Exhibitor guide · Chicago, IL
McCormick Place: booth rentals and exhibitor notes
Chicago's four-building lakefront campus with 2.6 million square feet of exhibit halls, in-house internet, and electrical through each show's contractor.
At a glance
At McCormick Place, wired and Wi-Fi internet come only from the in-house McCormick Place Technology Services, its ordering guide does not allow portable hotspots, and booth electrical is hired through your show's official service contractor. ConventionVendor.com rents booth displays, iPads, kiosks, and registration equipment delivered for move-in at any of the four buildings.
Exhibiting at McCormick Place
McCormick Place spreads across four connected exhibition buildings on Chicago's Near South Side lakefront: West, South, North, and Lakeside Center (formerly the East Building). Together they hold 2.6 million square feet of exhibit halls, 170 meeting rooms, and six ballrooms, the largest at 103,760 square feet, alongside the Arie Crown Theater and Wintrust Arena. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority owns the campus, and OVG360 has managed it since October 2023. The CTA Green Line stops at Cermak-McCormick Place, and the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and Marriott Marquis Chicago connect to the complex.
RSNA, IMTS, the National Restaurant Association Show, and The Inspired Home Show are regulars, and each runs its own contractor lineup. Electricians and riggers are hired through the show's official service contractor, while internet is the utility McCormick Place keeps in-house. Material handling is done by Teamsters through the official service contractor. A staffed truck marshalling yard at 31st Street and Lake Shore Drive feeds the docks, and freight that shows up before the licensed move-in date is turned away.
| Address | 2301 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago, IL |
|---|---|
| Exhibit space | 2.6 million square feet of exhibit halls |
| Halls and buildings | West, South, North, and Lakeside Center |
| Opened | 1960; latest major expansion 2007 |
| Nearest airport | Chicago Midway International (MDW), about 10 miles |
| Connected hotels | Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Marriott Marquis Chicago |
| Internet provider | McCormick Place Technology Services (in-house, exclusive) |
| Booth electrical | Hired through your show's official service contractor |
| Official website | mccormickplace.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
- Booth electrical is not exclusive to the building: electricians are hired through each show's official service contractor, so the provider changes from show to show.
- McCormick Place Technology Services is the exclusive provider of wired and Wi-Fi internet in all McCormick Place facilities except the Hyatt hotel, with shared and dedicated wired tiers, wireless booth packages, and custom circuits.
- Wireless access points are not permitted on shared wired tiers. The venue's ordering guide (dated 2018-2019) allows exhibitor access points only under an advance waiver tied to dedicated wired service and does not allow portable Wi-Fi systems such as MiFi or cellular hotspots; confirm current terms with technology@mccormickplace.com.
- Free Wi-Fi on the exhibit floor is limited to food pod areas and one hotspot area per hall, and the venue recommends hard-wired service for mission-critical demos. Our equipment plugs into the power your show contractor provides, and lead capture iPads can work offline when your app supports it.
Move-in and delivery
- Trucks use the full-service marshalling yard at 31st Street and Lake Shore Drive (3050 S. Moe Drive), and freight arriving before the licensed move-in date is not accepted.
- Freight doors close one hour before show opening each day.
- The ASUV program lets registered exhibitors self-unload cars, SUVs, and vans at set docks: check in at the marshalling yard, unload within 20 minutes, and use hand-carry or non-motorized dollies only.
- Dock schedules come from show management and the official service contractor. We deliver your rentals within that schedule and can be listed on an exhibitor-appointed contractor form if required.
What exhibitors rent at McCormick Place
- Booth Tech Kits: Lead Capture iPads, Screens, and Charging: iPads with offline lead capture and a laptop on a wired tier keep your booth productive where free Wi-Fi reaches only food pods and one area per hall.
- Booth TVs, Monitors, and Video Walls: Large halls at shows like IMTS reward big screens on floor stands or truss, powered by the electrical you order from the show contractor.
- Registration, Check-In, and Badge Printing: A four-building campus can call for check-in stations and badge printers at several entrances, wired through Technology Services.
- Touchscreen Kiosks for Booths and Shows: Touchscreen kiosks on a wired connection give attendees self-serve product information on busy show days without relying on Wi-Fi.
Before you exhibit at McCormick Place
- Order utilities before the advance deadline, typically 14 days before move-in, and submit a floor plan showing where services go.
- Order internet directly from McCormick Place Technology Services, not from your show contractor.
- Leave the MiFi behind; portable hotspots are not allowed under the venue's ordering guide.
- Use the ASUV self-unload program for small loads you drive in yourself.
- The FedEx Office business center in the South Building can handle last-minute printing and shipping.
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.
McCormick Place FAQ
Are MiFi hotspots allowed at McCormick Place?
The venue's Technology Services ordering guide (dated 2018-2019) says self-contained portable Wi-Fi systems, including MiFi and cellular hotspots, are not allowed. Access points need an advance waiver tied to a dedicated wired service. Confirm current terms with McCormick Place Technology Services and your exhibitor manual.
Who provides booth electrical at McCormick Place?
Electricians are hired through your show's official service contractor, so the provider differs by show. Order through your exhibitor kit before the advance deadline, which is typically 14 days before move-in.
What is the ASUV program at McCormick Place?
It lets registered exhibitors self-unload cars, SUVs, and vans at designated docks. You check in at the marshalling yard, unload within 20 minutes, and use hand-carry or non-motorized dollies only.
Sources
- McCormick Place: venue overview (opens in a new tab)
- McCormick Place: history (opens in a new tab)
- McCormick Place: exhibitor internet services (opens in a new tab)
- McCormick Place: wireless internet (opens in a new tab)
- McCormick Place: Technology Services ordering guide (opens in a new tab)
- McCormick Place: ASUV self-unload program (opens in a new tab)
Planning more than a booth, such as a full conference at McCormick Place? Our parent company covers event-wide technology on its Rentacomputer.com McCormick Place page (opens in a new tab).
Exhibiting at McCormick Place?
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.