Chicago Trade Shows
Chicago’s McCormick Place, the premier convention facility in North America for Trade Show Displays Chicago. Located just minutes from downtown Chicago, McCormick Place attracts close to 3 million visitors each year. McCormick Place is comprised of four state-of-the-art buildings: the North and South Buildings, the West Building and Lakeside Center. Together, they form what many consider to be the economic engine that powers the entire convention and tradeshow industry. McCormick Place is committed to creating a great experience for every person, every time!
The size and versatility of McCormick Place are impressive. With 2.6 million sq. ft. of exhibit halls, 1.3 million square feet all on one level, 170 meeting rooms, 600,000 square feet of meeting room space, 6 ballrooms, 2 of which are the largest in the city, Assembly seating for 18,000 people, 4,249 seat theater (Arie Crown), 3 theaters seating 300 each, Ceiling heights up to 50 feet, and easy access to 5,800 parking spaces.
In addition, an expansive series of pedestrian promenades and sky bridges link the entire campus. The Grand Concourse connecting South and North and the Central Concourse in West are also locations for retail shops, cafes, restaurants and other visitor amenities.
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is the only hotel connected to McCormick Place. The facility easily answers the hotel needs of event organizers by offering 1268 renovated sleeping rooms, sweeping Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan views, Hyatt Grand Beds & Plug Panels, 6 restaurants including In Room Dining, and additional meeting and event space
Trade Show Displays Chicago
There are a million places to visit and things to do in Chicago. So how do you choose between all of Chicago’s top restaurants, nightlife, shopping and museums to fit them all into your week’s plans? Let us be your guide for all of the best that Chicago has to offer.
Explore the depths of the ocean at the Shedd Aquarium. Catch a fly ball at Wrigley Field. Take in a show at The Chicago Theatre. Ride the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier. And that’s just day one.
Chicago boasts some of the best cuisine, attractions and entertainment in the U.S., including several of the top 100 restaurants in the country, the tallest building in the US, and one of the best orchestras in the world in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
From shopaholics and sports enthusiasts to thrill seekers and foodies, Chicago has something for everyone.
McCormick Place Technology Services Department, Your Utilities Resource, is responsible for the delivery of utility services – telecommunications and internet. From the time you place your order, through your move out, McCormick Place Technology Services Department is here to serve you in a professional, efficient and user-friendly manner.
We can boast of the following:
A Skilled Workforce: All technology utility work is conducted by members of Chicago’s professional exhibition industry work force.
Personal Service – From Beginning to the End: Our team of Service Managers are available to assist with ordering your utility needs. Our Service Managers also staff the Customer Call Center and will work with you prior to your event arriving in our facility. We are pleased to assist you in your pre-planning stage. This same team will be visible on the show floor during move-in and move-out. They will also deliver Billing Statements to you once the show has opened and are able to discuss any billing issues prior to leaving the facility.
On Site Technical Assistance: Our Technical Support Staff is available to you as well. This team is available prior to the move-in of your event as well as on show site.
Overall we want to assist you in ordering the services that specifically suit your needs. You can contact the Service Management team at 312-791-6113.
Efficient ordering, focused cost control and streamlined billing all go into making your exhibit experience a successful one!
McCormick Place offers an organized manual for exhibitors to review everything needed to exhibit! We encourage a thorough review of this guide.
Our Internet and Telecommunication Service Ordering Guide and Facility Information is included in the Exhibitor Kits provided to you by your Show Organizer. Our Guide provides information about utilities, order forms for services, facility regulations and fire safety regulations – all in one easy-to-read manual. Please call or email us to obtain copies of the order forms customized specifically for your event or you can order your services online. (Click here to place your order online)
In addition, a listing of general booth tips and money saving ideas can also be found at the front of the Exhibitor Ordering Guide.
Each guide clearly outlines deadline dates and ordering procedures, supporting your planning process.
For information about exhibiting at McCormick Place, the Internet and Telecommunications Ordering Guide is the source!
And remember – to save money, ordering deadline dates are 14 days prior to the first move-in day!
So, whenever we can be of assistance – contact us at technology@mccormickplace.com or at 312-791-6113.
The show has been selected, you’re going to a world class facility in a world class location, the booth space is confirmed, the marketing plan is in place…
Now “How do I make sure that the exhibit will be the best that we’ve ever done?????”
The information contained in this web site has been developed to make your exhibiting experience at McCormick Place smooth, easy and cost efficient!
Exhibiting in Chicago FAQ
Working With McCormick Place Technology Services Department FAQ
Freight/Drayage: You need to work closely with your general service contractor regarding freight move in/out. A detailed production and dock door usage plan from the contractor is required to schedule dock space and service elevators. Your Event Manager will give a Dock/Elevator Schedule form to you. This schedule should be passed along to your general service contractor for their completion and returned 15 days prior to your event.
Freight shipped to McCormick Place or to our truck marshalling facility before your licensed move‐in date will not be accepted. If you wish to ship freight prior to your move‐in, please contact your general service contractor who may have warehousing facilities available.
