The GRCC's planner toolkit and a 2026 show manual both describe it as non-union, and Virginia remains a right-to-work state. Your show's general contractor still controls freight handling and its own labor.
Exhibitor guide · Richmond, VA · Updated
Greater Richmond Convention Center Exhibitor Guide
Virginia's largest exhibit hall is one 178,159 sq ft room under a 35 ft ceiling, four blocks from the State Capitol. The building calls itself a non-union facility in a right-to-work state, so your own people can build the booth; what you cannot do yourself is hang anything from the ceiling, run the house utilities or park at the dock. Here is where those lines fall.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: “Greater Richmond Convention Center” by taberandrew, CC BY 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Greater Richmond Convention Center
The venue says exhibitors may handle their own setup per show guidelines. Rigging, venue utilities and venue-owned lifts stay with Encore and the GRCC.
A 2026 GES-run show gave cars, vans and smaller trucks 15–20 minutes at Loading Dock Ramp A, then sent them to the parking deck. Hand-carry also works through the attached deck. Street unloading was not allowed.
All four hall sections share the 35 ft ceiling and a 350 lbs/sq ft floor load. The Grand Ballroom is 32 ft. Your show sets the booth height limit.
Only at the Greater Richmond Convention Center
Greater Richmond Convention Center non-union rules: can my own team do it?
The GRCC is one of the few large halls on the East Coast that calls itself non-union, so the usual question flips: not "what may we touch?" but "what does the building keep for itself?" The rows follow the GRCC Event Handbook (revised 2025), its planner toolkit and exhibitor FAQ, and the 2026 Eastern Winery Exposition manual (GES as contractor). Your show kit is the final word.
| Task | Your own team? |
|---|---|
| Build and dismantle your booth | Yes. The venue says exhibitors may handle their own setup per show guidelines; there is no union crew minimum at the building level |
| Hand-carry boxes in through the front | Yes. Front-of-house entry is allowed only for items carried by hand; a 2026 manual routed hand-carry and personal carts through the attached deck and Registration Lobby |
| Unload a car, van or small truck yourself | Yes, at Loading Dock Ramp A with 15–20 minutes to unload (2026 GES-run show), then move it. Parking at the dock is prohibited |
| Bring palletized freight to the dock | Through your show's contractor. Freight shipments for that 2026 show went through GES, and the GRCC has no shipping and receiving department |
| Drive a forklift or scissor lift | Only if certified, with non-marring tires. GRCC-owned lifts need a GRCC driver or an Encore-authorized operator; motorized equipment runs only outside show hours |
| Hang a sign or truss overhead | No. Encore is the exclusive rigging provider, and every point is made by Encore on the steel |
| Run power from the floor box | No. The GRCC is the only provider of electrical, water, drain and compressed air. Your own power strips and cords are allowed if they meet building standards |
| Hire an outside AV company | Yes, outside AV is allowed, but its rigging still goes through Encore |
| Tape down carpet or cables | Only with approved residue-free tape (Shurtape PC-618 or DF-642 are the named examples). No tape on walls or glass, and no drilling or nailing |
| Hand out food or drink samples | Only your own products, up to 2 oz of food or 4 oz of non-alcoholic drink, with Aramark's approval. Generic giveaways such as coffee or popcorn must be bought from Aramark |
Sources: GRCC Event Handbook (revised 2025; Loading Docks, Elevators, Motorized Equipment, Move-In & Move-Out, Adhesives, Food & Beverage Sampling), GRCC Event Planners Toolkit and Exhibitor FAQs (richmond-center.com), Eastern Winery Exposition Exhibitor Services Manual, March 24–26, 2026, with Encore's GRCC rigging quick sheet.
The building
From the 1986 Richmond Centre to Virginia's largest exhibit hall
The GRCC replaced the city's 1986 Richmond Centre and kept some of its steel and pillars inside the new building. It is owned by the Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority, formed by the City of Richmond and Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties, and paid for by an 8% lodging tax in those four localities. Oak View Group runs it day to day.
