George R. Brown Convention Center Guide: Floor Plan

700,000+sq ft of exhibit space in 7 halls
547,730sq ft contiguous in Halls A–E on Level 1
2,86010×10 booths when Halls A–E combine
35 ftceiling in Halls A–E; 30 ft in A3 and B3
66loading docks on two levels
2skybridges to the Hilton Americas and the Marriott Marquis

Quick answers

What exhibitors ask about the George R. Brown Convention Center

Is the GRB union?Texas is right-to-work.

No one can be required to join a union to work here. Your full-time staff can usually set up your booth; extra labor you hire comes from the official contractor or an approved EAC. Check your show kit.

Is the GRB the same as Reliant Center?No, two buildings.

The GRB is downtown. Reliant Center (NRG Center until 2026) is about 5 miles south at Reliant Park, where OTC is held. Check which one your kit names.

How big are the halls?104,400 to 115,680 sq ft each.

Halls A–E on Level 1 run 300–327 ft wide and 429 ft deep, 547,730 sq ft together. Halls A3 and B3 upstairs add 205,440 sq ft.

Where do trucks unload?At the back docks, never out front.

Trucks reach the docks from Chartres Street. Loading or parking on Avenida de las Americas in front of the building gets vehicles towed.

Labor & rules · who sets up my booth?

Who sets up my booth at the George R. Brown? Right-to-work explained

Texas is a right-to-work state: no one may be required to join or pay a union to hold a job. Show kits at the GRB have called it a "Right to Work" facility where full-time employees of the exhibiting company may install and dismantle their own displays, with proof of employment. That is a real difference from Chicago, New York or New Jersey. It does not mean the floor is open to anyone: union labor still claims the work when people other than your full-time staff do it, so outside help comes from the official contractor or an approved exhibitor-appointed contractor (EAC). And freight, utilities and rigging stay exclusive whatever the labor law. Your show kit is the final word.

✓Your own crew

Work a Texas show without joining a union
Build your booth with your full-time employees and your own tools, within your kit's rules; we found no size cap in the GRB kits we read
Carry proof of full-time employment on the floor
Hang banners, drape and signs up to 250 lb yourself or through your decorator
Hire your own installer as an EAC, where your show allows one

●What stays exclusive

Drayage: the show's official contractor moves freight from dock to booth
Temporary utilities: electrical, compressed air, water and drains; only facility staff open floor pockets, ordered through Smart City
Rigging: the in-house AV contractor sets every ceiling point; signs 251 lb and up need its approval
Telecom and internet, and exhibit booth cleaning
Food and drink, including sampling, through Levy

!Not allowed

Helium and helium balloons
Adhesive-backed decals and stickers
Tape on carpet or painted surfaces; nails, tacks or drilling
Painting or finishing signs and displays in the building
Hay in displays
Carts on carpet without 6 in wheels; loads over 1,500 lb on carpet without approval

Rules of the floor

Right-to-work, open booth labor

Any size booth with your full-time staff where the kit allows. Lower labor, same drayage: the savings show up on the install line, not the freight line.

Fire code

Houston Fire Department permits

Vehicles, cooking, tents and multilevel booths need a Fire Prevention Permit. Fifteen or more display vehicles need a paid fire watch; batteries off, a quarter tank or 5 gallons at most.

Weather

Hurricane season and heat

June through November is Gulf Coast hurricane season, and summer heat and humidity slow outdoor load-in. Build slack into Houston freight schedules.

Background photo: "E5_P5280058" by etee, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source

Floor plan & exhibit halls

George R. Brown Convention Center floor plan: the exhibit halls on Level 1 and Level 3

The GRB has seven exhibit halls on two levels. Halls A, B, C, D and E sit side by side on Level 1, each 429 ft deep, and open into one 1,560 ft hall when a big show takes them all. Halls A3 and B3 are a separate exhibit floor on Level 3, next to the ballroom and the 3,600-seat General Assembly theater. Check which level your booth is on before you route freight.

