South Carolina is a right-to-work state. The one union trade in the building's own paperwork is rigging, which the facility's union stagehands (IATSE Local 333 on its rate sheet) install.
Exhibitor guide · North Charleston, SC · Updated
Charleston Area Convention Center Exhibitor Guide
Three exhibit halls, 425 booths and one 16 ft by 20 ft cargo door into Hall B: the Charleston Area Convention Center sits on the airport road in North Charleston, on the same campus as the Coliseum, with the Embassy Suites attached. South Carolina is right-to-work, the decorator is chosen by your show, and power and internet are ordered straight from the building at prices it publishes.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: “North Charleston Business Expo” by North Charleston, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Charleston Area Convention Center
PRX Exposition Services is the building's preferred decorator, but it is non-exclusive: each show may hire its own drayage company. Carpet, furniture, labor and freight come from whoever your kit names.
The venue rounds it to 77,000. It splits into Hall A (27,040 sq ft), Hall B and Hall C (24,960 each), and the full floor holds 425 booths on the building's own layout.
That is the building's day-of-load-in price for a 120V 20A outlet, for the whole event, plus a mandatory $75 building services labor charge on the order. Full list below.
Only at the Charleston Area Convention Center
Charleston Area Convention Center electrical and internet prices: the building's own order form
Most halls hide utility pricing inside the show kit. Here the building's Building Services Department posts its day-of-load-in order form online, with every price, and the rates cover the whole event, not each day. Order and pay before you arrive: nothing is installed until it is paid in full.
| Service (day-of-load-in form) | Price per event |
|---|---|
| 120V, 20A outlet (basic electric package) | $125 |
| 208V, 20/30A, single phase | $225 |
| 208V, 60A, single / three phase | $350 / $600 |
| 208V, 100A, single / three phase | $650 / $1,100 |
| 480V, 60A, three phase | $1,500 |
| Wi-Fi basic, 1 Mbps, one device | $125 |
| Show Wi-Fi, 3 Mbps, up to three devices | $475 |
| Wired, 1 Mbps, per device | $275 |
| Premium wired, 5 Mbps, hardline and multi-device | $800 |
| Analog phone line (no handset) | $350 |
| 25 ft extension cord / 6-outlet power strip (to buy) | $20 / $15 |
Source: Charleston Area Convention Center "Utility Services Day of Load-In Order Form" (Building Services Department), as posted for its October 2026 – March 2027 events. Every order carries a mandatory $75 building services labor charge on top. Power drops land at the rear of the booth; placing one anywhere else costs at least one hour of labor at $75. Orders received after 5 p.m. or on a weekend are processed the next business day. Advance rates on the separate service order form may differ: check yours.
The campus
A coliseum, a theater and a convention hall on the airport road
The Charleston Area Convention Center is one third of a city-owned campus, the Bourne-Summey City Center Complex, with the 13,000-seat North Charleston Coliseum and the 2,300-seat Performing Arts Center. Together they host about 800 events a year.
- 1991The City of North Charleston breaks ground on the North Charleston Coliseum.
- 1993The Coliseum opens on January 29 with the World Cup Figure Skating Champions exhibition.
- 1999The Performing Arts Center and the Charleston Area Convention Center open beside it, with a 77,000 sq ft exhibit hall that splits in three.
- 2001SMG takes over management of the complex.
- 2012 & 2016Coliseum Terrace and Montague Terrace are built above the Coliseum's north and south entrances.
- TodayThe city still owns the campus, and Legends Global manages all three buildings.
Photos: "North Charleston Business Expo" by North Charleston, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source · "North Charleston Business Expo" by North Charleston, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source · "North Charleston Business Expo" by North Charleston, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Floor plan & exhibit halls
Charleston Area Convention Center floor plan: Exhibit Halls A, B and C
One ground-level exhibit hall of 76,960 sq ft divides into three, each with its own cargo door on the dock side and access to the prefunction and registration areas out front. Tap a hall for its size, booth count and door.