- Late 1970sMayor Henry L. Marsh starts talks on "Project One," the downtown plan that leads to a convention hall.
- 1986The original Richmond Centre opens on the site.
- 1999Ground is broken for the Greater Richmond Convention Center, backed by regional lodging taxes and $10 million from Governor George Allen's administration.
- 2003The GRCC is inaugurated on February 28, with 178,159 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space and the steel and pillars of the old building worked into the new one.
- TodayGBAC STAR accredited, Virginia Green certified and a 2024 Prime Site award winner, with a calendar of state associations, industry expos and consumer shows.
Photos: "Welcome to the National Folk Festival" by taberandrew, CC BY 2.0 Source · "Ethyl Corporation Headquarters and Food Vendors" by taberandrew, CC BY 2.0 Source · "On Brown's Island" by taberandrew, CC BY 2.0 Source
Floor plan & exhibit hall
Greater Richmond Convention Center floor plan: Exhibit Hall A, B, C and D
The exhibit hall sits on Level I of the Exhibit Hall Building: one contiguous 274 × 647 ft room that splits into four sections and up to 10 layouts. The Grand Ballroom is in a separate Ballroom Building, one level up. Tap a section for its size and booth count.
Schematic. Section widths are proportional to floor area, not an architectural plan. Official floor plans and the room capacity chart are on richmond-center.com (Floor Plans). Figures are from the GRCC facility specifications sheet.
Exhibit Hall A
- 67,549 sq ft · 274 × 246 ft
- 335 10×10 booths
- 35 ft ceiling
The largest section. A 2026 winery trade show fit its whole exhibit floor in Hall A alone. A + B together give 101,998 sq ft and 508 booths.
Exhibit Hall B
- 34,449 sq ft · 274 × 124 ft
- 168 10×10 booths
- 35 ft ceiling
One of the two middle sections. B + C make a 68,886 sq ft room (341 booths) for a show that wants the center of the hall.
Exhibit Hall C
- 34,437 sq ft · 274 × 124 ft
- 168 10×10 booths
- 35 ft ceiling
A, B and C combined reach 136,435 sq ft and 681 booths. B, C and D combined give 110,610 sq ft and 550 booths.
Exhibit Hall D
- 41,724 sq ft · 274 × 151 ft
- 205 10×10 booths
- 35 ft ceiling
Combine all four for 178,159 sq ft, 892 10×10 booths or 1,115 8×10s. The venue's own floor plan page rounds this to about 900 booths.
350 lbsper sq ft floor load in every exhibit hall section; the hall floor is bare (2026 show manuals note there is no carpet unless you order it)
30,550sq ft Grand Ballroom (B21), 132 × 203 ft, 32 ft ceiling, 125 lbs/sq ft, splits into three sections and five layouts
36meeting rooms and more than 80,000 sq ft of meeting space including the ballroom, plus a 258-seat lecture hall
41 ft 9 into the high steel in the exhibit hall (low steel 30 ft 3 in), per Encore's 2026 rigging quick sheet. 1,000 lbs is the standard point capacity
Freight lifts onlyFreight moves between floors only in the freight elevators, which only GRCC staff may operate. Passenger elevators and escalators are off limits for exhibit materials
Loading dock & move-in
Greater Richmond Convention Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to Greater Richmond Convention Center →
- Leigh St at 3rd StThe exhibit hall dock has 16 loading bays, entered at the corner of 3rd and Leigh Streets. A 2026 show manual gives the GPS address as 303 E. Leigh St, Richmond, VA 23219.
- Doors straight onto the floorRoll-up doors (12 ft 6 in wide × 16 ft 5 in tall) and sliding bay doors (19 ft 8 in × 15 ft 10 in) connect the dock directly to the exhibit hall, per the GRCC Event Handbook.
- A separate ballroom dockThe Grand Ballroom has its own four-bay dock, reached through the alley off 3rd Street between Marshall and Broad, next to the parking deck. Make sure your carrier knows which building you are in.