Hall division
Exhibit hall

Schematic, not to scale. Hall sizes, widths and booth counts come from the venue's Dimensions & Capacities page; the dock count from the Level 1 floor plan and the City of Houston. The venue does not publish which docks serve which hall, so the dock strip is not matched to halls. Official floor plans are on grbhouston.com.

Recent and upcoming show floor plans

Official floor plans from the organizers of shows at the George R. Brown. Every show draws its own layout, aisles and booth numbers, so use these to see how a real show fills the halls, then work from your own show's plan.

Links go to the organizers' floor-plan systems and open outside this site. Checked October 16, 2026; plans change as booths sell.

George R. Brown exhibit halls, hall by hall
Hall	Level	Usable area	Size	Ceiling	10×10 booths
A	1	114,750 sq ft	327 × 429 ft	35 ft	590
B	1	106,700 sq ft	304 × 429 ft	35 ft	570
C	1	104,400 sq ft	300 × 429 ft	35 ft	540
D	1	106,200 sq ft	304 × 429 ft	35 ft	570
E	1	115,680 sq ft	327 × 429 ft	35 ft	590
A3	3	114,620 sq ft	324 × 371 ft	30 ft	575
B3	3	90,820 sq ft	267 × 372 ft	30 ft	390

A–E547,730 sq ft · 2,860 booths
A3 + B3205,440 sq ft on Level 3
Ballroom31,590 sq ft · 3 sections

Booth counts are the venue's maximum 10×10 layouts; real shows lose space to aisles, food courts and registration. The venue's Level 1 floor plan PDF prints slightly different totals for Halls A and E (114,550 and 115,500 sq ft); the table uses the Dimensions & Capacities page.

1.8 millionsq ft total facility on the venue's own site; Houston First counts 1.9 million usable sq ft, among the 10 largest in the U.S.

88meeting rooms, plus six Level 2 balconies named for the streets they face (Rusk, Walker, McKinney, Avenida, Lamar, Polk)

3,600fixed seats in the General Assembly theater on Level 3, in three 1,200-seat sections

95,000sq ft grand concourse on Level 1, plus a 90,000 sq ft Level 2 mezzanine

97,000sq ft Avenida Houston plaza outside the front doors, for outdoor activations

Downtown Houston's towers lit against a deep blue evening sky, with a long low convention-district building and lit parking garage in the foreground — Downtown Houston at dusk, a few blocks from the GRB. Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain.

Only at the GRB

GRB Houston South: the George R. Brown Convention Center expansion, 2026–2028

Houston First is building a second convention building beside the GRB, the first step of a convention-district rebuild planned to finish by 2038. The existing halls stay open while it goes up, and Houston First says scheduled shows will not be interrupted. Expect construction fencing, changed street access and possibly a different truck route than your last Houston show.

May 2028scheduled opening of GRB Houston South, a 700,000 sq ft building
150,000sq ft in two new exhibition halls, with 225,000 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space in the plan
60–80ksq ft ballroom, billed by Houston First as the largest in Texas
2025–26a state filing lists demolition of the south ramp of the elevated dock drive aisle; ask your show's contractor how trucks reach your level now
2038target for the full campus transformation; later phases will be announced over time

Sources: Houston First, Convention District Transformation; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation project TABS2025014488.

Loading dock & move-in

George R. Brown Convention Center loading dock and freight

Get directions to George R. Brown Convention Center →

66 docks, two levelsThe City of Houston counts 66 loading docks on two levels. The venue's Level 1 plan numbers 42 of them, with four drive-in ramps, behind Halls A to E.
Truck routeDocks are reached from Chartres Street, on the left at Walker Street (the route Breakbulk Americas gives its exhibitors). Never load, unload or park on Avenida de las Americas in front: vehicles are towed.
Docks are for loading onlyNo parking at the docks or on the third-level ramp except to load and unload. Some shows open a back lot behind the halls for exhibitor cars; Breakbulk Americas lists it as free on move-in days and $15 a day on show days.
Freight pathsAll freight moves through the designated docks, freight doors and freight elevators, never the lobbies, escalators or passenger elevators.
No early freightThe building does not accept shipments before your show's license period. Send early freight to the official contractor's advance warehouse; at TPS 2025, Freeman's warehouse refused uncrated freight and single pieces over 5,000 lb.
Drive-in doors and floor loadA 2019 show kit lists Hall A's back drive-in door at 14 ft high by 19 ft wide, Hall B's at 14 by 24 ft, and a 1,000 lb per sq ft floor load in Halls A and B. Confirm both for your hall.
No tunnel connectionThe GRB and the Hilton Americas are not linked to downtown Houston's pedestrian tunnel system; freight moves at street level to the dock.

