Exhibitor guide · Cincinnati, OH
First Financial Center: booth rentals and exhibitor notes
Cincinnati's convention center, reopened in January 2026 after renovation and renamed in February 2026, with 195,000 square feet of continuous exhibit space.
At a glance
First Financial Center, Cincinnati's renovated convention center (formerly the Duke Energy Convention Center), is the exclusive provider of booth electrical and internet, and it does not accept event deliveries. ConventionVendor.com rents booth technology for shows here, coordinated with your show's freight process and delivered in time for move-in.
Exhibiting at First Financial Center
First Financial Center sits at Fifth and Elm streets at the heart of downtown Cincinnati's new Convention District. The building reopened in January 2026 after an 18-month renovation and took its current name on February 9, 2026, after Duke Energy ended its naming rights. Inside are Exhibit Halls A-C with 195,000 square feet of continuous exhibit space, the 39,000-square-foot Cincinnatus Ballroom, the Queen City Ballroom with a 6,000-square-foot rooftop terrace, and more than 30 breakout rooms. Outside is the new two-acre Elm Street Convention Plaza.
Legends Global manages the building, which lists utilities, telecommunications, rigging, food and beverage (through Levy Restaurants), cleaning, and security among its exclusive services. There is no on-site marshaling yard, and the center will not accept event deliveries, so every shipment depends on your show's general service contractor. RedsFest was the first convention booked at the renovated center. A 700-room Marriott headquarters hotel with a planned skywalk is not expected to open until June 2028, so staff will stay at existing downtown hotels in the meantime.
| Address | 525 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|
| Formerly | Duke Energy Convention Center; Cincinnati Convention Center |
| Exhibit space | 195,000 square feet of continuous exhibit space in Exhibit Halls A-C |
| Meeting rooms | More than 30 breakout rooms |
| Largest ballroom | Cincinnatus Ballroom, about 39,000 square feet |
| Opened | 1967; renovated center reopened January 2026 |
| Nearest airport | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), 13 miles away in Kentucky |
| Internet provider | First Financial Center (in-house, exclusive) |
| Booth electrical | First Financial Center (in-house, exclusive) |
| Official website | thefirstfinancialcenter.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
- Utilities, including electrical, plumbing, and compressed air, are exclusive to the center, so booth power is ordered through its Exhibitor Service Portal.
- The center is also the exclusive provider of wired and wireless internet and all telecommunications, with Basic and Premium paid wireless options and hardwired service throughout the exhibit floor.
- No explicit ban on personal hotspots or exhibitor access points appears in the Event Planning Guide, but the center strongly recommends hardwired connections for mission-critical uses such as registration, card processing, and heavy presentations.
- Free Wi-Fi has limited bandwidth and covers common areas like the concourses and pre-function lobby, so do not plan a booth demo around it.
- Order the outlet and wired line from the center; our displays and registration stations connect to them, and offline lead capture covers any gap.
Move-in and delivery
- The enclosed loading dock on the 6th Street side has 17 bays, and Visit Cincy also cites three semi-truck portals that open directly into exhibit space.
- The center does not accept event deliveries. The general service contractor receives all show shipments, and with no on-site marshaling yard, the contractor submits a marshaling plan for the center's review.
- Hand-carry items can come in through the 5th & Elm or 6th & Elm entrances, with timing set by show management and the general service contractor.
- We coordinate rental delivery with your show's contractor and move-in window, and we will appear on an exhibitor-appointed contractor form when your show calls for one.
What exhibitors rent at First Financial Center
- Registration, Check-In, and Badge Printing: The center recommends hardwired internet for registration, so plan check-in stations around a wired drop ordered from the venue.
- Booth Tech Kits: Lead Capture iPads, Screens, and Charging: Lead capture iPads with offline storage keep working whether or not your booth buys paid wireless from the center.
- Booth TVs, Monitors, and Video Walls: Displays and video walls run on the in-house power you order through the Exhibitor Service Portal.
- Show Office and Breakout Room Technology: With more than 30 breakout rooms and two ballrooms, conventions here can need laptops, printers, and projectors for show offices and sessions.
Before you exhibit at First Financial Center
- Use the new name on shipping labels and travel plans, and add "formerly Duke Energy Convention Center" where it helps carriers and staff find the building.
- Place electrical, internet, and rigging orders through the Exhibitor Service Portal before the advance deadline.
- Route every package through the general service contractor, because the center will not accept it.
- Use a hardwired line for registration and payment terminals, as the center itself recommends.
- The headquarters Marriott is not planned to open until 2028, so book existing downtown hotels within walking distance.
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.
First Financial Center FAQ
Is First Financial Center the same as the Duke Energy Convention Center?
Yes. Cincinnati's convention center reopened after renovation in January 2026 and was renamed First Financial Center on February 9, 2026. Its address is 525 Elm Street.
Can I ship booth materials directly to First Financial Center?
No. The center does not accept event deliveries; the show's general service contractor receives all shipments. Follow the shipping instructions in your exhibitor manual.
Who provides internet at First Financial Center?
The center is the exclusive provider of wired and wireless internet and telecommunications. It offers Basic and Premium paid wireless and hardwired service through the Exhibitor Service Portal, and it recommends hardwired connections for registration and other mission-critical uses.
Other convention centers nearby
- Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus's North High Street convention center, with 373,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, Ohio's largest ballroom, and sky bridges to five hotels.
Sources
- First Financial Center: Event Planning Guide (opens in a new tab)
- First Financial Center: exhibitor services and internet (opens in a new tab)
- 3CDC: convention center renamed First Financial Center (opens in a new tab)
- Visit Cincy: First Financial Center venue overview (opens in a new tab)
- FOX19: convention center reopens after renovation (opens in a new tab)
Planning more than a booth, such as a full conference at First Financial Center? Our parent company covers event-wide technology on its Rentacomputer.com First Financial Center page (opens in a new tab).
Exhibiting at First Financial 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.