- No staging on the dockVehicles may not park in the loading area or on the truck route, and freight may not be stacked or stored there without the venue's approval. Your Event Manager assigns the bays for each show.
- Day −30Booth design approved and your setup crew named. Food sampling outside the standard sizes needs a written request to the GM 30 days out.
- Day −21Purple ships to Richmond through our carrier network, timed for the contractor's advance warehouse deadline.
- Day −14Electrical, air and water ordered from the GRCC: advance rates end two weeks before load-in. Internet's advance rate needs 14 business days.
- Day −10Rigging drawings to Encore. Late or on-site changes to an approved rigging plan cause delays.
- Day −4Freight in at the advance warehouse (the 2026 winery show's deadline was four days before move-in).
- Show closeTape and residue removed and the booth packed. Freight left on the floor after the move-out deadline goes back by the contractor at your expense.
Labor & rules
Greater Richmond Convention Center labor rules: non-union, with three exclusives
Virginia is a right-to-work state; a 2026 bill to repeal that law died in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee without a hearing. The GRCC describes itself as a non-union facility. What the building does keep is utilities (GRCC), rigging (Encore) and food (Aramark). Contractors vary by show; recent kits name GES and Hollins Exposition Services, so check yours for hours and rates.
✓Your own team
- Build and dismantle your booth, per your show's guidelines
- Hand-carry items through the front of house; everything else goes through the docks
- Unload a car or van at the dock in the time your show allows (15–20 minutes at one 2026 show)
- Use your own power strips and extension cords that meet building standards
- Bring an outside AV company, as long as Encore does its rigging
●GRCC, Encore and Aramark
- GRCC: the only provider of electrical, water, drain and compressed air; 20 amp 110V is $60 advance, $80 on the floor
- GRCC: freight elevators are run only by its staff, and its forklifts need a GRCC driver ($41.75/hr) or an Encore-authorized one
- Encore: exclusive for rigging points, truss, hoists, crank towers and ground-supported structures
- Aramark: exclusive food and beverage, including any alcohol service
- Your show's general contractor: freight handling and booth rentals; the GRCC is not the decorator
!Watch for
- No foil or Mylar balloons; helium balloons in a booth need a refundable deposit
- No drilling, nails or staples, and no tape on walls, glass or equipment
- Every floor plan needs City of Richmond Fire Marshal approval, and cooking of any kind needs a permit
- Liquid-fuel vehicles stay off carpeted areas; forklifts in carpeted rooms need GRCC wheel covers
- Power ordered on site is connected first come, first served after advance orders
Background photo: "Roller Derby 2-26 0057" by Gamma Man, CC BY 2.0 Source
Free tool
Greater Richmond Convention Center drayage cost estimator
Planning numbers at about $110 per hundredweight. No GRCC show publishes its tariff openly; a 2026 Hollins Exposition Services kit for a Virginia show in Norfolk charged $86/cwt through the warehouse and $98/cwt direct, and national contractors usually run higher, so we plan above both. Your show kit carries the actual rate. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$1,650
Cut this with a lighter booth
The Norfolk kit used a 200 lb minimum per shipment and added 25% to anything arriving after the show opened. Because the GRCC has no shipping and receiving department, small parcels sent to the building on their own can go astray: route them through your contractor's warehouse. The estimator's multipliers are general; check your kit.
A big weekend in downtown Richmond
Photo: "Dominion Stage and Skyscrapers" by taberandrew, CC BY 2.0 Source
The calendar
Greater Richmond Convention Center trade shows 2026–2027
Richmond's hall mixes state-association conferences and Mid-Atlantic industry expos with big consumer shows that fill all four sections. Confirm dates and exhibitor rules with each organizer.
