The Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center became the Vandalia Health Center under a 10-year naming deal announced October 13, 2026. The address and docks are the same, and most 2026–27 show kits will still use the old name.
Exhibitor guide · Charleston, WV · Updated
Vandalia Health Center (Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center) Exhibitor Guide
This is the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center under a new name. On October 13, 2026 the city and operator Oak View Group announced a 10-year naming deal with Vandalia Health, as WV MetroNews and WSAZ reported, and new signs are still being ordered. Same building, same docks: a 50,086 sq ft Grand Hall that splits into four, an arena floor and a ballroom on the Elk River, in a right-to-work state where exhibitors build their own booths.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: the building before the Vandalia Health rename. “Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center from Virginia Street, Charleston, WV” by w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Vandalia Health Center
West Virginia's right-to-work law took effect in 2016 and the state Supreme Court upheld it in 2020. At the 2027 Construction + Design EXPO, setup and teardown are the exhibitor's job. Electrical, catering and building lifts stay in-house.
The Event Planner's Handbook says the building will not accept or store exhibitor freight. Ship through your show's service contractor, or drive it in yourself during move-in.
The venue lists more than 50,000 sq ft of exhibit space for up to 256 standard booths, divisible into four areas. Big shows such as the EXPO also put booths on the Coliseum floor and in the lobby.
Only at the Vandalia Health Center
Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center as one show floor: arena, Grand Hall and ballroom
Charleston's arena, exhibit hall and ballroom sit under one roof, and in 2026 the 300-exhibitor Construction + Design EXPO took over the whole building for the first time. That means separate docks and move-in hours depending on where your booth is. These rules come from the 2027 Construction + Design EXPO toolkit and the venue's handbook; other shows may set different times.
| Where your booth is | How you get in |
|---|---|
| Coliseum floor | Coliseum dock off Lee Street. At EXPO 2027 the Coliseum dock closed at 4:30 PM on move-in day, so unload early |
| Grand Hall | Grand Hall dock off Lee Street, or the dock under the parking garage off Quarrier Street. EXPO move-in ran 8 AM to 8 PM |
| Main Lobby | The EXPO let lobby exhibitors hand-carry through the front door, 8 AM to 5 PM. The building's own rule bans move-in through the Quarrier Street lobby doors, so get this in writing from your show |
| Heavy equipment | A mandatory move-in the day before, in assigned time slots, at the EXPO. Display vehicles: 1/2 tank or 10 gallons, whichever is less |
| Grand Ballroom | Built in the 2015–2018 expansion out to the Elk River. Rigging points take 2,500 lbs each; the ballroom lobby takes 1,000 lbs |
Sources: West Virginia Construction + Design EXPO 2027 toolkit; the venue's Event Planner's Handbook and floor-plan pages; tvsdesign project page. The venue name changed on October 13, 2026; signage was still on order when we checked.
The building
From the 1959 Charleston Civic Center to the Vandalia Health Center
Charleston has rebuilt and renamed its civic center on the Elk River several times. The halls you exhibit in today date from the 2015–2018 expansion; the name on the front changed in 2018 and again in 2026.
- 1959The Charleston Civic Center opens on the Elk River at a cost of $3 million, with a 6,000-seat arena and a 770-seat Little Theater.
- 1980The 13,500-seat coliseum is finished, a $19 million project. Queen plays the first concert on August 16.
- 2001The center's ice rink is converted into an exhibit hall.
- 2015–2018An expansion and renovation designed by tvsdesign adds 148,000 sq ft, including a ballroom that reaches the Elk River. A contractor case study puts the cost at $100 million (Wikipedia gives other figures). The center stays open throughout.
- 2018On September 26, with the renovation nearly done, the Civic Center becomes the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.
- 2026On October 13 the city, Oak View Group and Vandalia Health announce a 10-year naming deal: the building becomes the Vandalia Health Center.
Floor plan & exhibit halls
Vandalia Health Center floor plan: the Grand Hall's North, South and West halls
The Grand Hall is on the first floor and divides into four unobstructed sections: two large North and South halls and two smaller West halls. Their listed sizes add up to the 50,086 sq ft total. Tap a section for its size.
Schematic. Widths are proportional to floor area, not an architectural plan or the real arrangement of the halls. The venue's floor-plan page has the official sizes and virtual tours.
