The government of Hamburg, including then-mayor Herbert Weichmann planned the center to promote tourism, being designed to attract the then-new concept of convention-goers.

[2] The opening ceremony took place on 14 April 1973 with 3000 attendees, but the operators of the speaker system were absent, leading to "two hours of noise".

[1][3] The original design was criticised as a "bunker", but its relative lack of windows was liked by military representatives during the Cold War as they were afraid of spies.

[4][5][6] A contest to overhaul the CCH was undertaken in 2014, which was won by Tim Hupe Architects; it was initially projected to cost 194 million euros.

[4] Although many parts were completely renovated, the heritage-listed brick walls of the main theater and aluminium "jug lights" were retained.

[1][4] In addition to trade congresses and conventions, it has also hosted concerts by Queen, ABBA, Hans Zimmer, and Deep Purple.