionals.
“We have a highly skilled team paired with years of experience in this specific field,” mused Patton. “We want your event to go off without a hitch, your tournament to run as smoothly as possible, and want your wedding to be perfect.”
During events, staff are easily identifiable with vests and ties and are always ready to help guests find what they need.
Out Of The Box Attractions
» Badlands National Park
» Bear Country
» Crazy Horse Memorial
» Custer State Park
» Reptile Gardens
“We’re going to do whatever we can to accommodate your requests,” said Patton.
Right off the interstate, the Box is nestled within a campus of hotels, making it ideal for event guests who wish to explore all that Rapid City has to offer.
“Rapid City is such a tourist destination with Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Spearfish Canyon, Historic Deadwood, and more that are all within an hour from the property,” said Patton.
In addition to their convenient locations between events, dining, and entertainment, the hotels are brimming with recreational, family-friendly, and convenient amenities.
The Courtyard by Marriott is connected to The Box, allowing guests the most convenient stay for their event or celebration.
The Residence Inn by Marriott and Home2 Suites are connected to WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort, making it steps away from adrenaline-pumping waterslides and lazy rivers.
Patton shares that a La Quinta and a Fairfield by Marriott are also on campus.
“WE HAVE A HIGHLY SKILLED TEAM WHO BRING A LOT OF YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD.” -Adam patton
Since hosting its first event in June of 2023, The Box is looking forward to creating and hosting new events for the community to attend.
“We hosted CultureCon in September that was put on by a group from Sioux Falls,” stated Patton. “CultureCon has become a big deal and has grown to be quite popular and hadn’t been done in Rapid City before. We had the opportunity to host the first CultureCon on this side of the state, and it was very well received.”
Patton shares that his hope for The Box is to see it be used more than it’s capable of.
“We want to build and create events that are unlike anything else and ultimately have a world-class feel to them,” he said.
