Need an event venue for a Cooper City team banquet or a faith-community gala? The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale rents its space at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park, about 27 minutes from Cooper City via Griffin Road and I-95. The Main Auditorium seats 275 auditorium-style or 110 for a seated dinner, with on-site parking for 150 vehicles.
At a glance
- From Cooper City: about 17.4 miles, roughly 27 minutes in typical traffic, mostly on Griffin Road and I-95.
- Rooms: Main Auditorium (275 auditorium-style / 110 seated dinner), Multipurpose Room (up to 70 cocktail-style), Welcome Lobby (up to 200 cocktail-style).
- Parking: on-site lot for up to 150 vehicles.
- Kitchen: commercial coffee maker, two refrigerators and two microwaves, with no additional charge for kitchen use when you rent the auditorium or Multipurpose Room.
- AV: professional sound and video booth with projection, streaming and a presidential teleprompter.
- To book: call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868.
Why Cooper City groups look to Oakland Park for awards nights and galas
Cooper City is a family town. In the 2020 census, 44.0% of its 11,410 households had children under 18, and a quarter of residents were under 18. Families like that produce a steady stream of team seasons, school honors and booster fundraisers, and each one wants a proper night to close it out.
Faith communities are part of the picture too. The city is home to several faith-affiliated schools, and congregations of every kind hold annual dinners, benefit galas and recognition nights. Those events often grow past what a typical meeting room can seat.
We’ll be straight with you: Oakland Park is a 27-minute drive, not a five-minute one. The reason Cooper City planners make the trip is what’s waiting at the end of it. You get a 275-seat auditorium with a professional sound and video booth, tables, linens and place settings for 200 already on site, a kitchen your caterer can work from, and a lot that holds 150 cars. For a 100-guest banquet, that’s one booking instead of five rentals.
How far is it from Cooper City?
From the center of Cooper City, the venue is about 17.4 miles and roughly 27 minutes away. The usual route is short on turns: head to Griffin Road (SR 818) and take it east for nearly seven miles, pick up I-95 north for about eight miles, then exit onto East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) for the last stretch to N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park.
Drive times are typical estimates measured from the middle of the city. Neighborhoods like Embassy Lakes and Rock Creek may run a little longer or shorter, and I-95 at rush hour can add real time. For a 7 p.m. dinner, a good note on the invitation is “plan for about 40 minutes.”
The upside of an interstate route is predictability. Most Cooper City guests already know Griffin Road and I-95, so there’s nothing tricky about the trip.
Team banquets, school awards nights and faith-community galas
Booster club and sports-team award banquets
A strong awards banquet moves through dinner, a short video, speeches and then the award line. In the Main Auditorium, up to 110 guests can sit at round tables for dinner, and the projection screen and sound booth carry the season highlights. Thirteen 60-inch rounds seat 8 each, so a varsity roster plus families fills the room comfortably.
Programs that honor several teams at once, like an athletic department’s spring awards, can switch to auditorium seating for up to 275 and hold a lighter reception in the Welcome Lobby afterward.
Academic honors and senior nights
Cooper City High is described among the top schools in Broward, with AP participation of 48%. Academic societies, scholarship committees and parent groups often want a dignified evening for their students, with a podium, a microphone that works and room for grandparents. The presidential teleprompter helps student speakers stay steady through their remarks.
Faith-community galas and benefit dinners
Our rental page lists religious and spiritual events, fundraisers and non-profit organization events among the gatherings the venue welcomes. For a congregation’s annual gala, that means a seated dinner for up to 110 in the auditorium, a silent-auction setup in the lobby and a program on the stage. Streaming lets members who can’t attend watch the keynote from home.
Secondary fits for Cooper City include active-adult luncheons, which the city already programs monthly, and quinceañeras for families who need more seats than a home or clubhouse allows.
Explore the venue rental details
Which room fits your guest count?
Capacities below come from the venue’s rent our space page. Start with how guests will spend the evening: seated at tables, watching a program or mingling.
| Room | Size | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Auditorium | 2,944 sq ft | 275 auditorium-style; 110 seated dinner | Award banquets, galas, honors programs |
| Multipurpose Room | 1,026 sq ft | 70 cocktail; 50 auditorium; 40 conference | Booster board meetings, committee planning, smaller luncheons |
| Welcome Lobby | 1,418 sq ft | 200 cocktail-style | Silent auctions, check-in, dessert receptions |
What’s included: tables, linens, place settings and the kitchen
For booster clubs and gala committees, the included inventory saves a lot of phone calls. A Main Auditorium rental includes thirteen 60-inch rounds with basic linens, rectangular buffet tables in three sizes, six square card tables, six high-top cocktail tables with black linens or spandex, and 275 tan banquet chairs.
Place settings for 200 are part of the package too: salad and dinner plates, full dinnerware, basic linen napkins and water glasses. Add password-protected complimentary Wi-Fi and lounge seating of two blue linen couches and two club chairs.