Day −90Your show's floor plan goes to the GRB's event manager. Confirm your hall, and whether it is on Level 1 or Level 3.
Day −60Design approved. Multilevel booth? Plans and a Fire Prevention Permit through show management and the Houston Fire Department.
Day −30Rigging requests to the in-house AV contractor, the EAC form and insurance certificate if you hire your own installer, and sampling requests to Levy.
Day −21Purple ships to Houston through our carrier network, to the official contractor's warehouse or straight to the show.
Day 0Trucks in from Chartres Street to your level's docks. Full-time staff start building where the kit allows.
Show +1Move-out. Pick up tape and booth stickers: the GRB can charge $1,000 per hall for residue. Empties back, MHA turned in, freight routed home.

The calendar

George R. Brown Convention Center events 2026–2027: trade and consumer shows

The GRB's calendar leans on energy, industrial and engineering shows, with the International Quilt Festival every fall. Houston's largest energy show, OTC, runs at Reliant Center, not the GRB. Confirm dates, halls and contractor with each organizer.

Nov12–15

International Quilt Festival

Quilt exhibits and a large shopping floor of quilting suppliers · consumer show · classes from Nov 10 · 2026

Feb10–11

Hydrogen Technology Expo North America

Hydrogen and clean-fuel technology · B2B trade show · organized by TransGlobal Events · 2027

Mar24–25

RE+ Texas & Microgrids

Solar, storage and microgrids in Texas · B2B trade show · organized by SEIA · 2027

Jul14–15

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference

Industrial valves and flow control · B2B trade show · move-in Jul 12–13 · 2027

Oct19–20

Breakbulk Americas

Project cargo and heavy-lift logistics · B2B trade show · Halls A and B · 2027

Oct19–21

Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia

Pumps, compressors and turbines · B2B trade show · short courses Oct 18 · 2027

Dates from each organizer's site: Quilts, Inc., TransGlobal Events, SEIA, Valve World Americas, Breakbulk Americas and Texas A&M's Turbomachinery Laboratory. Valve World Americas moved its 2027 show from June 23–24 to July 14–15. Listings also show NAPE Summit (February 3–5, 2027) and CERAWeek (March 8–12, 2027) at the GRB; we could not confirm those on the organizers' sites. Recent editions at the GRB include Breakbulk Americas (September 22–23, 2026) and SPE's ATCE (October 21–23, 2026).

Insider tips

George R. Brown Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do

Levels

Know if you are on Level 1 or 3

Halls A3 and B3 sit two floors above Halls A–E with 30 ft ceilings, not 35 ft. Their freight comes up a different route, so put the level in your carrier's notes.

Docks

Route trucks by Chartres Street

Docks are reached from Chartres at Walker. A driver who pulls up on Avenida de las Americas at the front doors gets towed, and with GRB Houston South construction, check the route for your show.

Labor

Bring proof of employment

Right-to-work lets your full-time staff build, but kits ask for proof of full-time status. Anyone else on your crew must be official-contractor labor or an approved EAC.

Power

Order floor-pocket power early

Only facility staff open the utility floor pockets, and services go through Smart City. Mark where you need power on your booth plan and order before the discount date.

Move-out

Pull every piece of tape

The GRB charges up to $1,000 per exhibit hall when tape, residue and booth-number stickers are left behind. Use only approved tapes, never on carpet or painted surfaces.

Hotels

Use the skybridges

The Hilton Americas and the Marriott Marquis connect by skybridge, which matters in Houston heat and storms. Their blocks go first, so book as soon as housing opens.

