Exhibitor guide · Downtown Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore Convention Center: the exhibitor's guide
A $51.4 million building from 1979 that nearly tripled in size during a 1997 expansion, 300,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space across seven rooms, and a Maryland labor market with no right-to-work law on the books. What exhibitors need to know before, during and after a Baltimore show.
BCC · One W Pratt StWhy this page exists
The Baltimore Convention Center opened in August 1979 at 425,000 sq ft and $51.4 million, a modest building for its era, and then very nearly tripled in size with a $151 million expansion completed in April 1997 that brought it to its current 1,225,000 sq ft. Today it offers 300,000 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space split across seven rooms, roughly 85,000 sq ft of meeting space in 50 rooms, and a 36,672 sq ft ballroom, connected to the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor next door by an enclosed, climate-controlled walkway. Maryland has no right-to-work statute, so union security agreements are standard practice here; Teamsters handle freight, carpet, booth install and rigging, while the Carpenters' union covers install and dismantle of prefabricated displays, with a narrow allowance for two full-time exhibiting-company employees to do an hour of that work themselves. This guide covers the halls, labor rules, drayage, the shows that fill the calendar including the long-running Baltimore Comic-Con, hotels on the skywalk, and the center's expansion history.
The building
The exhibit halls
| Space | What it is | Typical shows | Booth planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seven exhibit rooms | 300,000 sq ft contiguous exhibit space. | Large national trade shows, comic and pop-culture conventions, medical and industrial expos | Confirm current room assignment. |
| 50 meeting rooms | ~85,000 sq ft of breakout space. | Breakouts, general sessions | Hand-carry and tabletop formats. |
| Main ballroom | 36,672 sq ft. | Galas, general sessions | Distinct rigging points from the exhibit halls. |
Figures from the Baltimore Convention Center's published facility overview and the 1997 expansion project record.
The labor map
Who sets up my booth?
Maryland has no statewide right-to-work law, so union security agreements are standard here. Teamsters handle freight, lay carpet, install booths and perform decorator and rigging work. The Carpenters' union has jurisdiction over install and dismantle of prefabricated displays, though two full-time exhibiting-company employees may work without carpenter labor for one hour on move-in and one hour on move-out.
Carpenters union, with a narrow exception
Two of your own full-time staff can do an hour of install and an hour of dismantle without a carpenter card.
Teamsters for freight and drayage
Anything beyond a single hand-carry trip is unloaded by union labor at the dock.
Exhibitor-appointed contractors
Purple files as your EAC for BCC shows.
History
From 425,000 to 1.2 million square feet
The Baltimore Convention Center opens at 425,000 sq ft total, with 115,000 sq ft of exhibit space and 40,000 sq ft of meeting rooms, costing $51.4 million.
A $151 million expansion nearly triples the building to 1,225,000 sq ft total, adding 300,000 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space across seven rooms, roughly 85,000 sq ft of meeting space and the 36,672 sq ft ballroom that anchors the center today.
Otakon, one of the country's largest anime conventions, calls the BCC home before relocating to Washington, D.C. in 2017.
Baltimore Comic-Con becomes an annual fixture at the center, growing into one of the mid-Atlantic's signature comic book conventions.
Rules of the floor
Rules of the floor
Teamsters and Carpenters jurisdiction
Freight, carpet and rigging are Teamster work; prefab display I&D is Carpenters' work with a narrow self-install exception.
Mid-Atlantic planning rate
Purple's planning estimate is about $140 per hundredweight with a 200 lb minimum, itemized separately from electrical, install labor and rigging.
Baltimore City Fire Department
Covered and multilevel exhibits need plan review; flame-certified fabrics for anything covered.
Center-exclusive services
Electrical, internet and catering are exclusive to the BCC or its designated providers; the show kit carries the current list.
Empties and the MHA
EMPTY stickers on unpack; MHA before leaving. Purple routes the booth back to storage or on to your next show.
Free tool
BCC drayage estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 and 2027; your show's exhibitor kit has the tariff.
Deadlines
Freight countdown for a BCC show
The calendar
Shows at the BCC
Baltimore Comic-Con, an annual fixture since 2000, anchors the fall calendar.
| Show | Next dates | Industry | Attendance | Purple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Comic-Con | September 2026 | Comics, pop culture | 20,000+ | Custom exhibits |
Attendance is the organizer's or trade press figure where published; confirm before booking.
Logistics
Hotels, transit, crew logistics
- Airport: BWI Marshall is about 20–25 minutes.
- Connected: the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor links via an enclosed walkway.
- Walking: the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards are a short walk.
- Crew: Purple coordinates Mid-Atlantic crews and regional freight for Baltimore shows.
| Hotel | Distance | Why exhibitors pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor | Connected via skywalk | An enclosed, climate-controlled walk straight into the BCC. |
| Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor | Walking distance | Waterfront views a short walk from the center. |
| Hotels near BWI Marshall | 20–25-min drive | Fly-in exhibitors on early or late flights. |
Resources
Free resources you can link to
Cite the numbers
One-page cheat sheet
Hall map, labor rules, docks, deadlines.
Related on purpleexhibits.com: Custom trade show booth design · Trade show booth rentals · Request a quote.
Questions
Baltimore Convention Center FAQ
Can I set up my own booth?
Two of your own full-time staff can do an hour of install and an hour of dismantle without a carpenter card, but beyond that, prefabricated display install and dismantle is Carpenters' union work, and freight and drayage is Teamsters' work. Maryland has no right-to-work law, so these union security arrangements are standard.
How big is the BCC?
1,225,000 square feet total, with 300,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space across seven rooms.
How much is drayage?
Purple's planning estimate is about $140 per hundredweight in 2026 and 2027, with a 200-pound minimum.
How much did the building expand in 1997?
A $151 million expansion nearly tripled the original 425,000 sq ft building to its current 1,225,000 sq ft.
What's the biggest show at the BCC?
Baltimore Comic-Con, an annual fixture since 2000 and one of the mid-Atlantic's signature comic book conventions.
Which airport should I use?
Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Marshall is about 20 to 25 minutes from downtown.
Is there a connected hotel?
Yes, the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor connects via an enclosed, climate-controlled walkway.
Exhibiting at the BCC?
Send us the show and booth number. You get a labor briefing, a drayage estimate, and a build timeline within two business days.
Venue guides
Every venue we have a guide for
Same standard, every hall: the building, the rules, the tools and the calendar.