Exhibitor guide · New Orleans, Louisiana
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center: the exhibitor's guide
1.1 million square feet of exhibit space stretching two miles along the Mississippi River, a right-to-work state with strong union jurisdiction over drayage and rigging, and a calendar that runs from NADA to WEFTEC. What exhibitors need to know before, during and after an MCCNO show.
MCCNO · 900 Convention Center BlvdHero photo: "Morial Convention Center" by Infrogmation, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr. Source
Why this page exists
The Morial Convention Center runs nearly two miles along the Mississippi River, built in phases since 1985 and renamed in 1992 for the city's first Black mayor, and it's now the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana. For exhibitors, the two things worth knowing up front are that it's genuinely enormous, so hall assignment and dock distance matter more here than almost anywhere else, and that Louisiana's right-to-work law lets your own full-time staff build the booth even though drayage, electrical and rigging still run through strong union jurisdiction. This guide covers the halls, labor rules, drayage, the shows that fill the calendar led by NADA and WEFTEC, hotels in the CBD and Warehouse District, and the center's history since the World's Fair.
The building
The exhibit halls
Twelve divisible halls run along the river, with the newest addition at the upriver end.
| Space | What it is | Typical shows | Booth planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halls A–J | 1.1 million sq ft of divisible exhibit space, stretching roughly two miles along the river. | Large national trade shows | Confirm hall assignment early; dock-to-booth distance varies enormously across the building. |
| The Great Hall | 60,300 sq ft, completed 2013, with 25,000 sq ft of ballroom and prefunction space plus indoor and outdoor balconies. | Receptions, general sessions | The newest, most amenity-rich space on campus. |
| 140 meeting rooms, two ballrooms | Distributed across the building. | Breakouts, association meetings | Hand-carry and tabletop formats. |
| 4,000-seat theater | Divisible performing arts theater. | General sessions, keynotes | Distinct rigging and AV rules from the exhibit halls. |
Figures from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center's published facility overview.
The labor map
Who sets up my booth?
Louisiana is a right-to-work state, and full-time employees of exhibiting companies may set up their own booths without union labor. New Orleans nonetheless has strong union jurisdiction over material handling, electrical and rigging, and the center itself does not provide carts, dollies or pallet jacks for exhibitor use, those come through the show's official contractor.
Full-time staff, no card required
Confirm hand-carry limits with your show's official contractor; the center provides no material-handling equipment directly.
Drayage under union jurisdiction
Material handling is a strong union trade in New Orleans; advance-rate pricing through the GSC is substantially cheaper than on-site rates.
Electrical and rigging
Ordered through the show's official contractor or the center's in-house electrical provider.
Exhibitor-appointed contractors
Purple files as your EAC for MCCNO shows and coordinates with the official contractor.
History
From the World's Fair to the Great Hall
Construction runs for six years; the first portion of the building opens as part of the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition, the last World's Fair held in the United States before New Orleans.
The convention center formally opens.
The complex is renamed in honor of Ernest N. Morial, New Orleans' first African American mayor.
A series of expansions push the building further upriver, eventually reaching more than 3 million total square feet, the 7th largest convention center in the country.
The 60,300 sq ft Great Hall opens, adding 25,000 sq ft of ballroom and prefunction space, an outdoor pedestrian plaza, and indoor and outdoor balconies.
The center becomes the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana, and the first convention center in the world certified under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance.
Rules of the floor
Rules of the floor
Right-to-work, strong union trades
Full-time staff self-install; drayage, electrical and rigging remain union jurisdiction through the GSC.
Regional planning rate
Purple's planning estimate is about $155 per hundredweight with a 200 lb minimum; advance-rate pricing beats on-site rates substantially.
New Orleans Fire Department
Covered and multilevel exhibits need plan review; flame-certified fabrics for anything covered.
Center-exclusive services
Electrical, internet and catering are exclusive to MCCNO 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
MCCNO drayage estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 and 2027; your show's exhibitor kit has the tariff.
Deadlines
Freight countdown for an MCCNO show
The calendar
Shows at the MCCNO
NADA and WEFTEC anchor the building; the rest of the calendar spans medical, industrial and consumer trade shows.
| Show | Next dates | Industry | Attendance | Purple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NADA Show (National Automobile Dealers Association) | February 2027 | Automotive retail | 18,000 | Custom exhibits |
| WEFTEC | September 28–30, 2026 | Water quality, environmental technology | 23,000+ | 10×20 rentals |
| AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology Congress) | October 9–12, 2026 | Medical, ophthalmology | 25,000 | 10×10 rentals |
| Business Aircraft Maintenance Conference | May 2026 | Aviation | 3,000 | Booth rentals |
Attendance is the organizer's or trade press figure where published; confirm before booking.
Logistics
Hotels, transit, crew logistics
- Airport: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International is about 25–30 minutes.
- Walking: the CBD and Warehouse District hotels are both within a short walk of the upriver end of the building.
- By streetcar: the Riverfront line stops near the center.
- Crew: Purple coordinates Gulf South crews and regional freight for New Orleans shows.
| Hotel | Distance | Why exhibitors pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse District hotels | Walking distance | Closest options to the convention center's upriver end. |
| CBD and French Quarter hotels | 10–20-min walk or streetcar | Wide range of price points and nightlife. |
| Hotels near the airport | 25–30-min drive | Fly-in exhibitors on early or late flights. |
Resources
Free resources you can link to
Cite the numbers
One-page cheat sheet
Hall map, labor rules, docks, deadlines.
Related on purpleexhibits.com: Custom trade show booth design · Trade show booth rentals · Request a quote.
Questions
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center FAQ
Can I set up my own booth?
Louisiana is a right-to-work state, so full-time employees of exhibiting companies may set up their own booths without union labor. Drayage, electrical and rigging remain strong union trades handled through the official contractor.
How big is the MCCNO?
1.1 million square feet of exhibit space across 12 divisible halls, with more than 3 million square feet total, the 7th largest convention center in the U.S.
How much is drayage?
Purple's planning estimate is about $155 per hundredweight in 2026 and 2027, with a 200-pound minimum.
What's the biggest show at the MCCNO?
WEFTEC, the world's largest water quality conference and exhibition, draws more than 23,000 attendees and 950-plus exhibitors each fall.
Why is it called Morial?
The center was renamed in 1992 for Ernest N. Morial, New Orleans' first African American mayor.
Which airport should I use?
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International is about 25 to 30 minutes from the convention center.
Does the center provide dollies or pallet jacks?
No. The MCCNO does not provide carts, dollies or pallet jacks for exhibitor use; those go through the show's official contractor.
Exhibiting at the MCCNO?
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.