Where to stay, transit & crew logistics

Hotels near the George R. Brown Convention Center

Two big hotels connect to the GRB by skybridge: the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston and the 1,000-room Marriott Marquis. Discovery Green and the rest of downtown's full-service hotels are a short walk west. For crew logistics, METRORail stops at the front door and the docks sit behind the building.

Straight-line positions from OpenStreetMap; walking routes, streets and skybridges are not drawn.

Nearby hotels, closest first
Map number	Hotel	Rooms	Link to center	Straight-line	Walk (est.)
1	Hilton Americas-Houston1600 Lamar Street	1,200	Skybridge	0.15 mi810 ft	≈ 4 min
2	Marriott Marquis Houston1777 Walker Street	1,000	Skybridge	0.18 mi950 ft	≈ 5 min
3	Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston Downtown1515 Dallas Street	262	Not stated	0.21 mi1,110 ft	≈ 5 min
4	Four Seasons Hotel Houston1300 Lamar Street	—	Not stated	0.32 mi1,700 ft	≈ 8 min
5	The Westin Houston Downtown1520 Texas Avenue	—	Not stated	0.34 mi1,800 ft	≈ 9 min
6	Hyatt Regency Houston1200 Louisiana Street	—	Not stated	0.76 mi4,000 ft	≈ 20 min

Distance: straight line from the GRB's map point, the middle of a building about a third of a mile long, so the door you use may be closer or farther. Walk: an estimate, straight-line, at 20 minutes a mile plus 30% for streets; not a measured route. "Skybridge": Houston First says the Hilton Americas-Houston and the Marriott Marquis connect directly to the GRB by skybridges. "Not stated": no covered walkway found. Rooms: Houston First (Hilton, Marriott Marquis) and Visit Houston (Embassy Suites); "—" where we found no source. Full-service hotels only; several select-service hotels downtown are not listed.

Skybridge

Hilton Americas-Houston

The 1,200-room headquarters hotel, opened with the 2003 expansion. Book early.

Skybridge

Marriott Marquis Houston

1,000 rooms, opened in December 2016 on the north side of the GRB, also linked by skybridge.

METRORail

Convention District station

Green and Purple line trains stop right at the GRB, with platforms on both sides of Avenida de las Americas.

I-45 · I-10 · I-69/US 59

Driving and parking

Downtown garages, including the Avenida North, Central and South garages, and nearby lots charge by event. Never park in front on Avenida.

~9 mi · ~17 mi

HOU and IAH airports

Hobby (HOU) is about 9 miles away and Bush Intercontinental (IAH) about 17 miles, both straight-line estimates. Hobby is closer for domestic flights; IAH has more international routes.

The building

George R. Brown Convention Center history: a gift from Texas Eastern

The GRB exists partly because a pipeline company gave away six city blocks. Texas Eastern Transmission Company, which George R. Brown co-founded, donated six of the 11 blocks the center needed, and the building carries the name of the Brown & Root builder. The building is 100 ft high and dressed in red, white and blue, with red stacks along the roof.

The long white George R. Brown Convention Center with its red stacks seen across the reflecting lake at Discovery Green under a big blue sky — The GRB across the lake at Discovery Green, the park on its west side. “george r brown from discovery green” by eschipul, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source

Glass curtain wall, blue trusses and red ship-funnel stacks on the George R. Brown Convention Center behind green trees — Blue trusses and red stacks on the glass front of the GRB. “George R. Brown Convention Center” by sandrafdzh, CC BY 2.0. Source

Sepia view along the George R. Brown Convention Center roofline and the enclosed skybridge crossing the street below — The enclosed skybridge over the street beside the GRB. “George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston TX” by roy.luck, CC BY 2.0. Source

A Stranger Things-style alphabet painted on floral wallpaper under strings of colored Christmas lights, a photo stop at Comicpalooza in Houston — A photo-stop wall at Comicpalooza, Houston's pop-culture show. “Stranger Things alphabet wall, Comicpalooza, Houston, Texas” by gruntzooki, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source