Truck Marshalling is located at 31st Street and Lake Shore Drive, (adjacent to Lot B) Marshalling is available for overnight bus and truck parking based on availability. Services include a certified truck scale, 24‐hour staff, 24‐hour convenience/vending center and security cameras. Fees are charged for entrance, overnight storage and scale use. Reservations can be made at www.truticket.com/busparking.
For more information, please reference our Meeting Planners Guide.
Automobile and Small Utility Vehicle (ASUV) Program
The McCormick Place ASUV program is available at predetermined dates and times as provided by Show Management. McCormick Place encourages Exhibitors to participate in the ASUV program using one of the two options listed below. When participating in the ASUV program, only specific types of vehicles can be used to transport exhibitor material to the dock area. Also, only specific types of transporting devices can be used to transport booth material to your booth space on the show floor. These specific vehicle types and transporting devices are noted below.
The McCormick Place ASUV program is available at predetermined dates and times as provided by Show Management. McCormick Place encourages Exhibitors to participate in the ASUV program using one of the two options listed below. When participating in the ASUV program, only specific types of vehicles can be used to transport exhibitor material to the dock area. Also, only specific types of transporting devices can be used to transport booth material to your booth space on the show floor. These specific vehicle types and transporting devices are noted below.
Visit www.truticket.com/asuv/index.htm to find the available times and dates for your event’s ASUV and register your vehicle. Preregistration saves time and is required to avoid on-site registration. Vehicle information such as make, model and license plate will be required.
Upon registration, Exhibitors will be emailed a Check-In Pass for move-in and a separate Check-Out Pass for move-out. On both your designated ASUV move-in day and your ASUV move-out day, you must first check in with the ASUV manager located at the entrance to Lot B.
Upon arriving at Lot B, you will be asked to exchange your pre-printed ASUV Check-In or Check-Out Pass for a Dock Pass which allows you to proceed up to the ASUV dock area for your event. You will not be allowed access to the dock without a Dock Pass.
While parked in the dock, Exhibitor staff must work as team of at least two people and one person must remain with the vehicle at all times.
Vehicles must be unloaded within a 20 minute period.
Exhibitor or Exhibitor’s employees are defined as any person who has been employed by the exhibitor as full-time employee for a minimum of six months before the show’s opening (be prepared to provide proof of full-time employment status upon request).
If your vehicle does not meet the criteria below, you will need to follow Marshaling Yard instructions for truck check-in (material handling charges will be based on published kit rates).
Types of vehicles approved for use in the ASUV Program:
- Passenger Automobile
- Mini Van
- SUV
- Pick-Up Truck
- Full-Size Van
- **No Trailers
- **No Step Van / Box Trucks
How to move material from my ASUV Vehicle to my booth on the show floor:
- Portable Display
- Boxes
- 2 or 4-Wheel Hand Cart
- **No Pallet Jacks
Exhibitor Guaranteed Parking (Hand Carried Items):
Visit truticket.com/mccormick to find the available times and dates for your event and purchase a Guaranteed Exhibitor Parking Permit. Upon purchase, Exhibitors will be shipped/mailed an Exhibitor Parking Permit valid at Lot A or Lot C. Upon arriving at the designated parking facility, scan the permit in the card reader to gain access. Exhibitor parking does not utilize the dock area. Park the vehicle in the first available space and transport items through pedestrian building access to the show floor. Only non-motorized, non-hydraulic, hand trucks and dollies may be used to transport items from your vehicle to the show floor.
Internet Services:
McCormick Place is pleased to offer Internet and networking services to event organizers and their exhibitors. All Internet prices are flat rates; there is no per minute usage or connection charges by service providers and the rate provides customers with connectivity for the duration of the event. All services are delivered via CAT5 RJ45 connections over an Ethernet network. Please call the Technology Services Department at 312-791-6113 and they will be happy to answer any questions you may have. For more information visit http://www.mccormickplace.com/exhibitors.
Telephone Services:
In an ongoing effort to make McCormick Place a simpler place to do business, we have made the following changes:
Telephone Services will now include the following:
Unlimited Free Toll-free calls
Unlimited Local (Chicago Metro Area) Calls
Up to 100 minutes of Domestic Long Distance calls at no charge
We will continue to charge for all international calls.
Please visit our Ordering Guide for a detailed listing of all of our telephone services. For more information visit http://www.mccormickplace.com/exhibitors.
Wireless Internet:
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available on the exhibit floor during move in and move out. It is no longer available on the exhibit floor or in space(s) used for exhibits during show days, except in permanent Food Pod Areas in Halls A and F, and in 1 Hotspot area per exhibit hall (A-F). The location of this hotspot will be determined on site by the Show Manager. Complimentary Wi-Fi will continue to be offered at all times in public/function space and meeting rooms. This service is for checking emails or basic websites with minimal graphic content. Access to the Wi-Fi network may be sporadic and cannot be guaranteed as access is based on the volume of users. For more information visit http://www.mccormickplace.com/exhibitors.