Tennessee is right-to-work. Exhibitor staff can generally set up their own booths; any limits come from the show's contractor rules.
Exhibitor guide · Chattanooga, TN · Updated
Chattanooga Convention Center Exhibitor Guide
A show in Chattanooga runs without a rental car: the Marriott connects by skywalk, and a free all-electric shuttle works the length of downtown from the Choo Choo to the Aquarium. Inside, four column-free halls on Carter Street join into one 100,800 sq ft floor, and Tennessee's right-to-work rules let your own team build.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: “Chattanooga Convention Center (Future Home of Anime Blast Chattanooga)” by djzippy, CC BY 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Chattanooga Convention Center
Freight comes in off Chestnut Street. Hall entry doors are listed at roughly 16 ft high by 16 ft wide.
Confirm hanging-sign and rigging points for your hall before you finalize a design.
The 343-room Chattanooga Marriott Downtown connects by a covered skywalk.
Only at Chattanooga Convention Center
Chattanooga Convention Center and the free downtown shuttle
Chattanooga rebuilt its downtown around walking. Since 1992 a free battery-electric shuttle has run the length of it, from the Choo Choo to the Tennessee Aquarium, so booth staff can get from hotel to hall to dinner without a car or a parking bill.
- FreeCARTA's all-electric Downtown Shuttle (Route 33) runs about every 15 minutes, with a stop at every block between the Choo Choo and the Aquarium. It costs nothing to ride.
- 7:30 amFirst weekday departure, early enough for a move-in shift. Service runs to 10 pm Monday to Thursday and 11 pm on Friday; weekends start at 9:30 am and Sunday ends at 8 pm.
- ~1 miThe Aquarium and the riverfront restaurants are about a 20-minute walk from the center, or a short shuttle ride when the team is carrying sample cases.
- 2,376 ftThe 1890 Walnut Street Bridge, closed to cars and reopened for walkers in 1993, links the riverfront to the North Shore. An easy after-show walk for a client group.
- 1,200Spaces in the center's own garage, with 3,500 more connected to the building by bridges, for the staff who do drive in.
The building
From Terminal Station to Carter Street
A railroad town at a bend in the Tennessee River turned an old station and a riverfront into the reasons visitors come.
- 1863Union troops take Lookout Mountain in the "Battle Above the Clouds," part of the campaign for the rail hub of Chattanooga.
- 1895The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway opens, with a maximum grade of 72.7 percent.
- 1909Southern Railway opens Terminal Station, a $1.5M Beaux-Arts building with an 82-foot domed ceiling.
- 1916Ernest W. Holmes builds the first tow truck in Chattanooga. The Tennessee Tow Show still meets at the center.
- 1973After Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and the last train in 1970, the station reopens as a hotel.
- 1985The convention center opens on Carter Street in April.
- 1992The Tennessee Aquarium opens on the riverfront, and CARTA starts its free electric downtown shuttle.
- 2003A $45M expansion triples the building to 298,000 sq ft and doubles exhibit space.
- 2023–A futures study finds the center too small for many larger conventions and points to expansion and a second headquarters hotel. FY2024–25: 345 events, 210,000+ attendees.
Photos: "CultureFest 2014 @ Chattanooga Market" by djzippy, CC BY 2.0 Source · "SIGCSE 2009" by ampersandyslexia, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source · "The Haunted Market @ Chattanooga Market, Chattanooga, TN" by djzippy, CC BY 2.0 Source
Floor plan & exhibit halls
Chattanooga Convention Center floor plan: Halls A–D
Four column-free halls side by side that combine into one 100,800 sq ft floor, about 500 booths. Tap a hall for its size.
Schematic. Hall widths are proportional to floor area, not an architectural plan. Confirm layouts and contracted halls with your show.
Exhibit Hall A
- 36,000 sq ft
- 150′ × 240′
- Largest single hall
Column-free, with 30 ft ceilings per the venue's published specs. Used for trade shows and consumer expos.
Exhibit Hall B
- 28,800 sq ft
- 120′ × 240′
Often combined with Hall A for larger shows. Confirm which halls your show has contracted.
Exhibit Hall C
- 18,000 sq ft
- 150′ × 120′
Sized for smaller trade shows, or exhibits beside a general session.
Exhibit Hall D
- 18,000 sq ft
- 150′ × 120′
Same size as Hall C. All four halls combine to 100,800 sq ft, about 500 booths.
