Exhibitor guide · Milwaukee, WI
Baird Center: booth rentals and exhibitor notes
Milwaukee's downtown convention center, formerly the Wisconsin Center, with 300,000 contiguous square feet of exhibition space and a 2024 expansion.
At a glance
At the Baird Center in Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Center District is the exclusive provider of booth electrical and internet, and trucks reach the docks through a one-way helix route. ConventionVendor.com rents booth technology for Baird Center shows, delivered and timed to your move-in.
Exhibiting at Baird Center
The Baird Center, formerly the Wisconsin Center, stands on West Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee and is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Center District (WCD). It offers 300,000 contiguous square feet of exhibition space, 52 meeting rooms, the rooftop Baird Ballroom and Baird Sky View Terrace, and the original ballroom. The expansion that opened in May 2024 added about 111,000 square feet and a new wing with its own entrance, so two conventions can run at the same time. The building is LEED Gold certified.
The current name took effect July 1, 2023, after Robert W. Baird & Co. bought naming rights. Shows on the November 2026 calendar include Trainfest and the National Association for Gifted Children Annual Convention. The 2026 Exhibitor Kit spells out logistics in detail: WCD electricians, engineers, and IT technicians are the only people allowed to access building utilities, and trucks enter the dock at 850 N. Sixth Street through the North Helix and leave through the South Helix. The downtown skywalk system links the center to nearby hotels.
| Address | 400 W Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|
| Formerly | Wisconsin Center; Frontier Airlines Center |
| Exhibit space | 300,000 contiguous square feet of exhibition space |
| Meeting rooms | 52 |
| Opened | 1998 (second phase 2000); expansion opened May 2024 |
| Nearest airport | Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), about 6 miles south of downtown |
| Internet provider | Wisconsin Center District (in-house, exclusive) |
| Booth electrical | Wisconsin Center District (in-house, exclusive) |
| Notable shows | Trainfest and the NAGC Annual Convention (November 2026) |
| Official website | bairdcenter.com (opens in a new tab) |
Facts checked October 15, 2026 against the sources listed below. Schedules and providers can change from show to show; your exhibitor manual has the final word.
Power, internet, and Wi-Fi
- WCD is the exclusive provider for all electrical services, and hardwired and 208V or 480V connections must be done or supervised by WCD electricians.
- WCD is also the exclusive provider for telephone and internet. Options include wired internet (one drop per booth location, extendable up to 30 feet within the booth), premium per-device Wi-Fi, booth Wi-Fi hotspots for multiple devices, and custom booth networks with their own access point and SSID.
- No outright ban on exhibitor hotspots was found, but the kit prohibits resale or redistribution of WCD service and warns that wireless can suffer interference from devices on the same channels, with no credit for slow wireless caused by exhibitors, contractors, or attendees.
- Free Wi-Fi runs throughout the venue; for demos, the wired drop is the more dependable choice, and our gear plugs into the WCD power at your booth.
Move-in and delivery
- The dock entrance is at 850 N. Sixth Street: enter only by the North Helix and exit by the South Helix, with 22 loading docks and four drive-up ramps.
- If your show allows personal vehicles to unload at the dock, each one gets 15 minutes, and propane tanks over one pound must be stored outside on the dock.
- Rigging orders are due 14 days before the first contracted date, and move-in schedules come from show management and the general service contractor.
- We deliver rentals for your move-in window and can be registered as an exhibitor-appointed contractor when your show requires it.
What exhibitors rent at Baird Center
- Booth Tech Kits: Lead Capture iPads, Screens, and Charging: iPads with offline lead capture keep working if shared wireless slows from interference, which the kit says WCD will not credit.
- Booth TVs, Monitors, and Video Walls: Displays and video walls run on WCD power, and a wired drop extendable up to 30 feet within the booth reaches screens placed away from the drop.
- Registration, Check-In, and Badge Printing: With a separate entrance on the new wing, an event spread across both sections may need check-in stations at each door.
- Show Office and Breakout Room Technology: Sessions in the 52 meeting rooms often need laptops, projectors, and printers for presenters and show staff.
Before you exhibit at Baird Center
- Send truck drivers the helix route in advance: in by the North Helix, out by the South Helix.
- Order electrical, internet, and rigging (handled by IATSE Local 18) through the Baird Center online exhibitor store, keeping in mind that rigging is due 14 days out.
- Submit a booth map with power and internet orders so drops land where you want them; otherwise staff place them where convenient, and moving them takes extra work.
- Do not share or resell your venue internet with neighboring booths, because the kit prohibits redistribution.
- Use the downtown skywalks to walk between hotels and the hall.
Schedules, deadlines, and service providers can change from show to show. Always confirm details in your show's exhibitor manual. Our exhibitor timeline lists what to order and when.
Baird Center FAQ
Is the Baird Center the same as the Wisconsin Center?
Yes. Milwaukee's convention center was renamed the Baird Center effective July 1, 2023, after Robert W. Baird & Co. bought naming rights. It was also once called the Frontier Airlines Center. The address is 400 W Wisconsin Avenue.
How do trucks reach the docks at the Baird Center?
Trucks use the dock entrance at 850 N. Sixth Street, entering only by the North Helix and exiting by the South Helix. The venue has 22 loading docks and four drive-up ramps. Your general service contractor sets the move-in schedule.
Who provides booth internet at the Baird Center?
The Wisconsin Center District is the exclusive provider of telephone and internet, selling wired drops, per-device Wi-Fi, booth hotspots, and custom booth networks. Resale or redistribution of the service is prohibited, so each booth orders its own.
Sources
Planning more than a booth, such as a full conference at Baird Center? Our parent company covers event-wide technology on its Rentacomputer.com Baird Center page (opens in a new tab).
Exhibiting at Baird Center?
Tell us the show, venue, booth number, and dates. We will recommend the right booth and show technology and send a quote built around your move-in and move-out.