Exhibitor guide · South Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center: the exhibitor's guide
516,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space three miles from Logan Airport, one of the strictest union jurisdictions in the country, and a 2025 renaming for the mayor who fought to build it. What exhibitors need to know before, during and after a BCEC show.
BCEC · 415 Summer StWhy this page exists
In fall 2024, the Massachusetts Legislature renamed the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center the Thomas Michael Menino Convention and Exhibition Center, effective July 12, 2025, honoring the mayor who championed building it in the first place, though "BCEC" is still what most exhibitors search and say. What hasn't changed is Boston's labor floor: Teamsters Local 25 handles material handling and decorating, IBEW Local 103 covers electrical, and Carpenters Local 327 handles booth assembly above standard heights, with tight crew minimums and steward sign-off that make this one of the stricter jurisdictions in the country. This guide covers the halls, labor rules, drayage, the shows that fill the calendar led by PAX East, hotels connected by skybridge, and the center's short history on the South Boston waterfront.
The building
The exhibit halls
| Space | What it is | Typical shows | Booth planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibit floor, three bays | 516,000 sq ft contiguous, one level, sectioned off or linked for one large show. | Large national trade shows, gaming and biotech conventions | Confirm which bay or bays your show occupies. |
| 82 meeting rooms, 40,000 sq ft ballroom | Distributed across the building. | Breakouts, general sessions | Hand-carry and tabletop formats. |
Figures from Signature Boston's published fact sheet for the BCEC.
The labor map
Who sets up my booth?
Massachusetts is not a right-to-work state, and Boston runs a strict union floor. Teamsters Local 25 handles material handling and decorating, IBEW Local 103 covers electrical connections and rigging, and Carpenters Local 327 handles exhibit construction and booth assembly above standard heights. Exhibitor self-setup is allowed only for limited tasks below defined size and height limits.
Limited self-setup only
Confirm exact self-setup limits with your show's official contractor; most substantial assembly needs Carpenters Local 327.
Teamsters Local 25
All material handling runs through Teamsters Local 25 or the show's GSC.
IBEW Local 103
Electrical connections and rigging are ordered through the show's official contractor.
Exhibitor-appointed contractors
Purple files as your EAC for BCEC shows and coordinates with the official contractor and union stewards.
History
History and the 2025 renaming
The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center opens on a 60-acre site in South Boston's historic waterfront district, the first large-scale convention center in Boston's history.
The BCEC becomes one of the largest exhibition centers in the Northeast, drawing biotech, gaming and technology conventions to a waterfront district that has grown up around it.
The Massachusetts Legislature's fall 2024 economic development act renames the building the Thomas Michael Menino Convention and Exhibition Center, effective July 12, 2025, honoring the late Boston mayor who advocated for the center's development. "BCEC" remains in everyday use.
Rules of the floor
Rules of the floor
Strict union jurisdiction
Teamsters, IBEW and Carpenters cover their respective trades; minimum crew sizes apply.
Among the country's highest
A published 2026 rate sheet for this building (ASGCT 2026 Annual Meeting, Heritage Trade Show Services) lists $323.95 per hundredweight for crated advance-warehouse freight and $404.94 direct to show site, with a 200-pound minimum and small packages at $52.50; Boston is among the most expensive drayage markets in the country.
Boston Fire Department
Covered and multilevel exhibits need plan review; flame-certified fabrics for anything covered.
Center-exclusive services
Electrical, internet, rigging and catering are exclusive to the BCEC 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
BCEC drayage estimator
Calculator default set to the published ASGCT 2026 crated advance-warehouse rate of $323.95 per cwt (Heritage); your show's exhibitor kit has the exact tariff.
Deadlines
Freight countdown for a BCEC show
The calendar
Shows at the BCEC
PAX East and the BIO International Convention anchor the building; biotech and life-science shows fill much of the rest of the calendar.
| Show | Next dates | Industry | Attendance | Purple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAX East | April 22–25, 2027 | Gaming, pop culture | 100,000+ | Custom exhibits |
| IMS (International Microwave Symposium) | June 7–12, 2026 | Microwave, RF technology | 10,000 | 10×20 rentals |
| BIOMEDevice Boston | August 26–27, 2026 | Medical device manufacturing | 5,000 | 10×10 rentals |
| Advanced Therapies USA | November 4–5, 2026 | Cell and gene therapy, biotech | 3,500 | Booth rentals |
Attendance is the organizer's or trade press figure where published; confirm before booking.
Logistics
Hotels, transit, crew logistics
- Airport: Logan International is about 3 miles away, the shortest airport-to-convention-center travel time in the country.
- By transit: the Silver Line rapid transit stops at the building.
- Connected: the Westin Boston Seaport District links directly via skybridge.
- Crew: Purple coordinates Northeast crews and regional freight for Boston shows.
| Hotel | Distance | Why exhibitors pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Westin Boston Seaport District | Connected | Direct skybridge into the BCEC. |
| Seaport District hotels | Walking distance | A growing cluster of newer hotels near the water. |
| Hotels near Logan Airport | 10–15-min drive | Fly-in exhibitors on early or late flights. |
Resources
Free resources you can link to
Cite the numbers
One-page cheat sheet
Bay map, union jurisdictions, docks, deadlines.
Related on purpleexhibits.com: Custom trade show booth design · Trade show booth rentals · Request a quote.
Questions
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center FAQ
Can I set up my own booth?
Only for limited tasks below defined size and height limits. Massachusetts is not a right-to-work state, and most substantial booth assembly requires Carpenters Local 327 through the official contractor.
How big is the BCEC?
516,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space across three bays, with 2.1 million square feet total on a 60-acre waterfront site.
How much is drayage?
A published 2026 rate sheet for this building (ASGCT 2026 Annual Meeting, Heritage Trade Show Services) lists $323.95 per hundredweight for crated advance-warehouse freight and $404.94 direct to show site, with a 200-pound minimum and small packages at $52.50; Boston is among the most expensive drayage markets in the country.
Is the BCEC the same as the Menino Convention Center?
Yes, the building was renamed the Thomas Michael Menino Convention and Exhibition Center effective July 12, 2025; "BCEC" is still the name most exhibitors use.
What's the biggest show at the BCEC?
PAX East, a major gaming and pop-culture convention drawing well over 100,000 attendees.
Which airport should I use?
Logan International is about 3 miles from the building, the shortest airport-to-convention-center travel time in the country.
Is there a connected hotel?
Yes, the Westin Boston Seaport District connects directly to the BCEC via skybridge.
Exhibiting at the BCEC?
Send us the show and booth number. You get a union-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.