North Hall
- 19,285 sq ft
- 103′ × 189′
- 2,000 lbs per rigging point
One of the two big sections. North and South together give about 38,600 sq ft for a mid-size show.
South Hall
- 19,285 sq ft
- 103′ × 189′
- 25′ × 25′ floor-box grid
The same size as the North Hall. Power, phone and data come from floor boxes on a 25 ft grid, supplied only by the building.
West Hall 1
- 5,767 sq ft
- 59′ × 102′
A smaller section for registration, food or a compact expo next to a larger hall.
West Hall 2
- 5,767 sq ft
- 59′ × 102′
The twin of West Hall 1. Rigging from the hall beams is allowed with a carpet wrap to protect the fireproofed trusses.
18,395sq ft Grand Ballroom (198′ × 94′), divisible into Ballrooms A–E. The venue's other pages say 25,000 sq ft and the architect 20,000, so use the floor plan
13,500seats in the Coliseum, with more than 30,000 sq ft of event space. The EXPO puts booths here, with its own dock off Lee Street
25meeting and conference spaces, plus an 8,000 sq ft reception area overlooking the Elk River and a 770-seat theater
10 ftminimum aisle width on every trade-show floor plan, which the building sends to the Fire Marshal
8,000 lbson the small freight elevator (6′ × 8′ × 10′) and 5,000 lbs on the large one (8′ × 10′ × 10′), as printed in the handbook
Loading dock & move-in
Vandalia Health Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to Vandalia Health Center →
- Use the call box at the gateAccess opens at the time in the show's contract. Press the call box on the left of the dock gate and give your event. Dock space is limited, and once it is full you wait outside until a spot opens.
- Dock passes on busy daysDuring heavy move-in, a guard at the gate checks vendors in and issues passes for a set time. The Dock Master then stages vehicles as space opens.
- Unload, then leaveNo parking on the dock. When you finish, the vehicle must leave or it can be towed at the driver's cost. Clear your trash, skids and pallets off the dock.
- No exhibitor freight heldThe building will not accept or store exhibitor freight. Show freight can't arrive more than 48 hours before the event. Ship through your show's contractor, for example Horizon EXPO Solutions at the 2027 EXPO.
- Front doors are off limitsThe handbook bans unloading or moving in through the Quarrier Street main-lobby doors. Passenger elevators and escalators can't carry freight; use the two freight elevators.
- Day −30Show floor plan to the event coordinator for Fire Marshal review. Cooking equipment and hazardous-material lists need approval by now.
- Day −14Any request to use adhesives on walls, doors or floors, and any exterior banner, needs approval. Rigging plans and rigger training records are due.
- Day −7Confirm your dock (Lee Street or under the Quarrier Street garage) and move-in window with show management. Purple ships to Charleston through our carrier network.
- Day −2Show freight can start arriving 48 hours before the event. Exhibitor freight goes through the show contractor, not the building.
- Day 0Call box at the gate, dock pass, unload, move the vehicle off the dock, build. Bring painters' tape only.
- Move-outRemove tape and carpet-tape residue from the floor. Freight must be packed, labeled and picked up within 7 days of the contracted move-out.
Labor & building rules
Vandalia Health Center labor rules: what your team can do itself
West Virginia is a right-to-work state: the Workplace Freedom Act passed in 2016 and the state Supreme Court upheld it in April 2020. A repeal bill introduced in February 2026 shows no action beyond committee referral. The rules below come from the venue's Event Planner's Handbook and the 2027 EXPO toolkit. Your show kit has the final word.
