Aerial view of downtown Phoenix, Arizona skyline

Exhibitor guide · Phoenix, AZ · Updated

Phoenix Convention Center Exhibitor Guide

Also known as Phoenix Civic Plaza and PCC

Downtown Phoenix stacks its exhibit space: a 312,500 sq ft hall runs underground from the West Building, beneath Third Street, into the North Building, and a 190,000 sq ft hall with 35 ft ceilings sits on the North Building's top level. Arizona is a right-to-work state, so your own full-time staff can build the booth, but nobody may roll in a dolly.

Get a Phoenix CC quote Who sets up my booth?
  • 3,000+ exhibitors served
  • 10,000+ booths built
  • 2 days to a design brief

Photo: downtown Phoenix from the air, by Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain.

  • 312,500sq ft contiguous on the lower level, Halls 1–6
  • 190,000sq ft upper-level hall, virtually column-free
  • 35 ftceiling in upper Halls A–E (32 ft below)
  • 60truck bays on four loading docks
  • 45,600sq ft North Ballroom, the largest in Arizona
  • 2,800+parking spaces next to the South Building

Quick answers

What exhibitors ask about the Phoenix Convention Center

Is the Phoenix Convention Center union?Right-to-work.

Arizona is a right-to-work state. Union exhibit labor is there to hire, but it claims booth installation only when people other than your own company do it.

Can my own staff set up our booth?Yes, full-time staff.

Recent show kits at the center let full-time employees set up and dismantle their own exhibit. Anyone you hire must come through the official contractor or an approved EAC.

Can I bring in my own boxes?By hand only.

You may hand-carry your own materials in. Dollies, flat trucks, pallet jacks and other mechanical equipment are reserved for the official contractor.

What is the ceiling height?32 ft or 35 ft.

The lower-level Halls 1–6 are 32 ft, the upper-level Halls A–E 35 ft. The North Ballroom is 29 ft. Your show sets its own booth height limits.

Attendees mingle at tables and registration desks in a warmly lit Phoenix Convention Center lobby with sail-like ceiling panelsBetween sessionsUnder the lobby's sail ceilingStrings of colored bulbs over Roosevelt Street at sunset, with low buildings and a palm tree in silhouetteRoosevelt RowArts district lights at duskA big mural of a cartoon octopus, a fish and a starfish on a brick wall on Roosevelt Row in downtown PhoenixWalkable muralsRoosevelt Row's painted walls

Photos: "Phoenix Convention Center" by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source · "The night begins on Roosevelt" by Ms. Phoenix, CC BY 2.0 Source · "Roosevelt row graffiti" by HockeyholicAZ, CC BY 2.0 Source

Aerial view of downtown Phoenix, Arizona with pockets of tall buildings along Central Avenue
Downtown Phoenix along Central Avenue, a few blocks west of the convention center. Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain.
Right-to-work at the Phoenix Convention Center

Who sets up my booth at the Phoenix Convention Center?

Arizona's right-to-work law gives exhibitors more room here than in Chicago or New York: your own full-time staff can build the booth. The catch is material handling, which stays with the official contractor down to the last hand truck. This table is built from a recent show kit at the center; your own show kit has the final word.

TaskWho does itWhat to know
Booth set-up and dismantleYour full-time staff, or hired laborUnion labor claims it only when people other than company personnel do the work
Hired installersOfficial contractor or an approved EACEACs must follow show rules and file their forms by the kit's deadline
Carry boxes inYouHand-carry only; no dollies, flat trucks or carts of your own
Forklifts, pallet jacks, liftsOfficial contractor onlyExhibitors and EACs may not run any powered or mechanical equipment
Unpacking and placing your productsYouNo union labor needed to open product cartons or demonstrate products
Electrical, plumbing, compressed airCommonwealth Electric (in-house)Order through the forms in your kit
InternetSmart City (in-house)Free Wi-Fi covers public areas only
Booth food and drinkAventura (in-house catering)Exclusive for all in-booth catering
Double-deck boothsCity of Phoenix permitBuilding permit from Planning and Development, then a Fire Marshal inspection

Source: WM2024 exhibitor kit (Shepard, March 2024): facility information, labor and material-handling jurisdiction, multilevel booth rules. Rigging providers differ between sources, so check your own kit.

Where to stay & getting there

Hotels near Phoenix Convention Center

The big downtown hotels sit within about a third of a mile, all on the west side of the campus, so hotels, transit and crew logistics are simple here. No hotel connects by skybridge, and the center publishes no walking times, so the table gives straight-line distances. Valley Metro light rail stops at the center at 3rd Street/Washington and 3rd Street/Jefferson.

Hotels near the Phoenix Convention Center, plotted by straight-line distance and directionMap centred on the Phoenix Convention Center (campus map point), north up, distance rings at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 miles. 1. Hyatt Regency Phoenix: about 0.16 miles west. 2. Sheraton Phoenix Downtown: about 0.22 miles northwest. 3. Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel: about 0.24 miles west. 4. Hotel Palomar Phoenix, a Kimpton Hotel: about 0.27 miles southwest. 5. The Westin Phoenix Downtown: about 0.29 miles northwest. Positions are from OpenStreetMap coordinates; streets and walking routes are not drawn.0.1 mi0.2 mi0.3 miN00.1 mi≈ 530 ftSTRAIGHT-LINENOT A ROUTEConventionCentercampus map point1Hyatt Regency2Sheraton3Renaissance4Palomar5Westin
Straight-line positions from OpenStreetMap; walking routes and streets are not drawn.
Nearby hotels, closest first
Map numberHotelRoomsLink to centerStraight-lineWalk (est.)
1Hyatt Regency Phoenix122 North 2nd Street693Not stated0.16 mi860 ft≈ 4 min
2Sheraton Phoenix Downtown340 North 3rd Street1,003Not stated0.22 mi1,150 ft≈ 6 min
3Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel100 North 1st Street—Not stated0.24 mi1,250 ft≈ 6 min
4Hotel Palomar Phoenix, a Kimpton Hotel2 East Jefferson Street—Not stated0.27 mi1,420 ft≈ 7 min
5The Westin Phoenix Downtown333 North Central Avenue—Not stated0.29 mi1,520 ft≈ 7 min

Distance: straight line from one map point on the campus, between the North and West buildings, so the door you use may be closer or farther; the South Building is a block further south. Walk: an estimate, straight-line, at 20 minutes a mile plus 30% for streets; not a measured route. "Not stated": no skybridge or indoor link to these hotels is published. Rooms: Visit Phoenix (Sheraton) and trade press (Hyatt Regency); "—" where we found no source.

Largest downtown

Sheraton Phoenix Downtown

1,003 rooms at 340 North 3rd Street, the city's largest downtown hotel per Visit Phoenix, with 110,000 sq ft of its own meeting space.

Closest

Hyatt Regency Phoenix

At 122 North 2nd Street, which Visit Phoenix calls one of the convention center's closest neighbors.

Downtown

Renaissance Phoenix Downtown

At 100 North 1st Street, also among the center's closest neighbors.

Light rail

Valley Metro A Line

Stations at 3rd Street/Washington (westbound) and 3rd Street/Jefferson (eastbound), right at the campus.

~3 mi

PHX Sky Harbor airport

Sky Harbor is about 3 miles east of downtown. Its light-rail stop is 44th Street/Washington, linked to the terminals by the PHX Sky Train.

Floor plan & exhibit halls

Phoenix Convention Center floor plan: North, West and South buildings

Three buildings share one downtown campus. The North and West buildings are joined by a glass skybridge and by the lower-level exhibit hall that runs under Third Street; the South Building stands alone with two more halls. The first question for any Phoenix show is which level and which halls it uses, because ceilings, floor loads and docks differ.

Phoenix Convention Center exhibit halls on two levels plus the South Building (schematic, not to scale)Schematic of the Phoenix Convention Center exhibit levels. Upper level (300 level) in the North Building: one 190,000 sq ft hall, 606 by 310 ft, 35 ft ceiling, 300 lbs per sq ft, 1,101 booths, divisible into Halls A to E. Hall A: 48,600 sq ft, 153 by 310 ft, 278 ten-by-ten booths. Hall B: 27,900 sq ft, 90 by 310 ft, 167 ten-by-ten booths, cannot be booked on its own. Hall C: 27,900 sq ft, 90 by 310 ft, 165 ten-by-ten booths. Hall D: 27,900 sq ft, 90 by 310 ft, 168 ten-by-ten booths, cannot be booked on its own. Hall E: 57,700 sq ft, 183 by 310 ft, 331 ten-by-ten booths. Lower level: 312,500 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space with a 32 ft ceiling and 350 lbs per sq ft, running from the West Building under Third Street into the North Building. Hall 1: 43,000 sq ft, 180 by 240 ft, 253 ten-by-ten booths. Hall 2: 21,600 sq ft, 90 by 240 ft, 125 ten-by-ten booths. Hall 3: 21,600 sq ft, 90 by 240 ft, 130 ten-by-ten booths, cannot be booked on its own. Hall 4: 123,500 sq ft, 370 by 330 ft, 687 ten-by-ten booths. Hall 5: 33,500 sq ft, 370 by 90 ft, 202 ten-by-ten booths, cannot be booked on its own. Hall 6: 69,300 sq ft, 370 by 185 ft, 399 ten-by-ten booths. Loading docks: 300 level, 18 truck bays, three ramps, a semi-truck ramp with 16 ft clearance and doors 22 by 16 ft (two) and 18 by 17 ft; North Building lower level, 20 truck bays, three ramps and doors 20 by 16 ft (two) and 22 ft 8 in by 16 ft; West Building, 8 truck bays with doors 18 by 12 ft and 18 by 11 ft 10 in and a semi-truck turnaround (2012 guide); South Building, 14 truck bays and two ramps with 25 ft high by 26 ft wide doors. South Building, stand-alone across Washington Street: Hall F 48,000 sq ft, 212 by 229 ft, 236 booths; Hall G 34,000 sq ft, 151 by 229 ft, 186 booths; 28,000 sq ft ballroom; 600 lbs per sq ft floor. North Ballroom 45,600 sq ft with a 29 ft ceiling; West Ballroom 45,200 sq ft.UPPER LEVEL (300) · NORTH BUILDINGSCHEMATIC, NOT TO SCALEA48,600 sq ft153′ × 310′278 boothsB27,900sq ft167 boothsC27,900sq ft165 boothsD27,900sq ft168 boothsE57,700 sq ft183′ × 310′331 booths190,000 sq ft · 35 ft ceiling606 ft × 310 ft, virtually column-free300 lbs per sq ft · rigging 2,500 lbs per point1,101 booths with all five halls33,000 sq ft pre-functionHalls B and D cannot be booked aloneLOWER LEVEL · ONE FLOOR FROM THE WEST BUILDING, UNDER THIRD STREET, INTO THE NORTH BUILDINGunderThird St143,000 sq ft180′ × 240′253 booths221,600sq ft125 booths321,600sq ft130 booths4123,500 sq ft370′ × 330′687 booths533,500sq ft202 booths669,300 sq ft370′ × 185′399 boothsWEST BUILDING · Halls 1–3 · 240 ft deepHall 3 cannot be booked aloneNORTH BUILDING · Halls 4–6 · 370 ft deep · Hall 5 cannot be booked alone312,500 sq ft contiguous · 32 ft ceiling · 350 lbs per sq ft · rigging 2,500 lbs per point · 1,796 boothsTRUCK DOCKS · 60 BAYS ON FOUR DOCKS300 level dock · 183 ramps · semi ramp, 16 ft clearanceDoors 22′×16′ (2) · 18′×17′North lower dock · 203 ramps, climate-controlledDoors 20′×16′ (2) · 22′8″×16′West lower dock · 8Doors 18′×12′ · 18′×11′10″Semi turnaround (2012 guide)South Building dock · 142 loading rampsDoors 25′ H × 26′ WSOUTH BUILDING (STAND-ALONE) AND THE BALLROOMSSouth Hall F48,000 sq ft · 212′ × 229′236 booths600 lbs per sq ftSouth Hall G34,000 sq ft · 151′ × 229′186 booths600 lbs per sq ftNorth Ballroom45,600 sq ft · 29 ft ceilingLargest ballroom in ArizonaNorth Building, 100 levelWest and South ballroomsWest: 45,200 sq ft · 30 ftSouth: 28,000 sq ft99 meeting rooms in all Phoenix Convention Center exhibit halls on two levels plus the South Building (schematic, not to scale)Schematic of the Phoenix Convention Center exhibit levels. Upper level (300 level) in the North Building: one 190,000 sq ft hall, 606 by 310 ft, 35 ft ceiling, 300 lbs per sq ft, 1,101 booths, divisible into Halls A to E. Hall A: 48,600 sq ft, 153 by 310 ft, 278 ten-by-ten booths. Hall B: 27,900 sq ft, 90 by 310 ft, 167 ten-by-ten booths, cannot be booked on its own. Hall C: 27,900 sq ft, 90 by 310 ft, 165 ten-by-ten booths. Hall D: 27,900 sq ft, 90 by 310 ft, 168 ten-by-ten booths, cannot be booked on its own. Hall E: 57,700 sq ft, 183 by 310 ft, 331 ten-by-ten booths. Lower level: 312,500 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space with a 32 ft ceiling and 350 lbs per sq ft, running from the West Building under Third Street into the North Building. Hall 1: 43,000 sq ft, 180 by 240 ft, 253 ten-by-ten booths. Hall 2: 21,600 sq ft, 90 by 240 ft, 125 ten-by-ten booths. Hall 3: 21,600 sq ft, 90 by 240 ft, 130 ten-by-ten booths, cannot be booked on its own. Hall 4: 123,500 sq ft, 370 by 330 ft, 687 ten-by-ten booths. Hall 5: 33,500 sq ft, 370 by 90 ft, 202 ten-by-ten booths, cannot be booked on its own. Hall 6: 69,300 sq ft, 370 by 185 ft, 399 ten-by-ten booths. Loading docks: 300 level, 18 truck bays, three ramps, a semi-truck ramp with 16 ft clearance and doors 22 by 16 ft (two) and 18 by 17 ft; North Building lower level, 20 truck bays, three ramps and doors 20 by 16 ft (two) and 22 ft 8 in by 16 ft; West Building, 8 truck bays with doors 18 by 12 ft and 18 by 11 ft 10 in and a semi-truck turnaround (2012 guide); South Building, 14 truck bays and two ramps with 25 ft high by 26 ft wide doors. South Building, stand-alone across Washington Street: Hall F 48,000 sq ft, 212 by 229 ft, 236 booths; Hall G 34,000 sq ft, 151 by 229 ft, 186 booths; 28,000 sq ft ballroom; 600 lbs per sq ft floor. North Ballroom 45,600 sq ft with a 29 ft ceiling; West Ballroom 45,200 sq ft.UPPER LEVEL · NORTHNOT TO SCALEA48,600 sq ft153′ × 310′ · 278 boothsB27,900 sq ft90′ × 310′ · 167 booths · not aloneC27,900 sq ft90′ × 310′ · 165 boothsD27,900 sq ft90′ × 310′ · 168 booths · not aloneE57,700 sq ft183′ × 310′ · 331 booths190,000 sq ft · 35 ft ceiling · 300 lbs/sq ftLOWER LEVEL · WEST → NORTH143,000 sq ft180′ × 240′ · 253 booths221,600 sq ft90′ × 240′ · 125 booths321,600 sq ft90′ × 240′ · 130 booths · not aloneunder Third St4123,500 sq ft370′ × 330′ · 687 booths533,500 sq ft370′ × 90′ · 202 booths · not alone669,300 sq ft370′ × 185′ · 399 booths312,500 sq ft · 32 ft ceiling · 350 lbs/sq ftTRUCK DOCKS · 60 BAYS300 level · 18Semi ramp, 16 ft clear22′×16′ (2) · 18′×17′North lower · 203 ramps20′×16′ (2) · 22′8″×16′West lower · 818′×12′ · 18′×11′10″Semi turnaroundSouth · 142 rampsDoors 25′ H × 26′ WSOUTH BUILDING AND BALLROOMSSouth Halls F and G · 600 lbs/sq ftF: 48,000 sq ft, 212′ × 229′, 236 boothsG: 34,000 sq ft, 151′ × 229′, 186 boothsBallroomsNorth 45,600 sq ft, 29 ft · largest in ArizonaWest 45,200 sq ft, 30 ft · South 28,000 sq ft
  • Movable wall
  • Cannot be booked on its own (B, D, 3, 5)
  • 30 ft × 30 ft utility grid

Schematic, not to scale: hall sizes and booth counts come from the center's floor plans, both exhibit levels are drawn at the same width scale, but the real outlines, dock positions and the gap under Third Street are simplified. Official floor plans for every building are linked from the Visit Phoenix convention center page and phoenixconventioncenter.com.

Recent and upcoming show floor plans

Official floor plans from organizers of shows at the Phoenix Convention Center. 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 pages and open outside this site. Checked October 16, 2026; plans change as booths sell.

Exhibit halls, hall by hall
HallFloor areaSizeCeiling10×10 boothsFloor load
1 · lower, West43,000 sq ft180′ × 240′32 ft253350 lbs/sq ft
2 · lower, West21,600 sq ft90′ × 240′32 ft125350 lbs/sq ft
3 · lower, West*21,600 sq ft90′ × 240′32 ft130350 lbs/sq ft
4 · lower, North123,500 sq ft370′ × 330′32 ft687350 lbs/sq ft
5 · lower, North*33,500 sq ft370′ × 90′32 ft202350 lbs/sq ft
6 · lower, North69,300 sq ft370′ × 185′32 ft399350 lbs/sq ft
A · upper, North48,600 sq ft153′ × 310′35 ft278300 lbs/sq ft
B · upper, North*27,900 sq ft90′ × 310′35 ft167300 lbs/sq ft
C · upper, North27,900 sq ft90′ × 310′35 ft165300 lbs/sq ft
D · upper, North*27,900 sq ft90′ × 310′35 ft168300 lbs/sq ft
E · upper, North57,700 sq ft183′ × 310′35 ft331300 lbs/sq ft
F · South48,000 sq ft212′ × 229′—236600 lbs/sq ft
G · South34,000 sq ft151′ × 229′—186600 lbs/sq ft
  • Halls 1–6312,500 sq ft · 1,796 booths · 32 ft
  • Halls A–E190,000 sq ft · 1,101 booths · 35 ft
  • South F + G82,000 sq ft · 422 booths · 600 lbs/sq ft

*Halls B and D, and Halls 3 and 5, cannot be booked on their own. The South Building's floor plan does not list a hall ceiling height. Rigging: 2,500 lbs per point on both North and West exhibit levels and in the North Ballroom; 250 lbs per point, from low steel only, in the South Building.

312,500sq ft of contiguous exhibit space on the lower level, scored on a 10 × 10 ft grid with a 30 × 30 ft utility grid · 40,000 sq ft pre-function
190,000sq ft upper-level hall in the North Building · columns only on the east and west edges, a 237 ft clear span down the middle
143,400sq ft in the stand-alone South Building: Halls F and G, a 28,000 sq ft ballroom and 18 meeting rooms
45,600sq ft North Ballroom with a 29 ft ceiling · 45,200 sq ft West Ballroom with 30 ft ceilings and riser seating
99meeting rooms and three ballrooms, plus Canyon on Third, 80,000+ sq ft of outdoor event space between the North and West buildings

Loading dock & move-in

Phoenix Convention Center loading dock and freight countdown

Get directions to Phoenix Convention Center →

  • 300 level dockUpper-level Halls A–E have their own dock, reached by a semi-truck ramp with 16 ft clearance: 18 truck bays, three ramps and roll-up doors of 22 × 16 ft (two) and 18 × 17 ft.
  • North lower dockThe lower-level hall is served from the North Building by 20 climate-controlled truck bays, three ramps and doors of 20 × 16 ft (two) and 22 ft 8 in × 16 ft.
  • West lower dockThe center's 2012 guide lists eight truck bays at the West Building, doors of 18 × 12 ft and 18 ft × 11 ft 10 in, and a semi-truck turnaround.
  • Drive onto the floorThe same guide says trucks with a wheelbase of 73 ft or less can drive onto the lower-level hall floor through a 24 × 16 ft sliding door.
  • South Building dock14 truck bays and two loading ramps with 25 ft high × 26 ft wide roll-up doors, next to a garage with 2,800+ spaces and a marshalling yard.
  • Who runs the dockThe show's general contractor controls the docks and schedules every vehicle; unattended vehicles in the loading areas are towed.
  1. Day −60Design checked against your level: 35 ft ceilings upstairs, 32 ft downstairs, 600 lbs per sq ft in the South Building.
  2. Day −45Double-deck? Apply for the City of Phoenix building permit. Order power from Commonwealth Electric and internet from Smart City.
  3. Day −30EAC forms and certificate of insurance in, if you hire your own installers.
  4. Day −21Purple ships to Phoenix, to the contractor's advance warehouse or straight to the show site.
  5. Day 0Trucks to the right dock: 300 level for Halls A–E, North or West for Halls 1–6, South for F and G. Your staff hand-carries and builds.
  6. Show +1Move-out. Empties come back from storage; tape off the floor and freight released through the contractor.

Labor & rules of the floor

Phoenix Convention Center rules of the floor: labor, exclusives and permits

Two sets of rules apply: the center's in-house providers and policies, and your show's general contractor kit, which sets labor hours, deadlines and rates. A right-to-work state means a short list of union-only jobs, but the in-house exclusives still apply to everyone.

✓Your own team

  • Set up and dismantle your booth with your full-time employees
  • Hand-carry your own materials into the building
  • Unpack, place and demonstrate your products
  • Hire an EAC that meets the show's rules

●Contractors and exclusives

  • General contractor: all freight handling, the docks and mechanical equipment
  • Union exhibit labor: installation by anyone other than your company
  • Commonwealth Electric: electrical distribution, plumbing and air
  • Smart City: internet beyond the free public Wi-Fi
  • Aventura: all food and drink in booths

!Never allowed

  • Your own dollies, flat trucks or pallet jacks
  • Forklifts or lifts run by exhibitors or EACs
  • Multilevel booths without a city permit and Fire Marshal sign-off
  • Empty crates stored in the hall (Fire Marshal rule)
  • Leaving a vehicle unattended at the dock

Background photo: "Phoenix Convention Center" by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source

Free tool · plan your Phoenix budget

Phoenix Convention Center drayage estimator and show budget

Pick a booth size and type to get planning numbers for shipping weight, drayage at about $140 per hundredweight, and installation and dismantling (I&D) labor. Every number is a Purple planning estimate, not a quote. For scale: the WM2024 kit at this center listed crated drayage at $117.70 per cwt and exhibitor-supervised labor from $95.36 an hour straight time; 2026–27 kits will be higher. Arizona is right-to-work, so if your own staff builds the booth, tick the box below. See all venues on the drayage rates page.

Booth size
Booth type

The fields below fill in from size and type. Change any of them.

Packaging

Purple planning estimate · not a quote

Drayage + I&D labor, Phoenix

$4,730 – $8,320
Shipping weight planning estimate
1,800 lbs
Drayage planning estimate
$2,520
I&D labor hours planning estimate
16 – 28 hrs
I&D labor planning estimate
$2,210 – $5,800

18 cwt at $140 per 100 lbs. Labor at $138–$207 per hour, straight time.

Get a real Phoenix quote

How these planning numbers work

  • Shipping weight: about 6 lbs per sq ft for a rental booth, 9 for custom or hybrid, 12 for fully custom, crated, with graphics and furniture.
  • Drayage: $140 per 100 lbs (cwt), Purple's Phoenix planning rate, with a 200 lb minimum. Loose or pad-wrapped freight adds 30%.
  • I&D labor hours: install plus dismantle, 0.06–0.10 person-hours per sq ft for rental, 0.08–0.14 for custom or hybrid, 0.12–0.20 for fully custom.
  • Labor rate: $138–$207 per person-hour, straight time, a planning range from published 2026 show labor rates elsewhere. Phoenix kits have listed lower straight-time rates, and overtime costs more.
  • Own staff: only if this venue's rules and your show kit let your own full-time staff set up (see the labor section above). Then, I&D labor drops to $0 here.
  • Not included: booth space, the exhibit itself, freight to Phoenix, power and internet orders, rigging, travel and tax.
Crowds fill the street outside the Phoenix Convention Center's glass halls and steel canopy during Phoenix Comicon 2015

Outside the halls at Phoenix Comicon 2015

On the big fan weekend the crowds spill out of the halls and onto the street between the buildings.

See 2026–27 showsEstimate drayageGet a booth quote

Photo: "Phoenix Convention Center" by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source

The calendar

Phoenix Convention Center events 2026–2027: trade and consumer shows

Winter and spring are trade-show season downtown, from school athletics and fencing to nuclear-waste management and water treatment. Phoenix Fan Fusion and the auto show bring the big public crowds. Confirm dates, halls and contractor with each organizer.

National Athletic Directors Conference & Exhibit Show

High-school athletic administrators and an exhibit show of athletics products · 2026

Game On Expo

Video games, retro gaming and pop culture · consumer show · North Building · 2027

FENCETECH

Fence, gate automation and perimeter security; conference runs March 1–5, exhibits March 3–5 · 2027

WM Symposia (WM2027)

Radioactive and nuclear waste management conference with an exhibit hall · 2027

WQA Convention & Expo

Water treatment dealers, manufacturers and consultants · 2027

Arizona International Auto Show

New-car show over Thanksgiving weekend, back after skipping 2026 · consumer show · 2027

Dates from each organizer's site (adconference.org, gameonexpo.com, americanfenceassociation.com, wmsym.org, wqa.org, autoshowphoenix.com), checked October 16, 2026. Phoenix Fan Fusion, the state's biggest pop-culture convention, ran June 5–7, 2026; 2027 dates were not posted yet. The auto show did not run in 2026.

History

Phoenix Convention Center history: from Civic Plaza to a $600 million expansion

The building exhibitors know today is only about 20 years old. It replaced most of the 1972 Phoenix Civic Plaza in a multi-phase expansion of about $600 million, and the city is already studying what to do with the last older piece, the South Building.

The Phoenix Convention Center's glass and sandstone-colored facade under its huge steel shade canopy, with the skybridge over the street
The steel shade canopy and skybridge on the newer side of the campus. “Phoenix Convention Center” by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source
The red sandstone buttes of Papago Park rising above desert scrub in Phoenix
Papago Park's red buttes, east of downtown on the way to the airport and Tempe. “Papago Park” by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source
Wide outdoor stairs, palm trees and a flat-roofed entrance of the Phoenix Convention Center under a clear blue sky
Palm-lined stairs up to one of the convention center entrances. “Phoenix Convention Center” by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source
The lit glass entrance and canopy of the Phoenix Convention Center North Ballroom at night
The North Ballroom entrance after dark. “Phoenix Convention Center North Ballroom” by squeaks2569, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source
  1. 1963The non-profit Phoenix Civic Plaza Building Corporation is formed to finance a civic center; construction begins on July 8, 1969.
  2. 1972Phoenix Civic Plaza is dedicated on September 28: $28 million, 16.5 acres, designed by Charles Luckman Associates, with Symphony Hall alongside.
  3. 1985An expansion roughly doubles the space to over 300,000 sq ft. A $32 million renovation follows in the mid-1990s.
  4. 1997Major League Baseball holds its expansion draft at Civic Plaza.
  5. 2006Phase I of a multi-phase expansion of about $600 million opens, led by the LEED Silver West Building (Populous and Leo A. Daly).
  6. 2008Phase II is finished: the 1972 structure is demolished and the North Building completes today's three-building campus.
  7. 2023 →Council approves a Phase III to replace the South Building, but it is not scheduled. In 2026 the city opened public input on expanding, selling or redeveloping the building.

Insider tips

Phoenix Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do

Halls

Know your level before you design

Upstairs Halls A–E give 35 ft, downstairs Halls 1–6 give 32 ft, and each level has its own dock. A tall hanging sign that fits upstairs may not fit downstairs.

Heavy

Heavy machinery belongs in the South Building

South Halls F and G carry 600 lbs per sq ft, against 350 on the lower level and 300 upstairs. But the South Building rigs only 250 lbs per point, from low steel.

Freight

Leave the dolly at home

Hand-carry is allowed, but your own dollies, flat trucks and pallet jacks are not. Pack in pieces one person can carry, or pay for the contractor's material handling.

Permits

Start the double-deck permit early

A multilevel booth is a structure in Phoenix: it needs a City of Phoenix building permit and a Fire Marshal inspection before anyone stands on it.

Booking

Halls B, D, 3 and 5 come in pairs

The narrow 90 ft halls cannot be booked on their own. If your show is small, expect a neighbor in the next hall and shared aisles at the air wall.

Travel

Take the train from the airport

Sky Harbor is about 3 miles away. The PHX Sky Train runs to the 44th Street/Washington light-rail stop, and the A Line stops at the center itself.

FAQ

Phoenix Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors

Can I set up my own booth?

Yes. Arizona is a right-to-work state, and recent show kits at the Phoenix Convention Center let your own full-time employees set up and dismantle your booth. You may hand-carry materials in, but dollies, pallet jacks and forklifts stay with the official contractor. Check your show kit for the final rules.

How big is the Phoenix Convention Center?

Nearly 900,000 sq ft across three buildings. Exhibit space is a 312,500 sq ft contiguous lower level (Halls 1–6), a 190,000 sq ft upper level (Halls A–E) and the South Building's Halls F and G. There are 99 meeting rooms and three ballrooms.

How much is drayage at the Phoenix Convention Center?

Plan about $140 per hundredweight for crated freight, with a 200 lb minimum. For comparison, the WM2024 kit at the center listed $117.70 per cwt crated. Your show's kit carries the actual tariff.

What is the biggest show at the Phoenix Convention Center?

By crowd, Phoenix Fan Fusion, Arizona's largest pop-culture convention, held each spring or early summer (June 5–7 in 2026). Trade shows such as FENCETECH, WM Symposia and the National Athletic Directors Conference fill the winter.

Which airport should I use?

Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), about 3 miles east of downtown. The PHX Sky Train links the terminals to the 44th Street/Washington light-rail stop.

Is there transit access?

Yes. Valley Metro's A Line light rail stops at the center at 3rd Street/Washington (westbound) and 3rd Street/Jefferson (eastbound).

Is the center being expanded again?

Not yet. The City Council approved a third phase to replace the South Building in 2023, but it is not scheduled, and in 2026 the city opened public input on expanding, selling or redeveloping the South Building. An earlier plan spoke of up to 150,000 sq ft more exhibit space. Confirm the South Building's status before you book it.

What is the ceiling height in the exhibit halls?

32 ft in lower-level Halls 1–6 and 35 ft in upper-level Halls A–E. The North Ballroom is 29 ft and the West Ballroom 30 ft. Your show may set lower booth height limits.

What is the floor load?

350 lbs per sq ft on the lower level, 300 on the upper level and 600 in the South Building halls. Rigging is 2,500 lbs per point on the North and West exhibit levels and 250 lbs per point in the South Building.

Where are the loading docks?

Four docks with 60 truck bays: 18 at the 300 level for Halls A–E, 20 at the North Building and 8 at the West Building for the lower level, and 14 at the South Building.

Who supplies power and internet?

Commonwealth Electric is the in-house electrical contractor and Smart City the in-house internet provider. Free Wi-Fi covers public areas only. Booth catering is exclusive to Aventura.

Where do exhibitors park?

The South Building's floor plan lists more than 2,800 spaces in the adjacent garage, with a marshalling yard for event staging. Check your show's parking and truck-marshalling instructions.

Exhibiting at the Phoenix Convention Center?

Tell us your level: upstairs, downstairs or South.

Send your show, hall and booth number, and whether your own staff will build. Within two business days you get a design brief sized to your hall's ceiling and floor load, a drayage estimate at Phoenix rates and a move-in plan for the right dock.

Request a quoteSee booth rentals

Background photo: "Downtown Phoenix Skyline at Night" by squeaks2569, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source

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Phoenix Convention Center vs other major U.S. convention centers