1987The George R. Brown Convention Center opens on September 26, replacing the Albert Thomas Convention Center. It cost $104.9 million and took 30 months and more than 1,200 workers. The first convention, the American Society of Travel Agents, opens October 11.
2001A $165 million expansion begins. Over 27 months the center grows from 1.15 million to 1.8 million sq ft.
2003The expansion is finished on December 3, adding three exhibit halls and 62 meeting rooms, with the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston next door, in time for Super Bowl XXXVIII in early 2004.
2005About 7,000 people shelter at the GRB after Hurricane Katrina.
2014The GRB 2025 Master Plan begins in June, adding Avenida Plaza, The Wharf and the Avenida North garage, finished in December 2016 with the Marriott Marquis. In December, a Bitcoin ATM goes in, which Houston First called a first for any convention center.
2015METRORail's Convention District station opens on May 23, on the Green and Purple lines.
2026Construction is under way on GRB Houston South, a 700,000 sq ft second building scheduled to open in May 2028.

Houston's two big halls

George R. Brown vs Reliant Center: which Houston venue is your show in?

Houston has two exhibit buildings of about the same size, and kits, hotels and carriers mix them up. The George R. Brown is downtown, on two exhibit levels, with hotels on skybridges and METRORail at the door. Reliant Center, called NRG Center from 2014 until the Reliant name came back on August 1, 2026, sits about 5 miles south (straight line) in Reliant Park next to the stadium and the Astrodome, with everything on one floor and its own parking. The Offshore Technology Conference is at Reliant Center, not the GRB.

George R. Brown and Reliant Center compared
Question	George R. Brown	Reliant Center
Where	East side of downtown, 1001 Avenida de las Americas	Reliant Park, 8600 Kirby Drive, on Loop 610
Exhibit space	700,000+ sq ft in 7 halls: A–E on Level 1, A3 and B3 on Level 3	706,000+ sq ft in 11 halls, all on the ground level
Ceiling	35 ft on Level 1, 30 ft on Level 3	25–60 ft, average 30 ft
Freight	66 docks on two levels; confirm your level's route	109 bays on one rear dock; 9 doors drive onto the floor
Power	Utility floor pockets, opened by facility staff only	No floor pockets; all utilities drop from the ceiling
Hotels	Hilton Americas and Marriott Marquis by skybridge	None attached; Medical Center hotels nearby
Rail	METRORail Green and Purple lines, Convention District station	METRORail Red Line, Stadium Park/Astrodome station
Typical shows	Energy, industrial and association shows, Quilt Festival	OTC, the Rodeo, auto, boat, RV and home shows
Labor law	Same: Texas is right-to-work. Drayage and exclusives come from each show's contractor and each building's rules.

Sources: grbhouston.com; Houston First; reliantpark.com; City of Houston. Distance is a straight-line estimate between the two buildings' map points.

FAQ

George R. Brown Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors

Can I set up my own booth at the GRB?

Usually yes, with full-time employees of your company and your own tools. Texas is right-to-work, and GRB show kits let full-time staff install and dismantle their own displays; you may need proof of employment. Anyone else must come from the official contractor or an approved EAC. Check your show kit.

Is the GRB union?

Texas is a right-to-work state, so no one has to join a union to work a show. Union labor still claims booth work done by people other than your full-time staff, through the official contractor.

Does right-to-work mean I can skip drayage?

No. Material handling from the dock to the booth still runs through the show's official contractor. Right-to-work affects booth labor, not freight handling, and utilities, rigging and cleaning stay exclusive too.

How much is drayage at the GRB?

Purple's planning estimate is about $95 per hundredweight for crated freight in 2026 and 2027, plus minimums and surcharges for late, off-target, uncrated or special-handling freight. That is below the Northeast and Midwest union venues in our guides. Your show kit sets the real rate.

How big is the GRB?

The venue lists 1.8 million sq ft in total, and Houston First counts 1.9 million usable sq ft, among the ten largest convention centers in the U.S. It has 700,000+ sq ft of exhibit space in seven halls, 547,730 sq ft of it contiguous in Halls A–E.

Is the GRB the same as Reliant Center?

No. The GRB is downtown. Reliant Center, called NRG Center from 2014 to 2026, is about 5 miles south (straight line) at Reliant Park. Check which venue your show kit names before you book freight or rooms.

