After watching Raleigh's new convention center slowly take shape over the past 3 1/2 years, they were ready to experience the building for themselves.

"Very nice. Very spacious," proclaimed Boyd Schroeder, a retiree from Cary. "I like the clear, modern design."

Schroeder and his wife, Marcia, were among the hundreds of people who toured the center Friday following an official ribbon-cutting ceremony that included bagpipes, quotes from Winston Churchill and confetti shot out of a cannon.

Raleigh and Wake County leaders praised the center and all those who made it possible.

"When you see this building, you'll think you're in some kind of museum in a big city," Mayor Charles Meeker said.

Joe Bryan, chairman of the Wake County commissioners, said the center will change how Raleigh and Wake County are viewed.

"It actually really does put us on the map," Bryan said.

To pound that point home, the theme song from the movie "Rocky" began playing when the doors opened to the public.

Once inside, people seemed overwhelmed by the center's vast open spaces and the amount of natural light that pours inside.

"It has a really nice setup," said Mark Highfill, 56, who moved to Knightdale from San Francisco in March.

People were equally impressed with the exhibit hall that is underground.

"This is beautiful, man," said Edwin Jiminian, 27, as he wandered among booths set up for the International Expo. "I just called my fiancee and told her, 'You've got to see this.' "

Many were quick to note how much of an improvement the new center is over Raleigh's former civic center. Rep. Brad Miller of Raleigh, who spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, described the old center as "completely lacking in interest and just plain ugly."

Davina Byrd said events like the convention center opening don't come along very often in Raleigh.

"We've got to take what we can get," Byrd said.

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