✓Your own staff
- Set up and tear down your booth: at the 2027 EXPO this is the exhibitor's responsibility
- Drive in and unload at the dock in your move-in window
- Hand-carry to the Main Lobby where the show allows it
- Order power and wired internet on the building's Utilities Order Form
- Bring your own forklift and driver only if they are insured and certified to the contract standard
●Building exclusives
- Electrical and utilities: the building is its own exclusive contractor, from floor boxes on a 25 ft grid
- Food and drink: Distinctive Gourmet only. EXPO giveaways must come from the in-house caterer
- City-owned forklifts: city-certified operators only
- Rigging: approved riggers with ETCP-led training records, two-person crews; building lifts are run by staff and IATSE 271
- Air walls, freight doors, lights and locks: building staff only
!Watch for
- Painters' tape only: no duct, double-sided foam, packaging or tacky tape. No pins or adhesives on walls, doors or floors without approval two weeks out
- No adhesive stickers or decals handed out
- Metal-wheeled carts and pallet jacks are banned on the stone floors
- Helium or Mylar balloons, glitter and confetti need approval
- Cooking: 288 sq in surface, a Class K extinguisher, four feet from the public
- No one under 16 who isn't with the host group in the hall or dock during move-in
Free tool
Vandalia Health Center drayage cost estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 at about $100 per hundredweight, a right-to-work rate for a mid-size hall. The building does not handle exhibitor freight or publish a rate; your show's service contractor sets it in the show kit, and many exhibitors here skip drayage by driving in. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$1,500
Cut this with a lighter booth
The calendar
Vandalia Health Center trade shows 2026–2027
Charleston is the state capital, so the calendar runs to statewide association conventions with trade floors, led by the construction industry's EXPO. Dates are from the organizers' or venue's own pages; confirm each event with its organizer.
Capital City Arts & Craft Show
Arts and crafts, consumer · 57th show · Exhibit & Convention Hall · 2026
WV Association of Fairs & Festivals Convention
Fair and festival industry · trade show Jan 8 · 2027
WVMEA In-Service Conference
Music education · exhibit booths · 2027
West Virginia Construction + Design EXPO
Construction, architecture and engineering · 300+ exhibitors · 2027
Also here, but 2027 details not confirmed by the organizer when we checked: the West Virginia Coal Show and the West Virginia Coal Association's Mining Symposium (held March 31–April 1, 2026; 2027 dates not announced), the WV Hunting & Fishing Show (late January; held here January 23–25, 2026), and the 57th West Virginia Home Show (April 2–4, 2027 per the Home Builders Association of Greater Charleston, which did not name a venue; the 2026 show was held here). Tsubasacon runs here each October.
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels near the Vandalia Health Center
About 2 min walk
Holiday Inn Express Charleston-Civic Center
About 196 rooms at 100 Civic Center Drive, the closest hotel to the building. WVAFF lists it for its 2026 convention block.
Downtown
Charleston Marriott Town Center
About 352 rooms at 200 Lee St East. It shares the WV Fairs & Festivals convention with the convention center.
About 8 min walk
Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston
About 253 two-room suites at 300 Court St. Room counts and walk times are from hotel listings; confirm when you book.
1,200+ rooms
Walkable downtown
The venue counts more than 1,200 hotel rooms within walking distance, and the building sits near I-77, I-64 and I-79.
About 5 min
West Virginia International Yeager (CRW)
The venue puts the airport about five minutes away. Parking around the building is at prevailing rates; the EXPO's garage parking was free but limited.
Insider tips
Vandalia Health Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Search both names
The building was renamed on October 13, 2026, and new signs take a couple of months. Your kit, hotel block and freight labels may say Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center or Civic Center; all three point to 200 Civic Center Drive.
Match the dock to your booth
At the EXPO, Coliseum booths use the Lee Street Coliseum dock, which closed at 4:30 PM on move-in day, while Grand Hall booths use the Lee Street hall dock or the one under the Quarrier Street garage. Ask which applies before you drive.
Never ship to the building
The venue won't accept or store exhibitor freight. Use the show contractor's warehouse or drive it in; at EXPO 2027, wait for Horizon EXPO Solutions' shipping instructions.
Pack painters' tape, not duct tape
The handbook asks for painters' tape and bans duct, double-sided foam and packaging tape. You are billed for removing tape and carpet residue from the floors.
Rubber wheels on the stone floors
Metal-wheeled carts and pallet jacks are banned on the building's stone floors. Bring a cart with rubber or poly wheels for the run from the dock.
Heavy gear moves in a day early
At the 2027 EXPO, heavy equipment had a mandatory move-in the day before everyone else, in assigned slots. Book your slot as soon as the show opens them.
FAQ
Vandalia Health Center FAQ for exhibitors
Is the Charleston Coliseum now the Vandalia Health Center?
Yes. On October 13, 2026 the City of Charleston, operator Oak View Group and Vandalia Health announced a 10-year naming-rights deal, worth just under $1 million a year, that renames the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center the Vandalia Health Center. It is the same building at 200 Civic Center Drive; new signage was being ordered when we checked.