Schematic. Hall widths are proportional to floor area, not an architectural plan. The venue publishes a measured plan and a booth-layout plan on its Trade Shows & Expos page.
Exhibit Hall A
- 27,040 sq ft
- 141 10×10 booths
- 16′ × 16′ cargo door
The largest of the three, and the only one that splits again: A1 is 15,340 sq ft and A2 is 11,700. Halls A and B together give 52,000 sq ft.
Exhibit Hall B
- 24,960 sq ft
- 139 10×10 booths
- 16′ × 20′ cargo door
The middle hall has the widest cargo door in the building, 20 ft across against 16 ft for A and C. Halls B and C together give 49,920 sq ft.
Exhibit Hall C
- 24,960 sq ft
- 145 10×10 booths
- 16′ × 16′ cargo door
The most booths of the three on the venue's layout, with a loading ramp on its side of the dock. Each hall has a built-in concession area when the floor is divided.
30 ftceiling height to the beams · metal halide and dimmable quartz lighting in every hall
9loading docks, plus 2 loading ramps that run into the exhibit halls
42510×10 booths with all three halls open, on the venue's booth-layout plan
Floor boxescarry utilities, audio-visual and communication lines to the booths
Ballroomsthe Grand Ballroom and meeting rooms are steps away and run by the attached Embassy Suites, which is their exclusive caterer
Loading dock & move-in
Charleston Area Convention Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to Charleston Area Convention Center →
- One dock, at the backEvery exhibitor loads in and out at the dock behind the building, off Montague Avenue. Parking out front and loading through the lobby is prohibited, and vehicles can be towed at the owner's expense.
- Unload, then move the carOnce your vehicle is empty, move it to Parking Lot E before you start building. Parking in the dock area is only allowed while you are actively loading or unloading.
- Ramps and cargo doorsNine docks and two loading ramps feed the halls through cargo doors of 16 by 16 ft (Halls A and C) and 16 by 20 ft (Hall B).
- The building takes no freightThe facility does not accept freight or C.O.D. deliveries, UPS and FedEx included. Shipments during load-in go to the attention of show management or the show's decorator, and anything that arrives before the load-in dates is refused.
- Load-out waits for the clockNo exhibitor gets into the dock before the published load-out time unless show management and the facility approve it.
- Day −60Design approved. Hanging-sign, height and multi-level questions to show management.
- Day −30Booth food permit application to your show manager, if you will sample food or drink.
- Day −28Rigging requests and plot diagrams to the facility, at least four weeks before load-in.
- Day −21Exact sample descriptions and portion sizes to Sodexo for the food permit. Purple ships to North Charleston through our carrier network.
- Day −7Advance warehouse deadline and utility orders, as your show kit sets them.
- Day 0Dock off Montague Avenue, unload, move the vehicle to Lot E. Power and internet paid in full.
- Show closeWait for the published load-out time before bringing vehicles to the dock.
Labor & building rules
Charleston Area Convention Center labor rules: what your team can do itself
South Carolina is a right-to-work state, and the building's own rules leave booth labor to each show's decorator. These come from the venue's Trade Shows & Expos page, its facility user guide and its 2025 rate sheet. The building publishes no hand-carry or vehicle-unloading limits, so your show kit is the final word on those.