The kitchen is set up to support a caterer. It has two microwave ovens, a commercial coffee maker, a double-door refrigerator and a commercial reach-in refrigerator with 26 tray holders. Kitchen use comes at no additional charge with the Main Auditorium or Multipurpose Room. Have your caterer ask about the setup during your tour.
Sound, video, streaming and teleprompter
The Main Auditorium has a fully equipped professional sound and video booth with projection, streaming capabilities and a presidential teleprompter. It’s operated by the Center’s own team, and equipment and operator fees are quoted when you inquire.
For a team banquet, plan on a highlight video and a handheld mic for coaches. For a gala, think about walk-in music, a sponsor slide loop during dinner and a live stream of the keynote. Send your files ahead so the booth can test them before guests arrive.
Cooper City traditions that shape the event calendar
Cooper City was founded in 1959 by Morris Cooper and still calls itself “Someplace Special.” Its biggest tradition is Founder’s Day, which the city describes as one of its most anticipated events. The 2026 edition on March 14, themed “Americana Fest,” included a fun run, parade, car show, concert, drone show and fireworks.
Sports run deep here. The city keeps three sports complexes and 21 community parks, and Brian Piccolo Park’s cricket grounds hosted first-class cricket in 2004 when the United States played Canada. Fall Fest, Eat to the Beat and the holiday lighting at Memorial Park fill out the year.
With that much happening in town, banquet dates in spring and holiday gala dates in December go quickly. A venue a short interstate ride away gives committees another option when the local calendar is full.
Planning tip: For a booster banquet, count families, not players. A 25-player roster with two guests each plus coaches lands close to 80, and a sibling or two can push you toward the 110-seat dinner limit fast.
Planning checklist for your Cooper City event
- Set your guest count and choose a format: seated dinner, program seating or reception.
- Pick two or three dates that avoid your league’s playoffs and school exams.
- Call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 to check availability and request a quote.
- Schedule a walkthrough with your committee chair and caterer.
- Ask about booth staffing for video, microphones and streaming.
- Assign volunteers for check-in, awards table and lobby setup.
- Send the address with directions via Griffin Road and I-95, plus a suggested departure time.
- Deliver slides, music and the awards list to the booth a week before.
When to book for spring banquets and holiday galas
End-of-season sports banquets cluster in spring, right alongside graduation parties and school honors nights. Holiday galas and year-end benefit dinners compete for the same few weekends in late November and December.
If you know your season end date, start the conversation then. You can see what’s already on the schedule on the Center’s calendar, and the Director of Operations will confirm open dates and walk you through policies.
Parking and arrival for guests coming from Cooper City
The on-site lot holds up to 150 vehicles, which covers a full banquet with room to spare. Guests step into the Welcome Lobby, where the Guest Services desk makes an easy check-in point and the open floor can hold a trophy table or sponsor display.
The Center also works alongside local organizations; see our community partners. Planning across southwest Broward? Compare our guides to an event venue near Davie, a banquet hall alternative for Pembroke Pines and event space for Plantation groups, or start with the Broward County venue overview.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the venue from Cooper City?
The venue at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park is about 17.4 miles from central Cooper City. The drive typically takes about 27 minutes via Griffin Road, I-95 and Commercial Boulevard. Times vary with traffic, so build in extra time for evening events.
Can a booster club host an awards banquet with dinner?
Yes. The Main Auditorium seats up to 110 for a seated dinner, using thirteen 60-inch round tables with linens, and the professional sound and video booth handles slideshows and microphones. Place settings for 200 and kitchen access for your caterer are included.
How many guests can the Center for Spiritual Living hold?
The Main Auditorium holds 275 auditorium-style or 110 for a seated dinner. The Multipurpose Room holds up to 70 cocktail-style, 50 auditorium-style or 40 conference-style, and the Welcome Lobby holds up to 200 cocktail-style.
How do I get a rental quote and check dates?
Rental pricing is by inquiry. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 or reach out through the contact page with your date, guest count and event type.
Is there Wi-Fi for presenters and guests?
Yes. Password-protected complimentary Wi-Fi comes with rentals of the Main Auditorium and the Multipurpose Room, so presenters can pull up slides and guests can stay connected.
Do we have to be members or share CSL’s beliefs to rent the space?
The venue welcomes events of every kind and every background. Its rental page lists banquets, fundraisers, graduations and conferences as well as religious and spiritual events. Jim Wood, the Director of Operations, can walk you through rental policies when you call.
What are some good event venues in Broward County, Florida?
Look for a Broward venue with the right capacity for your format, on-site parking and the tech your program needs. The Center for Spiritual Living in Oakland Park offers a 275-seat auditorium, a lobby for 200, a professional AV booth with streaming and parking for 150 vehicles.
The easiest way to picture your banquet or gala is a quick walkthrough. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868, or send your date and headcount online. Every room and amenity is also listed on our Oakland Park venue rental page.