Is the Offshore Technology Conference at the GRB?

No. OTC, Houston's largest energy show, runs at Reliant Center in Reliant Park (NRG Park until August 2026), a separate campus. The GRB hosts a different mix of energy, industrial, engineering and consumer shows.

Where are the loading docks at the GRB?

Behind the exhibit halls, reached from Chartres Street at Walker Street. The City of Houston counts 66 docks on two levels. Never load or park on Avenida de las Americas in front of the building.

Which airport should I use?

Hobby (HOU) is about 9 miles from the GRB in a straight line and often cheaper for domestic flights. Bush Intercontinental (IAH) is about 17 miles away with more international routes. Allow extra time at rush hour.

Is there a hotel attached to the GRB?

Yes, two. The 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston and the 1,000-room Marriott Marquis connect by skybridge. The complex is not connected to Houston's downtown tunnel system.

What is GRB Houston South?

A 700,000 sq ft second convention building Houston First is building beside the GRB, scheduled to open in May 2028 with two exhibit halls and a 60,000–80,000 sq ft ballroom. The existing halls stay open during construction.

Where does Purple ship from for GRB shows?

Purple ships and installs from New York and coordinates crews and freight for George R. Brown shows, to the official contractor's warehouse or straight to the show.

What is the Bitcoin ATM story?

In December 2014 a Bitcoin ATM went in at the GRB, and Houston First said it was the only convention center in the world offering access to digital currency at the time. It is a small but often cited fact about the building.

Cite the numbers: "The George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, opened in 1987 and expanded in 2003, has more than 700,000 sq ft of exhibit space in seven halls. Texas's right-to-work law lets exhibitors' full-time staff build their own booths." Purple Exhibits, George R. Brown Convention Center Exhibitor Guide, 2026. For a one-page cheat sheet, print the key numbers and the at-a-glance card at the top of this page.

Compare venues

George R. Brown Convention Center vs other major U.S. convention centers

How the George R. Brown Convention Center stacks up against other major U.S. convention centers. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.

Venue	Type	Largest space	Ceiling	Labor	Drayage (plan)	Airport
George R. Brown Convention CenterThis guide	Convention center	547,730 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–E	35 ft (Level 1) · 30 ft (Level 3)	Right-to-work · check kit	≈ $95/cwt	HOU · ~9 mi
America's Center Convention ComplexSt. Louis	Convention center	574,000 sq ft contiguous, with Dome floor	40 ft	Union · 300 sq ft rule	≈ $150/cwt	STL · 14 mi
Anaheim Convention CenterAnaheim	Convention center	221,284 sq ft Hall D	25 ft Hall D · 13 ft 8 in Hall E	Union · check kit	≈ $172/cwt	SNA · 13 mi
Austin Convention CenterAustin	Convention center (closed, rebuilding)	Closed · 620,000 sq ft rentable from 2029	—	Right-to-work · venue closed	≈ $100/cwt	AUS · ~5 mi
Boston Convention & Exhibition CenterBoston	Convention center	516,000 sq ft contiguous (Halls A–C)	35 ft low · up to 100 ft	Union · staff setup OK	≈ $324/cwt	BOS · 3 mi
Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention CenterSalt Lake City	Convention center	515,000 sq ft contiguous, 10 halls	30 ft	Right-to-work	≈ $120/cwt	SLC · ~6 mi
Charlotte Convention CenterCharlotte	Convention center	280,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–C	30 ft listed max	Right-to-work	≈ $115/cwt	CLT · 7 mi
Colorado Convention CenterDenver	Convention center	584,000 sq ft on one level, Halls A–F	30 ft to low steel	IATSE 7 · 60-min rule	≈ $160/cwt	DEN · 30–40 min
Ernest N. Morial Convention CenterNew Orleans	Convention center	127,364 sq ft Hall E · 1.1M sq ft in all	—	Right-to-work	≈ $155/cwt	MSY · 25–30 min
Fontainebleau Las VegasLas Vegas	Resort ballrooms	105,264 sq ft Royal Ballroom	28 ft 10 in	Union · check kit	≈ $185/cwt	LAS · 4.3 mi
Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention CenterChula Vista	Resort ballrooms	140,049 sq ft California Exhibit Hall	34 ft hall · 27–28 ft ballrooms	Check show kit	≈ $176/cwt	SAN · ~10–12 mi
Georgia World Congress CenterAtlanta	Convention center	1M+ sq ft contiguous (Halls B, BC, C)	30 ft to grid	Right-to-work	≈ $150/cwt	ATL · 15–20 min
Hilton AnatoleDallas	Hotel ballrooms	73,000–75,900 sq ft Trinity Exhibit Hall	18 ft hall · 28–29 ft ballrooms	Right-to-work · check kit	≈ $100/cwt	DAL · ~4 mi
Hilton New Orleans RiversideNew Orleans	Hotel ballrooms	26,894 sq ft Grand Ballroom	18 ft Grand Ballroom · 12 ft Grand Salon	Right-to-work · check kit	≈ $155/cwt	MSY · ~25 min
Hilton OrlandoOrlando	Hotel ballrooms	48,167 sq ft Orlando Ballroom	26 ft Orlando · 24 ft Orange · 18 ft Florida	Right-to-work	≈ $155/cwt	MCO · 11 mi
Huntington PlaceDetroit	Convention center	623,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–D	30 ft (A–D) · 18 ft 8 in (E)	Union · 400 sq ft rule	≈ $155/cwt	DTW · 20 mi
Hyatt Regency OrlandoOrlando	Hotel ballrooms	54,638 sq ft Regency Ballroom	31 ft Regency (listed) · 21 ft Plaza	Right-to-work	≈ $155/cwt	MCO · 12 mi
Indiana Convention CenterIndianapolis	Convention center	566,600 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–K	35 ft	Union · own staff OK	≈ $135/cwt	IND · ~15 min
Iowa Events CenterDes Moines	Convention center	150,000 sq ft contiguous, EMC Expo Center Halls A–C	35 ft (Halls B–C)	Right-to-work	≈ $100/cwt	DSM · ~10 min
Javits CenterNew York	Convention center	~500,000 sq ft contiguous (Level 3)	Varies by hall · check plan	Union · 250 sq ft rule	≈ $195/cwt	EWR / LGA / JFK · 45–70 min
Kansas City Convention CenterKansas City	Convention center	388,800 sq ft column-free, Bartle Hall A–E	33 ft A–C · 42 ft D–E	IATSE 31 · check kit	≈ $145/cwt	MCI · ~19 mi
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center DallasDallas	Convention center	304,250 sq ft open in Halls A–C (2026)	35 ft (A, B) · 31–37 ft (C)	Right-to-work · check kit	≈ $100/cwt	DAL · ~6 mi
Los Angeles Convention CenterLos Angeles	Convention center	346,890 sq ft South Hall G–K	40 ft South · 36 ft West	Union · check kit	≈ $175/cwt	LAX · ~20 mi
Manchester Grand Hyatt San DiegoSan Diego	Hotel ballrooms	34,000 sq ft Grand Hall	~14 ft Grand Hall · 18–21 ft ballrooms	Union dock · check kit	≈ $176/cwt	SAN · 3 mi
Marriott Marquis San Diego MarinaSan Diego	Hotel ballrooms	35,631 sq ft Marriott Grand and Pacific ballrooms	26 ft Grand · 16 ft Pacific	Union · check kit	≈ $176/cwt	SAN · 3 mi