✓Your own staff
- No building rule requires union labor to install or dismantle a booth; the show's decorator sets the labor terms
- Unload your own vehicle at the rear dock, then park it in Lot E
- Order power, internet and phone directly from the building, online
- Mark the floor with vinyl tape or chalk; fix carpet with professional double-sided carpet tape
- Use bottled gas for cooking or demos during event hours only, in day tanks removed every night
●Building exclusives
- Rigging: installed and supervised by the facility's union staff (IATSE Local 333 on the rate sheet), plot due four weeks out
- Utilities: electrical, plumbing, compressed gases, internet and phone
- Event staffing: security, ushers, electricians and labor for the building's own equipment
- Food and drink: Sodexo in the exhibit halls, Embassy Suites in the ballrooms and meeting rooms
- Parking: Facility Parking, at $10 per car per day unless your show bought out the lot
!Watch for
- No duct tape, clear packing tape or high-residue tape on the floors; removal of residue is billed
- Cooking needs a North Charleston Fire Department permit and a 2A40 BC or K extinguisher within 30 ft of each device
- Multi-level or covered exhibits need automatic extinguishing or paid fire watch
- Vehicles on display: fuel tank locked, no more than half full or 10 gallons, a battery cable disconnected and taped
- Cords must be UL listed and grounded, and the building's own cords and panels may not be moved
Background photo: "North Charleston Business Expo" by North Charleston, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Free tool
Charleston Area Convention Center drayage cost estimator
A planning number of about $100 per hundredweight for 2026: right-to-work labor, a short ground-level run from dock to booth, and regional decorators rather than a national house tariff. The building does not set drayage; your show's decorator does, so its kit has the real rate. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$1,500
Cut this with a lighter booth
STEM Career Fair in the halls
Photo: "STEM Career Fair" by North Charleston, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
The calendar
Charleston Area Convention Center trade shows 2026–2027
Defense, aviation and public-purchasing trade shows share the calendar with the Lowcountry's big consumer shows. Dates are from the organizers and the building's own event list; confirm each with its organizer.
SCAGPO Forum & Trade Show
Government purchasing · 48th annual · booths sold out · 2026
Sunshine & Serenity Expo
Wellness, consumer · on the building's event list · 2026
Tri-County Outdoor Home Show
Outdoor living and home, consumer · on the building's event list · 2026
Charleston Boat Show
Marine, consumer · 47th edition · 2027
Charleston Remodeling Expo
Home remodeling, consumer · L&L Exhibition Management · 2027
The Charleston Defense Contractors Association's Eastern Defense Summit (2,300+ leaders) returns in early December 2026; exhibitor listings disagree on the exact days, so confirm with the CDCA. The Charleston Home + Design Show appears on the building's January 2027 list, but its show days were not posted. ATCA Connect, the Air Traffic Control Association's conference and expo, was held here March 2–4, 2026 and has not announced a 2027 host city.
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels near the Charleston Area Convention Center
Attached
Embassy Suites Charleston Airport Hotel & Convention Center
All two-room suites at 5055 International Blvd, connected to the convention center, with a free shuttle to the airport. It also runs the ballrooms and meeting rooms.
0.4 mi
DoubleTree and Hilton Garden Inn
Facing each other at 5264 and 5265 International Blvd, on the venue's preferred-hotel list.
0.3–0.7 mi
Montague Avenue cluster
Home2 Suites, Tru, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express line West Montague Avenue, and the Residence Inn sits on International Blvd.
About 9 mi
Downtown Charleston
The Dewberry, Hotel Bennett and the Francis Marion on King and Meeting Streets, for teams that want the historic district after hours.
About 2 mi
Charleston International (CHS)
The campus is on the airport road at I-526. From I-526 take the International Blvd / Montague Avenue exit.
Insider tips
Charleston Area Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Wide load? Ask for Hall B
Hall B's cargo door is 16 by 20 ft; Halls A and C have 16 by 16 ft doors. A boat, vehicle or wide crated piece has an extra 4 ft of clearance in B, so ask for a booth there early.
Price power before you pack
The building posts its utility prices: $125 for a 20-amp outlet for the whole event, plus a $75 labor charge per order. Budget it now, and plan the booth around a drop at the back wall.
Never ship to the building
The facility refuses freight and C.O.D. parcels, and anything that lands before load-in is sent back. Address boxes to your show's decorator or show management, as the kit says.
Montague Avenue, then Lot E
Pull round to the rear dock off Montague Avenue, not the front doors, where cars get towed. Unload, move the vehicle to Lot E, then build.
