The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB), opened on September 26, 1987,[2] is located on the east side of Downtown Houston, Texas, United States.

The center was named for internationally recognized entrepreneur, engineer, civic leader, philanthropist and Houstonian George R. Brown (1898–1983).

The 100-foot-high (30 m) red-white-and-blue building replaced the obsolete Albert Thomas Convention Center, which was later redeveloped into the Bayou Place entertainment complex in the downtown Houston Theater District.

At the same time, METRORail was completed on schedule (connecting downtown to the Houston Museum District, Texas Medical Center, and NRG Park), and what is deemed a revived Downtown Houston has opened doors to future conventions (in 2004 and 2008, the Texas Democratic Convention was held at the GRB).

In 2008, the 12-acre (4.9 ha) Discovery Green park was completed across the street and three-block GreenStreet (a retail and entertainment complex, anchored by House of Blues) opened four blocks away.

The latest expansion to the GRB includes converting six lanes and the length of five city blocks into ADLA Plaza, a 97,000-square-foot (9,000 m2), pedestrian-friendly, outdoor space.

The new Grand Lobby will be 10 stories high and showcase Ed Wilson's 60-foot (18 m) sculpture, "Soaring in the Clouds", suspended from the ceiling in the very center of the GRB.

Houston's largest pop-culture event Comicpalooza draws a massive crowd every year and continues to increase as the convention becomes more popular.

One month after opening on October 28, 1987; the PBS series Firing Line hosted a special 2-hour debate featuring the six major candidates seeking the 1988 Republican nomination for President.