VWC Educational Conference & Exhibition
Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission · insurance, legal, medical · 2026
VMEA Professional Development Conference
Virginia Music Educators Association · music education exhibitors · 2026
Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Expo & Safety Summit
Virginia Asphalt Association · paving equipment, "big iron" · 2026
Greater Richmond Home Show
Home improvement · American Consumer Shows · consumer · 2027
GalaxyCon Richmond
Pop culture convention with an exhibit hall and vendor booths · consumer · 2027
All dates are from the organizers' own sites (checked October 2026). Some directories list the Home Show for January 16–17; the organizer gives January 9–10, 2027. The Richmond Boat Show has used the hall in late January in past years, but the organizer had not posted 2027 dates when we checked. The Eastern Winery Exposition met at the GRCC in March 2026 but returns to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for March 9–11, 2027 (see our Lancaster County Convention Center guide).
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels near the Greater Richmond Convention Center
Adjacent
Richmond Marriott Downtown
400 rooms on Broad Street, next to the center, with its own parking deck at 500 E. Broad St.
Adjacent
Hilton Richmond Downtown
249 rooms, the other hotel the venue lists as adjacent.
1 mile
Downtown and the Fan
The venue counts about 3,600 rooms within one mile and some 18,000 across the region.
≈ 15 min
Richmond International (RIC)
The GRCC puts the airport about 15 minutes away. From I-64 West, exit 190 at 5th Street brings you to the building.
I-95 · I-64
Garage and parking
The attached six-level deck at 351 N. 3rd St has 401 spaces ($10 per entry, $26 overnight) with a 7 ft 8 in clearance on Level 2 and 6 ft 7 in above. The venue counts about 10,000 spaces within six blocks.
Insider tips
Greater Richmond Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Tell the driver: Leigh Street, not 3rd
The exhibit hall dock is at 3rd and Leigh; the alley off 3rd between Marshall and Broad leads to the four-bay ballroom dock. A truck at the wrong one loses your move-in slot.
Use the deck for small booths
For a tabletop or a pop-up, park in the attached deck (it connects on Level 3), wheel your cart through the Registration Lobby and skip the dock line. Check the 6 ft 7 in clearance above Level 2 before you drive a tall van in.
Order power by day −14
GRCC utility orders switch from advance to floor rates two weeks before load-in: on the GRCC's posted price sheet, a 20 amp 110V outlet goes from $60 to $80, a power strip rental from $15 to $25. On-site orders also wait behind every advance order.
Send hanging signs to Encore early
Only Encore makes rigging points here, and nothing flies without a load calculation. Submit the sign drawing with weight well before the show; late changes to an approved plan cause delays.
Bring carpet, or rent it
The exhibit hall floor is bare, and the GRCC is not a decorator. Order carpet and furniture from your show's contractor, and tape it down only with residue-free tape like Shurtape PC-618.
Sample your own product only
The GRCC allows 2 oz food and 4 oz non-alcoholic drink samples of what you make or distribute. A coffee cart or popcorn to pull traffic must be bought from Aramark.
FAQ
Greater Richmond Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors
Is the Greater Richmond Convention Center union?
No. The GRCC's planner toolkit and a 2026 show manual describe it as a non-union facility, and Virginia is a right-to-work state (a 2026 repeal bill died in committee). Exhibitors may handle their own setup per show guidelines. The GRCC, Encore and Aramark keep utilities, rigging and food service.
Can I set up my own booth at the Greater Richmond Convention Center?
Yes, within your show's rules. There is no union crew requirement at the building level. Your show's general contractor still handles freight from the dock for crated shipments, and rigging must be done by Encore.
Where is the Greater Richmond Convention Center loading dock?
The exhibit hall dock is at the corner of 3rd and Leigh Streets (GPS: 303 E. Leigh St, Richmond, VA 23219) with 16 bays. The Grand Ballroom has a separate four-bay dock in the alley off 3rd Street between Marshall and Broad.
Can I unload my own vehicle?
At the 2026 Eastern Winery Exposition, cars, vans and smaller trucks could unload at Loading Dock Ramp A with 15–20 minutes to do it, then had to move to a parking deck. Hand-carry through the attached deck was also allowed; unloading from the surrounding streets was not. Check your show kit for your event's rules.
