Exhibitor guide · Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania Convention Center: booth rentals and exhibitor notes
Center City Philadelphia venue with 679,000 square feet across seven exhibit halls, connected to two hotels next to Reading Terminal Market.
At a glance
At the Pennsylvania Convention Center, booth power comes from PCC Exhibitor Services and internet from the PCC Event Technology Department, both in-house. The work rules let your own full-time staff set up booths, but third-party computers, RFID and beacons must be installed by show-labor electricians. ConventionVendor.com rents booth technology for Philadelphia shows and delivers it for move-in with that rule in mind.
Exhibiting at Pennsylvania Convention Center
The Pennsylvania Convention Center fills several blocks of Center City Philadelphia, from the original 1993 building, whose Grand Hall occupies the historic Reading Railroad train shed, to the 2011 expansion along Broad Street. Legends Global manages it. Seven exhibit halls provide 679,000 square feet, including 528,000 contiguous square feet, alongside 82 meeting rooms and the 55,408-square-foot Terrace Ballroom. Reading Terminal Market and Chinatown are next door, and SEPTA's Jefferson Station is directly adjacent.
The building's labor rules, set by its Customer Satisfaction Agreement, give exhibitors room to do much of their own work: your full-time employees can set up booths of any size with company-owned materials, use power tools and install their own computers and AV. Third-party equipment is the exception, because those installs belong to show-labor electricians. The Philadelphia International Auto Show in January and PAX Unplugged in December are among the shows on the official calendar. The Philadelphia Marriott Downtown and an Aloft hotel connect to the building.
| Address | 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|
| Exhibit space | 679,000 sq ft in seven halls (528,000 contiguous) |
| Meeting rooms | 82 |
| Largest ballroom | 55,408 sq ft (Terrace Ballroom) |
| Opened | 1993; expanded 2011 |
| Connected hotels | Philadelphia Marriott Downtown and an Aloft hotel |
| Internet provider | PCC Event Technology Department (in-house) |
| Booth electrical | PCC Exhibitor Services (in-house) |
| Official website | paconvention.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
- Electrical, plumbing and compressed air are ordered from PCC Exhibitor Services, and electricians are show labor under the PCC work rules.
- All wired and wireless internet and telecom requests go to the PCC Event Technology Department. A hardline is dedicated and unshared, with installation labor included, and point-to-point networks or VLANs run up to 1 Gbps.
- We found no published PCC rule banning exhibitor hotspots; check your exhibitor manual for show-level wireless rules. Paid wireless is sold in halls, meeting rooms and ballrooms, while free Wi-Fi covers the concourses, the Grand Hall and the Overlook Cafe.
- Because third-party computers, RFID readers and beacons must be installed by show-labor electricians, plan for that labor when you rent booth technology. Our equipment plugs into the power you order from PCC Exhibitor Services.
Move-in and delivery
- Exhibitors can unload personally owned vehicles in designated areas, but not at the loading dock, whatever the booth size. Your own carts and hand trucks are allowed; motorized or hydraulic devices are not.
- Full-time employees may use ladders up to 6 feet and power tools, while cords under flooring, third-party lighting and vehicle battery connections need show-labor electricians.
- Dock counts and marshalling details are not published, so follow your GSC's freight instructions; show management and the GSC set every move-in schedule.
- We time delivery to your move-in window. If your show requires an exhibitor-appointed contractor form, list ConventionVendor.com on it, and confirm with show management how electrician labor applies to rented gear.
What exhibitors rent at Pennsylvania Convention Center
- Booth Tech Kits: Lead Capture iPads, Screens, and Charging: iPad lead capture kits are quick to place, but ask show management whether electrician labor applies to rented devices under the PCC rules.
- Booth TVs, Monitors, and Video Walls: Displays plug into power from PCC Exhibitor Services; factor in show-labor electricians for any third-party installation.
- Registration, Check-In, and Badge Printing: Show organizers handling check-in in the Broad Street Atrium or Grand Hall can rent registration stations and badge printers.
Before you exhibit at Pennsylvania Convention Center
- Your own full-time staff can build a booth of any size with company-owned materials, so decide early who on your team handles setup.
- Bring your car or van to the designated POV unloading area, not the dock, along with non-motorized carts.
- Order a hardline from the Event Technology Department for demos and payments; the bandwidth is dedicated to you.
- Plan electrician time for rented computers, RFID readers or beacons, covering both installation and removal.
- Order power, plumbing and compressed air through the PCC Exhibitor Services online ordering portal.
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.
Pennsylvania Convention Center FAQ
Can my staff set up rented equipment at the Pennsylvania Convention Center?
Your full-time employees can install their own company-owned computers and AV under the PCC work rules. Third-party computers, RFID, beacons and similar equipment must be installed by show-labor electricians. Check your exhibitor manual and arrange that labor through the show.
Who provides booth internet at the Pennsylvania Convention Center?
The PCC's own Event Technology Department handles all wired and wireless internet and telecom requests. A hardline gives you secure, dedicated bandwidth with installation included, and paid wireless is sold in the exhibit halls. Free Wi-Fi covers concourses and public areas only.
Where do exhibitors unload at the Pennsylvania Convention Center?
Personally owned vehicles unload in designated areas, not at the loading dock, regardless of booth size. You can use your own carts and hand trucks but no motorized or hydraulic devices. Commercial freight follows your general service contractor's instructions.
Other convention centers nearby
- David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Riverfront Pittsburgh center with 313,400 square feet of exhibit space on two levels and a skywalk to the Westin.
Sources
- Pennsylvania Convention Center: exhibitor services (opens in a new tab)
- Pennsylvania Convention Center: exhibitor FAQs and work rules (opens in a new tab)
- Pennsylvania Convention Center: show management FAQ (opens in a new tab)
- Pennsylvania Convention Center: Wi-Fi (opens in a new tab)
- Pennsylvania Convention Center: floor plans (opens in a new tab)
- Pennsylvania Convention Center: facility overview (opens in a new tab)
Planning more than a booth, such as a full conference at Pennsylvania Convention Center? Our parent company covers event-wide technology on its Rentacomputer.com Pennsylvania Convention Center page (opens in a new tab).
Exhibiting at Pennsylvania Convention 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.