Exhibitor guide · Capitol Hill East, Washington, D.C.
DC Armory: the exhibitor's guide
A 1941 armory that's hosted inaugural balls, circuses and trade shows under one roof, sitting on a 110-acre campus alongside RFK Stadium. What exhibitors need to know about Washington's oldest working event venue.
Hero photo: "RFK Stadium & DC Armory" by Payton Chung, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr. Source
Why this page exists
The DC Armory opened in 1941, before the Walter E. Washington Convention Center existed by six decades, and it's kept working the entire time: inaugural balls, circuses, concerts, and trade shows all under the same roof. It sits on the 110-acre RFK Stadium-DC Armory campus east of Capitol Hill, managed by Events DC alongside the historic stadium and its surrounding festival grounds. This guide covers the exhibition space, D.C. labor rules, drayage, and getting to a part of the city many exhibitors haven't visited before.
The building
The exhibition space
| Space | What it is | Typical shows | Booth planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main floor | Nearly 70,000 sq ft, adaptable from 10 to 10,000 attendees. | Consumer expos, inaugural balls, trade shows | Confirm current floor configuration and dock access. |
| RFK Festival Grounds | Outdoor space on the surrounding 110-acre campus. | Outdoor activations, overflow parking | Weather-dependent; confirm power and access for outdoor components. |
Figures from Events DC's published overview of the DC Armory.
The labor map
Who sets up my booth?
Confirm hand-carry and self-install allowances with the show's official contractor; as an Events DC-managed venue, labor terms generally follow the same pattern as the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Union jurisdiction likely; confirm with the contractor
Rules vary by show; Purple confirms current terms before your build.
Exhibitor-appointed contractors
Purple files as your EAC for DC Armory shows.
History
Since 1941
Construction begins June 2, 1940, and the DC Armory opens July 13, 1941, built as Washington's multi-purpose auditorium, arena and ballroom.
The Armory hosts presidential inaugural balls, circuses, concerts, sporting events and trade shows, adapting to audiences from 10 to 10,000 people.
Events DC manages the Armory as part of the 110-acre RFK Stadium-DC Armory campus, alongside the historic stadium, the surrounding Festival Grounds, and a skate park.
Free tool
DC Armory drayage estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 and 2027; your show's exhibitor kit has the tariff.
Logistics
Hotels, transit, crew logistics
- By transit: Stadium-Armory Metro station (Blue, Orange and Silver lines) is on-site.
- Airport: Reagan National is about 15–20 minutes.
- Parking: the 110-acre campus has substantial surface parking, a rarity in D.C.
- Crew: Purple coordinates Mid-Atlantic crews for DC Armory installs.
| Hotel | Distance | Why exhibitors pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Capitol Hill hotels | 10–15-min drive | Closest hotel cluster to the Armory. |
| Downtown D.C. hotels | 15–20-min drive | Wider range of price points via Metro. |
Questions
DC Armory FAQ
Is the DC Armory still an active military building?
It combines National Guard functions with a separately managed public event space; Events DC manages the non-military functions, including trade shows and expos.
How big is the exhibition space?
Nearly 70,000 square feet, adaptable to audiences from 10 to 10,000 people.
Is there parking?
Yes, the 110-acre RFK Stadium-DC Armory campus has substantial surface parking, unusual for a Washington venue this close to downtown.
How much is drayage?
Purple's planning estimate is about $150 per hundredweight in 2026 and 2027, with a 200-pound minimum.
When did the DC Armory open?
July 13, 1941.
How flexible is the space?
Formats scale from 10 to 10,000 people across 70,000 sq ft, on the 110-acre RFK Stadium-DC Armory campus.
Exhibiting at the DC Armory?
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.