6ballrooms (E–J) of 2,911 sq ft each · combined, the venue lists 18,360 sq ft seating 2,304 theater-style · tabletop and banners, not built booths
21meeting rooms on one level along the skylit main concourse · breakouts and sponsor meetings
298,000sq ft building after the $45M 2003 expansion
343rooms in the Chattanooga Marriott Downtown, attached by a covered skywalk
Loading dock & move-in
Chattanooga Convention Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to Chattanooga Convention Center →
- Chestnut Street dockFreight comes in off Chestnut Street and serves the exhibit halls.
- Hall doors about 16 × 16 ftThe venue lists exhibit hall entry doors at roughly 16 ft high by 16 ft wide. Check crate and vehicle sizes against them.
- InsuranceCertificates name the organizer and the convention center, as the show requires.
- Free shuttleCARTA's all-electric Downtown Shuttle runs daily from the Choo Choo to the Tennessee Aquarium.
- Day −50Design approved. Order electrical, internet and rigging.
- Day −30File the EAC form and certificate of insurance if required.
- Day −14Purple ships to Chattanooga through our carrier network.
- Day −7Advance warehouse deadline.
- Day 0Move-in through the Chestnut Street dock; self-install crews begin.
- Show +1Move-out. Empties return, MHA turned in.
Labor & union rules
Who can do what on the Chattanooga Convention Center floor
Tennessee is a right-to-work state. What you still order through the center, and what the fire department checks:
✓Your team or your contractor
- Booth setup by exhibitor staff, generally allowed
- Any limits come from the show's contractor rules
- Read the exhibitor kit before you staff the build
●Through the center
- Catering: Levy is the exclusive caterer
- Internet, electrical and rigging, through the center or its designated providers
- The show kit carries the current list
!Chattanooga Fire Department
- Covered and multilevel exhibits need plan review
- Flame-certified fabrics for anything covered
- Insurance certificates as the show requires
Background photo: "Table Top Gaming Room @ ConNooga '09" by djzippy, CC BY 2.0 Source
Free tool
Chattanooga Convention Center drayage cost estimator
There is no public rate. These are planning numbers for 2026 at about $85 per hundredweight, a regional Southern rate. Your show kit carries the real tariff. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$1,275
Cut this with a lighter booth
Riverbend Festival, downtown Chattanooga
Photo: "Riverbend 2008 Budweiser Stage" by djzippy, CC BY 2.0 Source
The calendar
Chattanooga Convention Center trade shows 2026–2027
A regional calendar of home and trade shows, state association conferences and corporate meetings: 55 conventions and trade shows in fiscal 2024–2025. Attendance figures are planning ranges; confirm each event and its dates with the organizer.
Chattanooga Holiday Market
Local makers and food vendors, consumer · weekends Dec 12–13 and 19–20 · 2026
O'Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels
Custom car show, consumer · 2027
Chattanooga Boat Show
Boats and marine, consumer · 2027
Tri-State Home Show
Home building and remodeling · ~15,000 · 500+ booths · 2027
The Pink Bride Wedding and Women's Expo
Bridal and wedding vendors, consumer · one afternoon · 2027
The Tri-State Home Show is run by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga. The center's 2024–2025 annual report also names the Governor's Conference on Tourism and FreightWaves' F3 as repeat events, but their 2026 editions were listed at other venues, so check where future years land. Held here in 2026: the Tennessee Tow Show (October 15–17); its 2027 dates were not posted when we checked.
Where to stay
Hotels near the Chattanooga Convention Center
Downtown has more than 2,500 rooms, and the free electric shuttle links both ends of it.
Covered skywalk
Chattanooga Marriott Downtown
343 rooms, attached to the center. The anchor hotel for most shows.
On Carter Street
Staybridge Suites Convention Center
Extended-stay suites for crews and long move-ins.
Free shuttle, south end
The Choo Choo (Terminal Station)
The 1909 station, now a hotel complex. A historic setting for client dinners.
Free shuttle, north end
Riverfront hotels near the Aquarium
Walkable to restaurants and the river.
Insider tips
Chattanooga Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Design to a 16 × 16 ft door
The venue lists exhibit hall entry doors at roughly 16 ft high by 16 ft wide. Display vehicles, towers and oversized crates need to fit that opening, not just the 30-ft ceiling.
Send covered booths to the fire marshal early
Covered and multilevel exhibits go through plan review with the Chattanooga Fire Department, and covered areas need flame-certified fabrics. Build the review into the schedule before fabrication.
Ask which halls you are in
Hall A is the only 36,000 sq ft hall; C and D are 18,000 each. A show that contracts A and B lays out very differently from one in C and D, so confirm before you pick an island size.
