Exhibitor guide · Mesa, Arizona
Mesa Convention Center: the exhibitor's guide
The largest event venue in the East Phoenix Valley, a compact three-building campus on 22 acres of parkland, and a straightforward alternative to downtown Phoenix scale. What exhibitors need to know east of the city.
Hero photo: "Mesa Convention Center" by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, share-alike, via Flickr. Source
Why this page exists
Mesa Convention Center opened in 1978 on the site of Rendezvous Park, a former baseball stadium demolished two years earlier, and it remains the largest event venue in the East Phoenix Valley today. It's a smaller, more manageable alternative to downtown Phoenix for shows that don't need 300,000 square feet, spread across Buildings A, B and C on a 22-acre parkland campus. This guide covers the exhibit hall, Arizona's labor rules, drayage, and hotels in the East Valley.
The building
The exhibit hall
| Space | What it is | Typical shows | Booth planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibit Hall | 19,000 sq ft. | Regional trade shows, consumer expos | Confirm current dock count. |
| Flexible meeting space | An additional 19,000 sq ft. | Breakouts, association meetings | 15 meeting rooms across three buildings. |
Figures from the City of Mesa's published Convention Center overview.
The labor map
Who sets up my booth?
Arizona's right-to-work law applies; confirm hand-carry and self-install allowances with the show's official contractor.
Full-time staff, no card required
Standard right-to-work terms apply.
Exhibitor-appointed contractors
Purple files as your EAC for Mesa CC shows.
History
Since 1978
Rendezvous Park, a former baseball stadium in downtown Mesa, is demolished.
The Mesa Convention Center and Amphitheatre opens on the cleared site, becoming the city's primary meeting and exhibit venue.
The campus remains the largest event venue in the East Phoenix Valley, spread across Buildings A, B and C on 22 acres of parkland.
Free tool
Mesa CC drayage estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 and 2027; your show's exhibitor kit has the tariff.
Logistics
Hotels, transit, crew logistics
- Airport: Phoenix-Mesa Gateway is about 20 minutes; Sky Harbor is about 25–30 minutes.
- By transit: Valley Metro Rail's Mesa extension reaches downtown Mesa.
- By car: US-60 and Loop 202 both reach the campus.
- Crew: Purple coordinates Southwest crews for East Valley installs.
| Hotel | Distance | Why exhibitors pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Mesa hotels | Walking distance | Closest options to the convention center. |
| Hotels near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway | 15–20-min drive | Fly-in exhibitors using the smaller East Valley airport. |
Questions
Mesa Convention Center FAQ
How big is the Mesa Convention Center?
A 19,000 square foot exhibit hall plus another 19,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, nearly 40,000 square feet total, the largest event venue in the East Phoenix Valley.
What was on this site before?
Rendezvous Park, a baseball stadium demolished in 1976 to make way for the convention center, which opened in 1978.
Can I set up my own booth?
Arizona's right-to-work law applies; confirm hand-carry allowances with your show's official contractor.
How much is drayage?
Purple's planning estimate is about $130 per hundredweight in 2026 and 2027, with a 200-pound minimum.
How is the meeting space organized?
15 meeting rooms across Buildings A, B and C, totaling 40,000 sq ft with the 19,000 sq ft hall.
How large is the campus?
22 acres of parkland on the former Rendezvous Park site.
Exhibiting in Mesa?
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.