Exhibitor guide · Downtown Cleveland, Ohio
Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland: the exhibitor's guide
A four-story medical showroom that closed, sat empty, and reopened in 2024 as convention exhibit space, part of a $465 million campus that's the largest public investment in downtown Cleveland's history. What exhibitors need to know at Cleveland's rebuilt convention center.
Huntington CC · 300 Lakeside Ave EWhy this page exists
The building next door to the Huntington Convention Center has had one of the stranger second acts in the industry: built as the Global Center for Health Innovation, a $465 million joint venture meant to be a permanent showroom of medical, surgical and hospital goods, it closed in 2020 after failing to find its footing, sat mostly vacant, and briefly hosted socially distanced jury trials during the pandemic. In 2023 and 2024, Cuyahoga County spent $52 million converting the four-story, 225,000 sq ft building into straightforward convention center exhibit space, reopening in July 2024 to real praise. This guide covers the combined campus, Ohio's labor rules, drayage, and hotels downtown.
The building
The campus
| Space | What it is | Typical shows | Booth planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Convention Center | 410,000+ sq ft of flexible exhibit and meeting space. | Large national trade shows, medical and technology conventions | Confirm current hall assignment. |
| Global Center for Health Innovation addition | 225,000 sq ft across four stories, converted to exhibit space in 2024. | Overflow exhibit space for large shows | The newest space on campus; confirm dock access for this building specifically. |
Figures from published coverage of the 2024 expansion and the original Turner Construction project overview.
The labor map
Who sets up my booth?
Ohio has no statewide right-to-work law; confirm hand-carry and self-install allowances with the show's official contractor.
No statewide right-to-work law; confirm with the contractor
Rules vary by show; Purple confirms current terms before your build.
Exhibitor-appointed contractors
Purple files as your EAC for Huntington Convention Center shows.
History
A medical showroom that became exhibit space
Cuyahoga County and MMPI complete a $465 million joint project pairing the new Huntington Convention Center with the Global Center for Health Innovation, envisioned as a permanent showroom for medical, surgical and hospital goods.
The Global Center closes after failing to establish itself as a medical showroom or biotech hub, sitting largely vacant except for a brief stint hosting socially distanced Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court jury trials during the pandemic.
Taxpayers fund a $52 million conversion of the building into straightforward convention center exhibit space; it reopens in July 2024 to positive local reception, finally giving the building a role that fits Cleveland's actual convention demand.
Free tool
Huntington CC drayage estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 and 2027; your show's exhibitor kit has the tariff.
Logistics
Hotels, transit, crew logistics
- Airport: Cleveland Hopkins International is about 20–25 minutes.
- By transit: the RTA Red Line stops downtown, a short walk from the campus.
- Walking: downtown Cleveland hotels are a short walk from the campus.
- Crew: Purple coordinates Midwest crews for Cleveland installs.
| Hotel | Distance | Why exhibitors pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Cleveland hotels | Walking distance | Closest options to the convention center. |
| Hotels near Cleveland Hopkins | 20–25-min drive | Fly-in exhibitors on early or late flights. |
Questions
Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland FAQ
What happened to the Global Center for Health Innovation?
It closed in 2020 after failing as a medical device showroom and sat mostly vacant until a $52 million county-funded conversion turned it into convention center exhibit space, reopening in July 2024.
How big is the combined campus?
About 1 million square feet combined between the Huntington Convention Center and the former Global Center building.
Can I set up my own booth?
Ohio has no statewide right-to-work law; confirm hand-carry allowances with your show's official contractor.
How much is drayage?
Purple's planning estimate is about $145 per hundredweight in 2026 and 2027, with a 200-pound minimum.
How big is the former Global Center building?
225,000 square feet across four stories, converted to exhibit space in 2024.
How much did the campus cost?
$465 million, the largest public investment in downtown Cleveland's history.
Exhibiting at the Huntington CC?
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.