Time evening events to the shuttle
The free shuttle stops at 10 pm Monday to Thursday and 8 pm on Sunday. Plan the client dinner so the team is not walking back after the last run.
Booth hospitality goes through Levy
Levy is the center's exclusive caterer, so coffee service, receptions in a ballroom and booth refreshments are ordered through them, not brought in.
Weigh CHA against Atlanta
Chattanooga's airport is about 20 minutes away. Hartsfield-Jackson has more nonstops but sits about 117 miles south, roughly two hours by car, so it only works for staff who are not on the move-in crew.
FAQ
Chattanooga Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors
How big is the Chattanooga Convention Center?
100,800 square feet of column-free exhibit space in four halls (A through D), plus six ballrooms and 21 meeting rooms. The 2003 expansion brought the whole building to 298,000 square feet.
Is the Chattanooga Convention Center union?
No. Tennessee is a right-to-work state, so exhibitor staff can generally set up their own booths. Check the show's exhibitor kit for any contractor rules.
Where is the Chattanooga Convention Center loading dock?
Freight comes in off Chestnut Street. The venue lists exhibit hall entry doors at roughly 16 feet high by 16 feet wide, so check crate and vehicle sizes against them.
How high are the exhibit hall ceilings?
The venue lists 30 feet in the exhibit halls. Confirm hanging-sign and rigging points for your hall before finalizing a design.
How much is drayage at the Chattanooga Convention Center?
There is no public rate. Plan about $85 per hundredweight where the general contractor handles freight, and check the show kit for the actual tariff.
Do I need a permit for a covered or double-deck booth?
Covered and multilevel exhibits need plan review by the Chattanooga Fire Department, and anything covered should use flame-certified fabrics.
Who handles catering and utilities?
Levy is the center's exclusive caterer. Internet, electrical and rigging are ordered through the center or its designated providers; the show kit carries the current list.
Is there a hotel attached?
Yes. The 343-room Chattanooga Marriott Downtown connects to the center by a covered skywalk.
How do I get around downtown?
CARTA's free all-electric Downtown Shuttle (Route 33) runs daily between the Choo Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium, with stops along the way.
Which airport should I use?
Chattanooga Metropolitan (CHA) is about 20 minutes away. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson is about 117 miles, roughly two hours by car, and often has more nonstop flights.
Exhibiting in Chattanooga?
Ready for show week? Send us the details.
Tell us whether you are in Hall A, B, C or D and we will size the booth to the 16 × 16 ft hall doors, prepare the fire-department drawings if it is covered, and time freight to the Chestnut Street dock. A design brief, a drayage estimate and a build timeline follow within two business days, for anything from a 10×10 rental to a custom exhibit.
Background photo: "Chattanooga at Night" by ShanMcG213, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Compare venues
Chattanooga Convention Center vs other Tennessee venues
How the Chattanooga Convention Center stacks up against the other Tennessee halls we have guides for. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga Convention CenterThis guide | Convention center | 36,000 sq ft Hall A (100,800 sq ft combined) | 30 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $85/cwt | CHA · 10 mi |
| Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention CenterNashville | Resort convention center | 150,746 sq ft Ryman Exhibit Hall C | 16 ft (B) · ~19.5 ft (C) | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | BNA · under 10 mi |
| Knoxville Convention CenterKnoxville | Convention center | 70,626 sq ft Hall A (119,922 sq ft combined) | ~30 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $85/cwt | TYS · 12 mi |
| Music City CenterNashville | Convention center | 353,143 sq ft exhibit hall (Halls A–D) | 32 ft 6 in | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | BNA · 8 mi |
| Omni Nashville HotelNashville | Hotel ballrooms | 23,760 sq ft Broadway Ballroom | 24–29 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | BNA · 15–20 min |
| Renasant Convention CenterMemphis | Convention center | 118,000 sq ft Exhibit Hall | — | Right-to-work | ≈ $95/cwt | MEM · 12 mi |
More Tennessee guides
Other Tennessee venues
Knoxville Convention CenterKnoxville
Music City CenterNashville
Gaylord OprylandNashville
Omni Nashville HotelNashville
Renasant Convention CenterMemphis
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Figures marked for confirmation are being checked with the venue. Sources: Visit Chattanooga convention center specifications, Chattanooga Convention Center 2024–2025 annual report (Chattanoogan.com), Building Design + Construction, Exhibit City News, CARTA, Wikipedia (Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Tennessee Aquarium, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway).