It was renamed on December 3, 2018. The nonprofit that runs it is still called Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Inc.
Exhibitor guide · Poughkeepsie, NY · Updated
MJN Convention Center Exhibitor Guide
The MJN Convention Center (formerly Mid-Hudson Civic Center) puts every trade show in one room: Mair Hall, 15,475 sq ft, laid out for 130 booths of 8 by 10 ft. Freight comes in one truck at a time through a door about 10 ft wide, so plan your crates, banners and move-in slot around that.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie, downhill from the MJN Convention Center. “'Flinterdijk' and the Mid-Hudson Bridge, Hudson River at Poughkeepsie, New York, 8 Nov. 2009” by In Memoriam: PhillipC, CC BY 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the MJN Convention Center
The venue's trade-show layout uses 8 × 10 ft booths, not the 10 × 10 ft standard, on a 15,475 sq ft concrete floor.
That is Mair Hall's overall clearance. The lobby, which also takes trade displays, has a 10 ft ceiling.
One truck at a time at Main Street and Route 44-55 West, then a 50 ft push to the stage through a door about 10 ft wide.
Only at the MJN Convention Center
MJN Convention Center load-in: will your booth fit through Mair Hall's door?
Big halls have dozens of dock doors. The MJN has one load-in, one truck at a time, and a door just over 10 ft wide. Check each item below against the venue's Promoters Guide before anything ships.
| Item | MJN limit |
|---|---|
| Crate or assembled piece through the loading door | Mair Hall spec: 10 ft 4 in wide × 12 ft 5 in high. The load-in page lists 10 ft 10 in × 12 ft 6 in; plan to the smaller figure |
| Trucks at the load-in | One at a time, at Main Street and Route 44-55 West |
| Distance from truck to floor | About a 50 ft push to the stage |
| Tallest structure or hanging sign | Under 25 ft 5 in overall clearance in Mair Hall; 10 ft in the lobby |
| Booth footprint | The standard trade-show layout is 130 booths of 8 × 10 ft |
| Forklift | Venue forklift, 2,500 lb capacity, run only by the MJN's certified operator |
| Work at height | Venue Genie AWP-30S lift: 29 ft platform, 35 ft 6 in working height, 350 lb |
| Going downstairs | Freight elevator, 4,000 lb capacity, main floor to lower level |
| Fixing the booth to the building | No nails or screws into the floor, stage floor or walls; excess tape removal is billed to the tenant |
Source: MJN Convention Center Promoters Guide 2022–2023 (Mair Hall specifications, load-in, rules). Ask the events office, (845) 454-5800 ext. 1202, to confirm current figures for your date.
The building
From the Mid-Hudson Civic Center to the MJN
Poughkeepsie raised the money for its civic center locally, and a nonprofit has run it since the doors opened in 1976. The name changed in 2018; the operator and the hall did not.
- 1970After a decade as a plan, the civic center gets going with fundraising by the Poughkeepsie Area Fund.
- 1975Groundbreaking in April. The building is leased to the nonprofit Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Inc.; the main hall is named for civic leader William Mair after a large gift from his widow.
- 1976The center opens in November and is dedicated on December 5 in a chilly Mair Hall, with skaters waiting outside for the new ice rink.
- 1984WWF tapes Championship Wrestling episodes here, from July 1984 to August 1986.
- 1999ECW's Hardcore Heaven pay-per-view is held in Mair Hall on May 16.
- 2018On December 3 the venue is renamed the Majed J. Nesheiwat (MJN) Convention Center, honoring the founder of Gas Land Petroleum.
- 2026The calendar runs from comic, tattoo and train expos to concerts and hockey, about 100 events a year.
Photos: "Confetti" by Zawezome, CC BY 2.0 Source · "160305-N-NW255-023" by United States Navy Band, PDM Source · "Dutchess County Fair: Rhinebeck, NY" by ben.ramirez, CC BY 2.0 Source
Floor plan & spaces
MJN Convention Center floor plan: Mair Hall, lobby and stage
The MJN has no hall letters to choose from. Shows use the Mair Hall floor, often with the lobby for overflow displays and the stage for demos or a main sponsor. Tap a space for its size.
Schematic. Widths are proportional to floor area, not an architectural plan. Booth and seating schematics are in the MJN Promoters Guide; confirm the current layout with the venue's events office.
Mair Hall
- 119 ft 6 in × 129 ft 6 in floor
- 25 ft 5 in overall clearance
- 130 booths of 8 × 10 ft
A concrete floor with power outlets on the sidewalls and in floor pockets. Curtains can divide the room or cover the sidewalls. General-admission capacity is 3,050; banquet setup is 1,200.
Mair Hall lobby
- 130 × 32 ft total
- 2,464 sq ft (77 × 32 ft) suited to trade display
- 10 ft ceiling · 18 outlets (110V)
Good for registration, sponsor tables and low displays. The 10 ft ceiling rules out tall towers and hanging signs.
Stage
- 1,600 sq ft, 4 ft high, 7 ft apron
- 69 ft 10 in proscenium width
- 23 ft 8 in baton trim height
A permanent stage with a 600 amp and a 200 amp three-phase service, 16 separate 30 amp 110V circuits and three 220V 30 amp circuits in floor pockets. Forklift or ramp from the floor.
3,050general-admission capacity in Mair Hall, 2,596 for reserved concert seating
760permanent retractable loge seats along the hall; the floor seats are portable and come out for expos
4,000 lbfreight elevator from the main floor to the lower level, where the dressing rooms, production offices and kitchen are
150/150Mbps designated promoter internet connection; wireless and hard-line internet are rentable
Load-in & move-in
MJN Convention Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to MJN Convention Center →
- One load-inThe entrance to the load-in area is at the corner of Main Street and Route 44-55 West. Trucks unload one at a time, then freight travels about 50 ft to the stage.
- Door sizeThe Mair Hall spec lists loading doors 10 ft 4 in wide by 12 ft 5 in high. The load-in section gives 10 ft 10 in by 12 ft 6 in, so confirm before you build tall crates.
- Truck and vendor parkingTruck and bus parking must be arranged through the event manager. Vendor parking is arranged the same way.
- Equipment on siteA 2,500 lb forklift (venue operator only), a work platform, tables and chairs, barricades and a forklift or ramp from floor to stage.
- Vehicles on displayBattery disconnected, keys with venue management, fuel caps locked or taped, limited fuel (the guide caps it at 5 gallons) and no refueling inside.
- Day −60Booth designed to the 8 × 10 ft grid. Ask the venue to approve any banner or advertising sign.
- Day −30Selling at the show? Apply for a New York Certificate of Authority now; it is due at least 20 days before you start selling.
- Day −21Purple ships and installs from its New York location, with crates sized for the 10 ft door.
- Day −7Truck slot and vendor parking confirmed with the event manager.
- Day 0One truck at a time at Main Street and Route 44-55 West, then a 50 ft push into Mair Hall.
- Show +1Move-out the same way. Remove all tape to avoid cleanup charges.
Labor & venue rules
MJN Convention Center labor and union rules: what is known
New York is not a right-to-work state. Unlike the big union halls, the MJN does not publish an exhibitor work-rule sheet; most shows here are run by independent promoters, and whether your own staff may set up depends on that promoter's contract with the venue. Check your show kit or ask the event manager before you plan a self-build.
✓Published by the venue
- Mair Hall power outlets on the sidewalls and in floor pockets
- A designated promoter internet connection, plus rentable wireless and hard-line internet
- Curtains to divide the room or cover the sidewalls
- Rentable tables, chairs, barricades, spotlights, scissor and personal lifts
- Vehicles may be displayed in the hall under the venue's vehicle rules
●Run by the MJN
- Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Inc. supplies ushers, ticket-takers, security, stagehands, cleaning, operations and technical support
- The forklift is driven only by the venue's certified operator
- All food, beverage and concessions are run by the center
- The center owns signage rights inside and out; tenant banners and signs need management approval first
- Union status of the house crew is not published; confirm with the event manager
!Not allowed
- Nails or screws into the floor, stage floor or walls
- Handing out stickers or adhesive-backed decals in or around the building
- Distributing printed material or selling on the grounds without the center's permission
- Pyrotechnics without a New York State permit (file with the City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department)
- Refueling, or working on, a vehicle inside the building
Background photo: "Affiliate Summit West 2012 Exhibit Hall Setup" by Affiliate, CC BY 2.0 Source
Free tool
MJN Convention Center drayage cost estimator
A planning number of about $115 per hundredweight, lower than New York City metro halls ($150–185) because this is a small regional hall with a single load-in. Many events here are promoter-run and may not use a freight contractor at all; if yours does, its show kit carries the actual rate. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$1,725
Cut this with a lighter booth
Walkway Over the Hudson, fall 2009
Photo: "100409 440" by Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
The calendar
MJN Convention Center trade shows and expos 2026–2027
The MJN's calendar is mostly consumer and fan expos, with vendors on the Mair Hall floor. The shows below are the ones the venue had posted for late 2026; 2027 dates for the annual events were not yet posted, so confirm each one with its organizer.
Spellbound in the Valley
Books and readers · second year · 2026
The Hudson Valley Train Show
Hobby, consumer · dozens of vendors · 2026
Winter Craft Fair
Local makers · free entry, vendor applications open · 2026
Dates are from the MJN events calendar (checked October 2026); none of these shows had posted 2027 dates, and no other expos were listed for 2027 yet. Held here in 2026: the International Hudson Valley Tattoo Convention (April 10–12, 200+ artists) and Hudson Valley Regional Portfolio Day (Oct 16, 30+ art schools). Mid-Hudson Comic Con has also run here in recent summers; check its site for the next date. The venue's Promoters Guide also lists a recurring Reptile Expo (the latest confirmed date was March 2025, with 150+ vendor tables) and a home show among past events. Wingfest ran on January 31, 2026.
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels near the MJN Convention Center
Next door
DoubleTree by Hilton Poughkeepsie
200 rooms at 40 Civic Center Plaza, the former Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, listed as newly renovated. Tourism listings mention a shuttle to the train station; confirm with the hotel.
Across the street
City parking garage
The MJN owns no parking. The City of Poughkeepsie garage opposite usually charges a flat special-event rate.
By rail
Poughkeepsie station
Northern end of Metro-North's Hudson Line and a stop on Amtrak's Empire Corridor trains. The venue puts New York City about 90 minutes away.
~25 mi drive
Stewart International (SWF)
The nearest airport, across the Hudson near Newburgh, about 40 minutes by car.
Insider tips
MJN Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Design for 8 × 10, not 10 × 10
The venue's trade-show layout fits 130 booths of 8 × 10 ft in Mair Hall. A standard 10 ft backwall will not fit an 8 ft side, so confirm your space with the promoter before you order graphics.
Size every crate to the door
Plan for the smaller published door, 10 ft 4 in wide by 12 ft 5 in high. Anything bigger has to come in knocked down and be assembled on the floor.
Book your slot at the single load-in
Trucks unload one at a time at Main Street and Route 44-55 West, and truck parking goes through the event manager. Ask for an early slot so you are not waiting behind every other exhibitor's truck.
Hang nothing without approval
The center owns signage rights, so banners and advertising signs must be approved by management first. Nails and screws are banned, and leftover tape is billed to you.
Selling? Register 20 days ahead
New York requires a sales tax Certificate of Authority at least 20 days before you start selling, and the venue's guide quotes 8.125% tax. Show promoters must check that every vendor displays one.
Take the train, skip the parking hunt
The MJN owns no parking, and the city garage across the street charges an event rate. Booth staff can ride Metro-North or Amtrak to Poughkeepsie, and the DoubleTree next door lists a station shuttle (confirm with the hotel).
FAQ
MJN Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors
Is the MJN Convention Center the old Mid-Hudson Civic Center?
Yes. The Mid-Hudson Civic Center opened in 1976 and was renamed the Majed J. Nesheiwat (MJN) Convention Center on December 3, 2018. It is the same building at 14 Civic Center Plaza, and the nonprofit that runs it is still called Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Inc. Some ticketing sites still use the old name.
How big is Mair Hall?
Mair Hall measures 119 ft 6 in by 129 ft 6 in, or 15,475 sq ft, on a concrete floor with 25 ft 5 in overall clearance. The lobby adds 4,160 sq ft, of which 2,464 sq ft suits trade displays, under a 10 ft ceiling.
How many booths fit at the MJN Convention Center?
The venue's trade-show configuration is 130 booths of 8 by 10 ft. Your promoter sets the actual floor plan, so confirm your booth size before ordering a display.
Where is the MJN Convention Center loading dock?
The load-in entrance is at the corner of Main Street and Route 44-55 West. Trucks unload one at a time, with about a 50 ft push to the stage through doors roughly 10 ft wide and 12 ft 5 in high. Truck and bus parking is arranged through the event manager.
Is the MJN Convention Center union? Can I set up my own booth?
New York is not a right-to-work state, but the MJN does not publish exhibitor work rules. The center supplies its own stagehands, operations and technical staff, and only its certified operator may drive the forklift. Whether your staff may set up depends on your show, so check the show kit or ask the event manager.
Where do exhibitors park?
The MJN owns no parking. The City of Poughkeepsie garage across the street is used for events at a flat rate the city sets, and there are more lots and metered streets within three blocks. Vendor parking can be arranged through the event manager.
How much is drayage at the MJN Convention Center?
Plan about $115 per hundredweight if your show uses a freight contractor. Many promoter-run events here do not; your show kit will say how freight is handled.
Do I need a sales tax certificate to sell at a show here?
Yes, if you sell. New York requires a Certificate of Authority, applied for at least 20 days before you start selling, and show promoters must check that every vendor displays one. The venue's guide quotes 8.125% sales tax.
Can I display a vehicle in Mair Hall?
Yes, under the venue's rules: the battery disconnected, keys available to venue management, fuel caps locked or taped, limited fuel, no refueling or work on the vehicle inside, and the vehicle cleared of snow and rain before it enters.
How do I get to the MJN Convention Center?
Poughkeepsie station is the end of Metro-North's Hudson Line and a stop for Amtrak's Empire Corridor trains; the DoubleTree next door lists a station shuttle (confirm with the hotel). Stewart International Airport (SWF) is about 25 miles away by road, roughly 40 minutes.
Exhibiting in Poughkeepsie?
Send us your show and booth size.
Tell us your show, your booth size on the Mair Hall grid and whether you plan to hang a banner. Within two business days you get a design brief, crates sized for the MJN's 10 ft door and a freight plan from our New York location that fits the single-truck load-in.
Background photo: "Poughkeepsie bridge at night" by dane brian, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Compare venues
MJN Convention Center vs other venues within a drive of New York
How the MJN Convention Center stacks up against other venues within a drive of New York. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MJN Convention CenterThis guide | Convention center | 15,475 sq ft Mair Hall · 130 booths | 25 ft 5 in | Check show kit | ≈ $115/cwt | SWF · ~25 mi |
| Connecticut Convention CenterHartford | Convention center | 140,000 sq ft · Halls A + B | 32 ft | Union · 3-employee rule | ≈ $100/cwt | BDL · 15 mi |
| Foxwoods Resort CasinoMashantucket | Resort ballrooms | 47,553 sq ft Premier Ballroom | 26 ft | Tribal land · check kit | ≈ $115/cwt | PVD · 41 mi |
| Mohegan Sun Earth Expo & Convention CenterUncasville | Resort expo center | 112,108 sq ft Earth Expo Center | 22–30 ft | Union · staff setup OK | ≈ $120/cwt | PVD · 51 mi |
| Rhode Island Convention CenterProvidence | Convention center | 100,000 sq ft exhibit hall, Halls A–D | 30 ft | Union · Local 271 | ≈ $140/cwt | PVD · ~10 mi |
| Westchester County CenterWhite Plains | Expo center | 26,720 sq ft Main Hall | 42 ft Main Hall · 10.8 ft Exhibit Hall | Self-setup OK · check kit | ≈ $95/cwt | HPN · ~5 mi |
More guides near New York
Other venues within a drive of New York
Westchester County CenterWhite Plains, NY
Albany Capital CenterAlbany, NY
Javits CenterNew York, NY
Connecticut Convention CenterHartford, CT
Mohegan SunUncasville, CT
Foxwoods Resort CasinoMashantucket, CT
Rhode Island Convention CenterProvidence, RI
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Venue figures come from the MJN's 2022–2023 Promoters Guide; confirm current specs with the venue. Sources: MJN Convention Center website (about, FAQ, plan ahead, rent a venue, events) and Promoters Guide; Wikipedia (Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center, Poughkeepsie station); New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; DoubleTree by Hilton Poughkeepsie listings (Destination Dutchess, Successful Meetings); organizer and listing pages for Mid-Hudson Comic Con, the Hudson Valley Tattoo Convention and the Reptile Expo.