How much is drayage at the Greater Richmond Convention Center?
Plan about $110 per hundredweight. GRCC tariffs are set by each show's contractor and are not published openly; a 2026 Virginia kit from Hollins Exposition Services (for a Norfolk show) charged $86/cwt via the warehouse and $98/cwt direct with a 200 lb minimum. Your kit sets the real rate.
What is the ceiling height in the exhibit hall?
35 ft in all four sections, with a 350 lbs/sq ft floor load. Encore's rigging sheet lists high steel at 41 ft 9 in and low steel at 30 ft 3 in. The Grand Ballroom ceiling is 32 ft. Your show sets the maximum booth height.
Who provides electrical and internet?
The GRCC is the sole provider of electrical, water, drain and compressed air, ordered online or by phone. Advance rates apply up to two weeks before load-in; the GRCC's posted price sheet lists a 20 amp 110V connection at $60 advance and $80 on the floor. The GRCC also sells internet, and free basic Wi-Fi covers the halls and lobbies.
Can I use my own power strip?
Yes, if it meets building standards and poses no safety hazard, per the GRCC exhibitor FAQ. Each extension cord must plug directly into an approved receptacle, and cords across an aisle must be secured or covered.
Can I hang a sign from the ceiling?
Only through Encore, the exclusive rigging provider. All points are made by Encore on the low or high steel, with 1,000 lbs as the standard point capacity. Some shows also limit hanging signs to larger booths, so check your kit.
Where do exhibitors park?
In the attached six-level GRCC deck at 351 N. 3rd St: 401 spaces, $10 per entry and $26 overnight on the venue's site, with a 7 ft 8 in clearance on Level 2 and 6 ft 7 in above. The Marriott deck at 500 E. Broad St and several lots nearby take the overflow.
Exhibiting in Richmond?
Got a booth number? We will take it from there.
Tell us which hall section you are in, whether anything needs to hang, and how your team plans to reach the 3rd and Leigh dock. Purple ships and installs from New York for this region, and within two business days you get a booth your own crew can build in a non-union hall, a drayage estimate at Richmond rates and a power order timed to beat the two-week deadline.
Background photo: "Richmond, VA Skyline in Lights" by Fire At Will [Photography], CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Compare venues
Greater Richmond Convention Center vs other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York
How the Greater Richmond Convention 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Richmond Convention CenterThis guide | Convention center | 178,159 sq ft · Exhibit Hall A–D | 35 ft | Right-to-work · non-union | ≈ $110/cwt | RIC · ~15 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 |
| 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 |
| Vandalia Health CenterCharleston | Convention center | 50,086 sq ft Grand Hall · up to 256 booths | — | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | CRW · about 5 min |
| 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 |
More venue guides
Other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York
Virginia Beach Convention CenterVirginia Beach, VA
Walter E. Washington Convention CenterWashington, DC
Gaylord National ResortNational Harbor, MD
Raleigh Convention CenterRaleigh, NC
Hershey Lodge Convention CenterHershey, PA
Charlotte Convention CenterCharlotte, NC
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Figures marked for verification are being confirmed with the venue. Sources: GRCC Event Handbook (revised 2025), GRCC facility specifications sheet, floor plans, history, Authority, directions and parking, planner toolkit and exhibitor FAQ pages on richmond-center.com, GRCC Utility Services Connection Price Sheet and Labor, Services, Fees and Equipment Rate Sheet (August 2025), Eastern Winery Exposition Exhibitor Services Manual (March 2026) with Encore's GRCC rigging quick sheet, Hollins Exposition Services 2026 VHCA-VCAL kit (Norfolk, VA) for regional material handling rates, WVTF/Radio IQ on the 2026 right-to-work repeal bill, and organizer sites for the VWC Educational Conference, VMEA conference, Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Expo and Eastern Winery Exposition.