Hanging sign? Four weeks
Only the facility's union riggers may hang it, and the plot is due four weeks before load-in. Late or unapproved rigging can simply be refused.
Don't demo on lobby Wi-Fi
The free Wi-Fi covers the lobby only, and the building says it is not for product demos. A wired 1 Mbps line is $275; the 5 Mbps premium line is $800.
FAQ
Charleston Area Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors
Is the Charleston Area Convention Center union?
No. South Carolina is a right-to-work state, and the building's rules do not require union labor for booth set-up. Rigging is the exception: it is an exclusive service installed by the facility's union staff, listed as IATSE Local 333 on the 2025 rate sheet.
Can I set up my own booth?
The building leaves booth labor to each show's decorator, and right-to-work rules apply. Whether your own staff, a display house or the decorator's crew does the work, and any size or time limits, is set in your show kit, so read it before you book labor.
Who is the official decorator?
There is no exclusive one. PRX Exposition Services is the building's preferred, non-exclusive decorator for the exhibit halls, and each show may choose its own drayage company. Your exhibitor kit names the contractor for your event.
Where is the loading dock?
At the rear of the building, off Montague Avenue. There are nine docks and two loading ramps into the halls. Loading through the front lobby is prohibited, and after unloading, vehicles move to Parking Lot E.
How big are the cargo doors?
16 by 16 ft into Halls A and C, and 16 by 20 ft into Hall B, according to the venue's measured hall plan.
How much is drayage at the Charleston Area Convention Center?
Plan about $100 per hundredweight for crated freight. The building does not set drayage; the decorator your show hires does, and its kit carries the actual rate.
How much is electricity for a booth?
On the building's day-of-load-in form, a 120V 20A outlet is $125 for the whole event, and 208V service runs from $225 to $1,100. Every order adds a mandatory $75 building services labor charge, and services are not installed until paid.
What is the ceiling height in the exhibit halls?
30 ft to the beams, per the venue's quick facts. Hanging signs need a rigging plan approved by the facility at least four weeks before load-in.
How much is parking?
$10 per car per day in the campus lots, unless your show has bought out the lot, in which case it is free. Larger vehicles pay higher rates.
Which hotel is connected to the convention center?
The Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Airport Hotel & Convention Center, at 5055 International Blvd. It also runs the ballrooms and meeting rooms and offers a free airport shuttle. A dozen more hotels are within about a mile.
Exhibiting in North Charleston?
Ready for show week? Send us the details.
Tell us your hall, which cargo door your exhibit has to clear and how much power the booth needs. Within two business days you get a design sized for 16 ft doors and a 30 ft ceiling, a drayage estimate and a move-in plan for the Montague Avenue dock.
Background photo: "Night in Charleston" by Ianr, CC BY 2.0 Source
Compare venues
Charleston Area Convention Center vs other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York
How the Charleston Area Convention Center stacks up against other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Area Convention CenterThis guide | Convention center | 76,960 sq ft, Halls A–C | 30 ft to beams | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | CHS · 2 mi |
| Atlantic Union Bank Convention CenterRaleigh | Convention center | 146,843 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–C | 47 ft listed max | Right-to-work · check kit | ≈ $110/cwt | RDU · 18 min drive |
| Baird CenterMilwaukee | Convention center | 300,275 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–E | 30 ft | Right-to-work · in-house utilities | ≈ $115/cwt | MKE · 8 mi |