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

VenueTypeLargest spaceCeilingLaborDrayage (plan)Airport
Phoenix Convention CenterThis guideConvention center312,500 sq ft contiguous, lower Halls 1–632 ft lower · 35 ft upperRight-to-work · check kit≈ $140/cwtPHX · ~3 mi
America's Center Convention ComplexSt. LouisConvention center574,000 sq ft contiguous, with Dome floor40 ftUnion · 300 sq ft rule≈ $150/cwtSTL · 14 mi
Anaheim Convention CenterAnaheimConvention center221,284 sq ft Hall D25 ft Hall D · 13 ft 8 in Hall EUnion · check kit≈ $172/cwtSNA · 13 mi
Austin Convention CenterAustinConvention center (closed, rebuilding)Closed · 620,000 sq ft rentable from 2029—Right-to-work · venue closed≈ $100/cwtAUS · ~5 mi
Boston Convention & Exhibition CenterBostonConvention center516,000 sq ft contiguous (Halls A–C)35 ft low · up to 100 ftUnion · staff setup OK≈ $324/cwtBOS · 3 mi
Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention CenterSalt Lake CityConvention center515,000 sq ft contiguous, 10 halls30 ftRight-to-work≈ $120/cwtSLC · ~6 mi
Charlotte Convention CenterCharlotteConvention center280,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–C30 ft listed maxRight-to-work≈ $115/cwtCLT · 7 mi
Colorado Convention CenterDenverConvention center584,000 sq ft on one level, Halls A–F30 ft to low steelIATSE 7 · 60-min rule≈ $160/cwtDEN · 30–40 min
Ernest N. Morial Convention CenterNew OrleansConvention center127,364 sq ft Hall E · 1.1M sq ft in all—Right-to-work≈ $155/cwtMSY · 25–30 min
Fontainebleau Las VegasLas VegasResort ballrooms105,264 sq ft Royal Ballroom28 ft 10 inUnion · check kit≈ $185/cwtLAS · 4.3 mi
Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention CenterChula VistaResort ballrooms140,049 sq ft California Exhibit Hall34 ft hall · 27–28 ft ballroomsCheck show kit≈ $176/cwtSAN · ~10–12 mi
George R. Brown Convention CenterHoustonConvention center547,730 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–E35 ft (Level 1) · 30 ft (Level 3)Right-to-work · check kit≈ $95/cwtHOU · ~9 mi
Georgia World Congress CenterAtlantaConvention center1M+ sq ft contiguous (Halls B, BC, C)30 ft to gridRight-to-work≈ $150/cwtATL · 15–20 min
Hilton AnatoleDallasHotel ballrooms73,000–75,900 sq ft Trinity Exhibit Hall18 ft hall · 28–29 ft ballroomsRight-to-work · check kit≈ $100/cwtDAL · ~4 mi
Hilton New Orleans RiversideNew OrleansHotel ballrooms26,894 sq ft Grand Ballroom18 ft Grand Ballroom · 12 ft Grand SalonRight-to-work · check kit≈ $155/cwtMSY · ~25 min
Hilton OrlandoOrlandoHotel ballrooms48,167 sq ft Orlando Ballroom26 ft Orlando · 24 ft Orange · 18 ft FloridaRight-to-work≈ $155/cwtMCO · 11 mi
Huntington PlaceDetroitConvention center623,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–D30 ft (A–D) · 18 ft 8 in (E)Union · 400 sq ft rule≈ $155/cwtDTW · 20 mi
Hyatt Regency OrlandoOrlandoHotel ballrooms54,638 sq ft Regency Ballroom31 ft Regency (listed) · 21 ft PlazaRight-to-work≈ $155/cwtMCO · 12 mi
Indiana Convention CenterIndianapolisConvention center566,600 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–K35 ftUnion · own staff OK≈ $135/cwtIND · ~15 min
Iowa Events CenterDes MoinesConvention center150,000 sq ft contiguous, EMC Expo Center Halls A–C35 ft (Halls B–C)Right-to-work≈ $100/cwtDSM · ~10 min
Javits CenterNew YorkConvention center~500,000 sq ft contiguous (Level 3)Varies by hall · check planUnion · 250 sq ft rule≈ $195/cwtEWR / LGA / JFK · 45–70 min
Kansas City Convention CenterKansas CityConvention center388,800 sq ft column-free, Bartle Hall A–E33 ft A–C · 42 ft D–EIATSE 31 · check kit≈ $145/cwtMCI · ~19 mi
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center DallasDallasConvention center304,250 sq ft open in Halls A–C (2026)35 ft (A, B) · 31–37 ft (C)Right-to-work · check kit≈ $100/cwtDAL · ~6 mi
Los Angeles Convention CenterLos AngelesConvention center346,890 sq ft South Hall G–K40 ft South · 36 ft WestUnion · check kit≈ $175/cwtLAX · ~20 mi
Manchester Grand Hyatt San DiegoSan DiegoHotel ballrooms34,000 sq ft Grand Hall~14 ft Grand Hall · 18–21 ft ballroomsUnion dock · check kit≈ $176/cwtSAN · 3 mi
Marriott Marquis San Diego MarinaSan DiegoHotel ballrooms35,631 sq ft Marriott Grand and Pacific ballrooms26 ft Grand · 16 ft PacificUnion · check kit≈ $176/cwtSAN · 3 mi
McCormick PlaceChicagoConvention center840,000 sq ft Hall A (South) · 1.2M+ on one levelVaries by hall · check planUnion · staff setup any size≈ $210/cwtMDW · ~20 min
Miami Beach Convention CenterMiami BeachConvention center491,654 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–D—Union · IATSE/IBEW · check kit≈ $170/cwtMIA · ~12 mi
Minneapolis Convention CenterMinneapolisConvention center376,200 sq ft contiguous, Halls B–E30 ft 6 in to truss · 85 ft domesUnion · open dock≈ $150/cwtMSP · ~20 min
Moscone CenterSan FranciscoConvention center502,440 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–F37 ft Halls A–C · 28 ft Hall FUnion · check kit≈ $180/cwtSFO · 25–40 min
Oklahoma City Convention CenterOklahoma CityConvention center200,730 sq ft continuous, up to 4 halls30 ftRight-to-work≈ $105/cwtOKC · ~9–10 mi
Orange County Convention CenterOrlandoConvention center1,103,538 sq ft West Building30–40 ftRight-to-work≈ $155/cwtMCO · 12 mi
Oregon Convention CenterPortlandConvention center255,000 sq ft Halls A–E30 ftUnion · check kit≈ $150/cwtPDX · MAX ~30 min
Reliant CenterHoustonConvention center706,000+ sq ft on one level, Halls A–E25–60 ft · avg 30 ftRight-to-work · check kit≈ $116/cwtHOU · ~8 mi
Rosen Centre HotelOrlandoHotel ballrooms35,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom25 ft Grand · 22 ft Executive, JuniorRight-to-work≈ $155/cwtMCO · 12 min
San Diego Convention CenterSan DiegoConvention center525,701 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–H27 ft 4 in A–E · up to 64 ft F–HUnion · check kit≈ $176/cwtSAN · 3 mi
San Jose McEnery Convention CenterSan JoseConvention center143,000 sq ft Halls 1–332 ftUnion · 30 min / 10 ft rule≈ $160/cwtSJC · 4 mi
Santa Clara Convention CenterSanta ClaraConvention center90,014 sq ft Halls A–D28 ft 6 inUnion · check kit≈ $160/cwtSJC · 5–6 mi
Seattle Convention CenterSeattleConvention center205,700 sq ft Arch Halls 4A–4F25 ft Arch · 30 ft SummitUnion · check kit≈ $165/cwtSEA · Link ~40 min
Sheraton Grand Chicago RiverwalkChicagoHotel ballrooms40,003 sq ft ballroom · 35,000 sq ft Riverwalk hall22 ft ballroom · 10 ft 6 in hallUnion · pop-ups ≤ 10×10≈ $225/cwtMDW · 13 mi
Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet CreekOrlandoResort ballrooms35,925 sq ft Bonnet Creek Ballroom20 ft Bonnet Creek · 18 ft Waterside, FloridianRight-to-work≈ $155/cwtMCO · 19 mi
Walt Disney World Swan and DolphinLake Buena VistaResort ballrooms110,500 sq ft Atlantic + Pacific halls30 ft Atlantic · 25′8″ PacificRight-to-work≈ $155/cwtMCO · ~20 min
Walter E. Washington Convention CenterWashingtonConvention center473,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–C30 ft (A–C) · up to 52 ft (D–E)Union · check kit≈ $175/cwtDCA · ~4 mi

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Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Figures marked for verification are being confirmed with the venue. Sources: Phoenix Convention Center floor plans and specs (combined plan, South Building insert, and the 2012 North and West guide), Visit Phoenix convention center and downtown hotel pages, the WM2024 exhibitor kit (Shepard), Wikipedia (Phoenix Convention Center; Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport), KJZZ and AZBEX reporting on the South Building, organizer sites for the shows listed, and the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division (Carol M. Highsmith Archive).

All Arizona venue guides →