Is the Vandalia Health Center union?
No union rule applies to booth setup. West Virginia is a right-to-work state, and at the 2027 Construction + Design EXPO setup and teardown are the exhibitor's job. The building keeps electrical, utilities and catering in-house, and its lifts are run by staff and IATSE 271. Check your show kit for contractor rules.
Can I set up my own booth?
At most shows, yes. You can drive in, unload at the dock and build your own display. Only the official service contractor's staff may run its forklifts, and city-owned forklifts need city-certified operators.
Where is the loading dock?
Docks are off Lee Street, one for the Coliseum and one for the Grand Hall, with another Grand Hall dock under the parking garage off Quarrier Street, per the 2027 EXPO toolkit. Use the call box at the gate; no parking on the dock, and you can't move in through the Quarrier Street lobby doors.
Can I ship my booth to the convention center?
Not directly. The Event Planner's Handbook says the building will not accept or store exhibitor freight, and show freight can arrive no more than 48 hours before the event. Ship through your show's service contractor or freight handler.
How much is drayage at the Vandalia Health Center?
Plan about $100 per hundredweight for crated freight. The building publishes no rate because it doesn't handle exhibitor freight; your show's service contractor sets the tariff in the show kit.
How big is the exhibit hall?
The Grand Hall measures 50,086 sq ft and holds up to 256 standard booths. It divides into North and South halls of 19,285 sq ft each and two West halls of 5,767 sq ft each. The 18,395 sq ft Grand Ballroom and the Coliseum floor add space.
Can I hang signs from the ceiling?
With approval. Exhibit hall rigging points take 2,000 lbs, ballroom points 2,500 lbs and the ballroom lobby 1,000 lbs; meeting rooms have none. Rigging plans are due two weeks before move-in, with rated, stamped hardware. The venue does not publish a ceiling height, so confirm clearance with your show.
Who provides electrical and internet?
The building is its own exclusive electrical and utility contractor, with power, phone and data in floor boxes on a 25 ft grid. Order on its Utilities Order Form; items added on site pay floor rates. At the 2027 EXPO each booth included standard 110V power.
Can I use tape on the floor?
Painters' tape only. The handbook bans duct tape, double-sided foam tape, packaging tape and tacky, and you are billed for removing carpet tape and residue. Pins and adhesives on windows, doors, walls or floors need approval two weeks before the event.
Exhibiting in Charleston?
Tell us your floor: hall, arena or lobby.
Send your show, your booth number and whether you'll drive in or ship through the show contractor. Within two business days you get a design that builds with painters' tape and rubber wheels, a drayage estimate, and a move-in plan for the right Lee Street or Quarrier Street dock.
Compare venues
Vandalia Health Center vs other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York
How the Vandalia Health 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vandalia Health CenterThis guide | Convention center | 50,086 sq ft Grand Hall · up to 256 booths | — | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | CRW · about 5 min |
| 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 |
| Charleston Area Convention CenterNorth Charleston | Convention center | 76,960 sq ft, Halls A–C | 30 ft to beams | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | CHS · 2 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 |
| 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 |
Nearby guides
Other trade-show halls in the Ohio Valley, Pittsburgh and Virginia
Greater Columbus Convention CenterColumbus, OH
Duke Energy Convention CenterCincinnati, OH
Central Bank CenterLexington, KY
David L. Lawrence Convention CenterPittsburgh, PA
Monroeville Convention CenterMonroeville, PA
Greater Richmond Convention CenterRichmond, VA
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Figures marked for verification are being confirmed with the venue. Sources: the venue's convention center, floor-plan, Exhibit & Convention Hall, Coliseum and event pages and its Event Planner's Handbook; WV MetroNews, WSAZ, WCHS and WV Gazette-Mail coverage of the Vandalia Health naming deal (October 2026); Wikipedia (Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center); tvsdesign; WCHS (2018 rename); an Advantage Technology project case study; WV MetroNews and law-firm reports on the 2020 right-to-work ruling and the West Virginia Legislature (HB 5542); hotel directory listings; and organizer sites for the West Virginia Construction + Design EXPO, WVMEA, the WV Association of Fairs & Festivals, the Home Builders Association of Greater Charleston and North American Mining (WV Coal Show).