The Venue CU

Select services venue

The venue will provide the space, plus a few extras.

Guest capacity

Up to 325 seated guests

About this venue

The Venue CU is an upscale urban wedding and event space located in the resurging east end of downtown Champaign, Illinois. We offer a wide range of event services, allowing you to create the event you desire in our modern, industrial setting. Our team truly believes each event should be an elegant representation of the people being celebrated. The Venue CU provides accommodations that will fit the vision of any wedding day!

Seated guest capacity

35-325

Venue type

Ballrooms, Banquet Halls
Industrial Spaces
Urban Locations

Venue setting

Indoor
Outdoor

Champaign, IL 61820

Our event spaces

Varsity Ballroom

The Varsity Ballroom is the primary event space at The Venue CU. Long sight lines, updated vintage brick, renewed original tin ceilings, and beautiful wood floors are just a few of the design elements you are greeted with as you walk through the grand entryway. The space is yours to decorate any way you like for your special event! With reception-style table and chair seating. Our unique, modern, one-of-a-kind lighting fixtures within the space not only provide ambiance for the event, but also stand as pieces of art as secondary decorations.

Guest capacity

300-400 Seated

Main Street Lounge

When you first enter the Main Street Lounge from the Varsity Ballroom, you are greeted by a grand historic bar dating back to the 1930s. The Main Street Lounge is the primary bar/cocktail space but can be used for many additional purposes. The Lounge is outfitted with high-top tables and stools to create an open, flowing cocktail space your guests can enjoy throughout the evening. Both spaces have zoned audio equipment so that volume levels can be adjusted separately to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Guest capacity

Up to 100 Seated

Bridal Room