| Bayfront Convention CenterErie | Convention center | 28,800 sq ft Great Hall · 160 booths | 23 ft (Great Hall) | No venue union rule · check kit | ≈ $50/cwt | ERI · about 6.5 mi |
| Birmingham-Jefferson Convention ComplexBirmingham | Convention center | 92,234 sq ft East Halls 1–3 · 473 booths | 30 ft East · 25 ft 10 in North · 20 ft South | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | BHM · 4.5 mi |
| DeVos PlaceGrand Rapids | Convention center | 162,000 sq ft column-free hall, A–C | 37–72 ft (hall) · 28 ft (ballroom) | Self-unload · IATSE 26 stagehands | ≈ $125/cwt | GRR · 13 mi |
| Eastern States ExpositionWest Springfield | Fairgrounds | 129,400 sq ft Mallary Complex · 123,000 sq ft BLC | — | Check show kit | ≈ $125/cwt | BDL · about 25–40 min |
| Greater Richmond Convention CenterRichmond | Convention center | 178,159 sq ft · Exhibit Hall A–D | 35 ft | Right-to-work · non-union | ≈ $110/cwt | RIC · ~15 min |
| Greenville Convention CenterGreenville | Convention center | 125,000 sq ft Hall 1 (280,000 total) | 10–22 ft Hall 1 · 19–22 ft Hall 2 | Right-to-work | ≈ $105/cwt | GSP · 12 mi |
| Hershey Lodge & Convention CenterHershey | Resort ballrooms | 32,004 sq ft Great American Hall | 22 ft (Great American Hall) | In-house decorator · check kit | ≈ $50/cwt | MDT · ~20 min |
| Joseph S. Koury Convention CenterGreensboro | Hotel ballrooms | 40,000 sq ft Guilford Ballroom | 32 ft Guilford · 18 ft Imperial | Right-to-work | ≈ $95/cwt | GSO · ~12 mi |
| Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono MountainsPocono Manor | Resort ballrooms | 38,000 sq ft Kilimanjaro Ballroom | 16–25 ft | Not right-to-work · check kit | ≈ $120/cwt | AVP · ≈40 mi |
| New York State Fairgrounds Exposition CenterSyracuse | Fairgrounds | 110,000 sq ft clear span, Exposition Center | 60 ft truss height | Show contractor · check kit | ≈ $95/cwt | SYR · about 10 mi |
| Philadelphia Marriott DowntownPhiladelphia | Hotel ballrooms | 34,300 sq ft Grand Ballroom · 31,962 sq ft Franklin Hall | 10.5 ft Franklin Hall · 22 ft ballroom | Union · check kit | ≈ $170/cwt | PHL · SEPTA to Jefferson Station |
| Vandalia Health CenterCharleston | Convention center | 50,086 sq ft Grand Hall · up to 256 booths | — | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | CRW · about 5 min |
| Vibe Credit Union ShowplaceNovi | Expo center | 305,000± sq ft, Halls A–C + Event Center | 24 ft clear (A–C) · 40+ ft (Event Center) | No venue union rule · check kit | ≈ $95/cwt | DTW · about 20 min |
| Virginia Beach Convention CenterVirginia Beach | Convention center | 150,012 sq ft · Halls A–D | 40 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | ORF · 20 min |
| York Expo CenterYork | Fairgrounds | 114,000 sq ft UPMC Arena (74,000 clear span) | 24–30 ft arena · 12–22 ft other halls | Show contractor · check kit | ≈ $90/cwt | MDT · roughly 30 mi |
Within a day's drive
Nearby convention center guides
Savannah Convention CenterSavannah, GA
Greenville Convention CenterGreenville, SC
Charlotte Convention CenterCharlotte, NC
Raleigh Convention CenterRaleigh, NC
Koury Convention CenterGreensboro, NC
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Figures marked for verification are being confirmed with the venue. Sources: North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center site (Trade Shows & Expos, Building History, Directions & Parking, Preferred Hotels, Charleston Area Convention Center Events), the Charleston Area Convention Center exhibit hall measurement and booth-layout plans, Utility Services Day of Load-In Order Form, Facility User Guide and 2025 Facility Rate Sheets, Wikipedia (North Charleston Coliseum), PRX Exposition Services, and organizer listings for ATCA Connect, SCAGPO, the Eastern Defense Summit (CDCA) and the Charleston Boat Show.