McCormick PlaceChicago	Convention center	840,000 sq ft Hall A (South) · 1.2M+ on one level	Varies by hall · check plan	Union · staff setup any size	≈ $210/cwt	MDW · ~20 min
Miami Beach Convention CenterMiami Beach	Convention center	491,654 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–D	—	Union · IATSE/IBEW · check kit	≈ $170/cwt	MIA · ~12 mi
Minneapolis Convention CenterMinneapolis	Convention center	376,200 sq ft contiguous, Halls B–E	30 ft 6 in to truss · 85 ft domes	Union · open dock	≈ $150/cwt	MSP · ~20 min
Moscone CenterSan Francisco	Convention center	502,440 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–F	37 ft Halls A–C · 28 ft Hall F	Union · check kit	≈ $180/cwt	SFO · 25–40 min
Oklahoma City Convention CenterOklahoma City	Convention center	200,730 sq ft continuous, up to 4 halls	30 ft	Right-to-work	≈ $105/cwt	OKC · ~9–10 mi
Orange County Convention CenterOrlando	Convention center	1,103,538 sq ft West Building	30–40 ft	Right-to-work	≈ $155/cwt	MCO · 12 mi
Oregon Convention CenterPortland	Convention center	255,000 sq ft Halls A–E	30 ft	Union · check kit	≈ $150/cwt	PDX · MAX ~30 min
Phoenix Convention CenterPhoenix	Convention center	312,500 sq ft contiguous, lower Halls 1–6	32 ft lower · 35 ft upper	Right-to-work · check kit	≈ $140/cwt	PHX · ~3 mi
Reliant CenterHouston	Convention center	706,000+ sq ft on one level, Halls A–E	25–60 ft · avg 30 ft	Right-to-work · check kit	≈ $116/cwt	HOU · ~8 mi
Rosen Centre HotelOrlando	Hotel ballrooms	35,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom	25 ft Grand · 22 ft Executive, Junior	Right-to-work	≈ $155/cwt	MCO · 12 min
San Diego Convention CenterSan Diego	Convention center	525,701 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–H	27 ft 4 in A–E · up to 64 ft F–H	Union · check kit	≈ $176/cwt	SAN · 3 mi
San Jose McEnery Convention CenterSan Jose	Convention center	143,000 sq ft Halls 1–3	32 ft	Union · 30 min / 10 ft rule	≈ $160/cwt	SJC · 4 mi
Santa Clara Convention CenterSanta Clara	Convention center	90,014 sq ft Halls A–D	28 ft 6 in	Union · check kit	≈ $160/cwt	SJC · 5–6 mi
Seattle Convention CenterSeattle	Convention center	205,700 sq ft Arch Halls 4A–4F	25 ft Arch · 30 ft Summit	Union · check kit	≈ $165/cwt	SEA · Link ~40 min
Sheraton Grand Chicago RiverwalkChicago	Hotel ballrooms	40,003 sq ft ballroom · 35,000 sq ft Riverwalk hall	22 ft ballroom · 10 ft 6 in hall	Union · pop-ups ≤ 10×10	≈ $225/cwt	MDW · 13 mi
Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet CreekOrlando	Resort ballrooms	35,925 sq ft Bonnet Creek Ballroom	20 ft Bonnet Creek · 18 ft Waterside, Floridian	Right-to-work	≈ $155/cwt	MCO · 19 mi
Walt Disney World Swan and DolphinLake Buena Vista	Resort ballrooms	110,500 sq ft Atlantic + Pacific halls	30 ft Atlantic · 25′8″ Pacific	Right-to-work	≈ $155/cwt	MCO · ~20 min
Walter E. Washington Convention CenterWashington	Convention center	473,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–C	30 ft (A–C) · up to 52 ft (D–E)	Union · check kit	≈ $175/cwt	DCA · ~4 mi

Nearby guides

Other Texas and Gulf Coast convention centers

Reliant CenterHouston, TX · Reliant Park

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention CenterDallas, TX

Henry B. González Convention CenterSan Antonio, TX

Austin Convention CenterAustin, TX

Fort Worth Convention CenterFort Worth, TX

Ernest N. Morial Convention CenterNew Orleans, LA

All venue guides →

Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Figures marked for verification are being confirmed with GRB event services. Sources: grbhouston.com (About Us, Dimensions & Capacities, floor plans, exhibitor guidelines); the GRB Rules and Regulations; Houston First (venue page and Convention District Transformation); City of Houston; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; GES and Freeman show kits for shows at the GRB; Breakbulk Americas exhibitor information; Wikipedia (George R. Brown Convention Center; Convention District station); the Texas Attorney General on right-to-work; organizer sites for show dates; Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.

All Texas venue guides →