In the 17 years since NTC Liberty Station closed as a military base and was reborn as a sprawling mixed-use civilian development, it has become one of the prime city venues for hosting public and private events of all kinds.
“We host about 650 events per year, ranging in size from a meeting of 10 people up to large-scale, outdoor festivals for several thousand people,” said Barbara Ramsey, director of event sales for NTC venues at Liberty Station.
Venue spaces available to rent on the former Naval base include The McMillin Event Center, Gallery 17 Event Center/Plaza, The Command Center, Luce Court/Legacy Plaza, North and South Promenade and Ingram Plaza.
Some of the larger organizations and events hosted at Liberty Station include ArtWalk, The Best of San Diego hosted by San Diego Magazine, Vin Diego, the Parkinson’s Walk and the Live Well San Diego 5K.
“We also have The Dance Place Studios offering more than 600 dance classes annually, plus The North Chapel, which hosts more than 350 events — weddings, baptisms, concerts, military ceremonies and funerals — per year,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey said the cost of renting out a portion of Liberty Station varies “depending on the venue space and for how long you would like to rent the space.”
Despite the large number of events already hosted at Liberty Station, there’s still room for expansion, said Liberty Station officials.
“While we have had two very successful years, we still have room for growth in the corporate market, social occasions and multi-day conferences,” said Ramsey.
The 361-acre former Naval Training Center (NTC) offers much in the way of park and open-space areas, making it amenable for hosting events. There also is the historic Sail Ho Golf Course, which is San Diego’s oldest. Built in the 1920s as the Loma Club, it was recently renovated by Cary Bickler, who redesigned its fairways, greens and practice facilities. The nine-hole executive course features a pro-shop and the Sail Ho Bar & Grill.
Liberty Station also has a 46-acre waterfront park with playground areas, plus a walking/jogging trail along the boat channel and an athletic club. Liberty Station’s large open areas makes it an attractive setting for numerous 5k walk/runs sponsored by local businesses and nonprofit organizations that have made the former base their home.
“We’ve got it all: great value, unparalleled amenities, centrally located and plenty of complimentary parking,” said Ramsey. “The venues at NTC Liberty Station offer a slice of San Diego’s rich naval history coupled with spectacular surroundings that will make any meeting, conference, celebration, festival or wedding an event to remember.”
Liberty Station is also full of fitness and therapy centers, as well as gyms and athletic clubs for all ages, including the Point Loma Sports Club, Therapy Specialists, Yoga Six, Fitness Without Walls, Fitness Together, San Diego Gymnastics, Riptide Soccer Club, Pilates By The Bay, Performing Arts & Athletics Restorative Training Specialists and Walkabout International.
An aquatic center is also planned on 3.7 acres in the active space area of NTC Park. The city is in the process of approving a contract with an architect to begin the community input and design phase of that project.
