Utah is right-to-work and the Salt Palace has no agreements with unions. Some service contractors do, so your show's contractor sets the labor rules.
Exhibitor guide · Salt Lake City, UT · Updated
Salt Palace Convention Center Exhibitor Guide
Ten exhibit halls with 30 ft ceilings, 40 docks, and a building that has no union agreements of its own in a right-to-work state. The clock matters here too: Salt Lake County plans to close the Salt Palace in fall 2027 for a rebuild of about three years. This guide covers the halls, the dock and hand-carry rules, who does the labor, drayage and the shows still on the calendar.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: “Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center” by Ben P L, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Salt Palace Convention Center
Past Salt Palace show kits let permanent full-time employees install and dismantle their own exhibits. Confirm any size or tool limits in your show kit.
The county plans a full closure for a rebuild of about three years, with only part of the building open earlier in 2027.
All ten exhibit halls and the 45,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom list a 30 ft ceiling. Meeting rooms run 12 to 20 ft.
Photos: "SLC Fan X 2015" by vickysandoval22, CC BY 2.0 Source · "SLC Fan X 2015" by vickysandoval22, CC BY 2.0 Source · "IMG_2790" by evil_cotton, CC BY 2.0 Source
Floor plan & exhibit halls
Salt Palace floor plan: Halls A–E and Halls 1–5
The Salt Palace lists 515,000 sq ft of contiguous exhibit space in two runs of halls: lettered Halls A–E and numbered Halls 1–5, from 16,200 to 130,300 sq ft, all with 30 ft ceilings. Tap a hall for its size.
Halls A–E
Halls 1–5
Schematic. Hall widths are proportional to floor area within each row, not an architectural plan or the real hall order. Official floor plans are on saltpalace.com and visitsaltlake.com.
Exhibit Hall A
- 48,600 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
One of three 48,600 sq ft lettered halls. Hall B sits between A and C and can only be booked together with one of them.
Exhibit Hall B
- 24,300 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
Not a stand-alone hall: the venue rents it only in conjunction with Hall A or Hall C.
Exhibit Hall C
- 48,600 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
Pairs with Hall B for a larger single floor.
Exhibit Hall D
- 48,600 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
Part of the lettered run of halls. Check your show's floor plan for which entrance and dock serve it.
Exhibit Hall E
- 64,800 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
The largest of the lettered halls.
Exhibit Hall 1
- 48,600 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
The first of the numbered halls.
Exhibit Hall 2
- 16,200 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
The smallest hall, with Hall 3. A good size for registration, a pavilion or a small show running beside a larger one.
Exhibit Hall 3
- 16,200 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
Same size as Hall 2.
Exhibit Hall 4
- 64,400 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
The venue's 2016 operations guide says the dock gates for Halls 4 and 5 stay locked unless a dock attendant is present, so confirm attendant hours for your move-in.
Exhibit Hall 5
- 130,300 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
The biggest single hall, on its own about a quarter of the exhibit space. Shares the separately gated Hall 4 and 5 docks.
45,000sq ft Grand Ballroom, 30 ft ceiling, divisible into ten 3,820 sq ft rooms (A–J) · sponsor showcases and tabletop shows
24,000sq ft each in Rooms 155, 255 and 355 A–F, stacked on three levels · 15–18 ft ceilings
67concurrent meeting spaces with 164,000 sq ft in total
1,000underground parking stalls under the building · no in/out privileges in the garages
Only at the Salt Palace
The Salt Palace Convention Center closes in fall 2027: what the rebuild means for exhibitors
Salt Lake County is rebuilding the Salt Palace as part of a downtown sports, entertainment, culture and convention district around the Delta Center. Part of the site goes to Smith Entertainment Group, and the rest of the building closes for reconstruction. If your show is booked in Salt Lake City for 2027 to 2030, confirm the venue now.
- Feb 2027The county's $55.4 million sale of 6.5 acres to Smith Entertainment Group is set to close. Parts of the building west of 200 West can then be demolished, which leaves only part of the center open for 2027 events
- Fall 2027Full closure of the remaining building begins. Demolition and reconstruction are estimated at about three years
- 243,000sq ft at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, where FanX and the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo plan to move. That is roughly a third of the Salt Palace's exhibit space, so expect smaller floors and fewer big booths
- 2ballrooms in the rebuilt center instead of one, with space stacked vertically on about the same footprint and similar total square footage
- 2030–31Reopening target: the county's design team aims for completion in 2031, and earlier reports gave fall 2030. Treat any date in that window as provisional
Insider tips
Salt Palace Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Ask which building your 2027 show is in
From February 2027 only part of the Salt Palace is expected to be open, and full closure starts that fall. Some shows are shrinking or moving to Sandy, so confirm the hall and floor size before you design a big booth.
Plan a booth that fits a smaller hall
The Mountain America Expo Center offers 243,000 sq ft, about a third of the Salt Palace's exhibit space. A modular booth that also works in a smaller footprint keeps you covered through the rebuild years.
Read the contractor's rules, not the building's
The Salt Palace has no union agreements, but contractors can. One GES Salt Palace show used stagehands for exhibit work while letting permanent full-time employees build their own booths. Check what your kit says.
Wheels go to the dock
Lobbies are strictly hand-carry, with no dollies or flatbeds. Pack small kits in cases one person can carry, or send them through the dock with a 30 or 60-minute unloading pass.
Halls 4 and 5 have their own gate
The venue's operations guide says the dock gates for Halls 4 and 5 stay locked unless a dock attendant is on duty. If your booth is there, ask show management for attendant hours before you book a truck.
Selling on the floor? Get a Utah tax number
Exhibitors selling products at a Salt Palace event need a temporary Utah sales tax number from the State Tax Commission's special events section. Apply before you ship inventory.
Loading dock & move-in
Salt Palace Convention Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center →
- 40 docksThe venue lists 40 loading docks. Truck marshaling is arranged by your general service contractor, because the Salt Palace often runs several events at once and keeps its docks and lobbies open for all of them.
- Timed unloading passesThe lot attendant routes exhibitors to the nearest dock door and issues a 30 or 60-minute unloading pass. Exhibitors may not park on the dock, and personal vehicles may not park in the dock lot (venue operations guide, 2016).
- Lobbies are hand-carry onlyMove-in through the lobbies is limited to hand-carried items. Dollies, flatbeds or anything mechanical must come through the loading docks.
- Ship to the contractorThe facility does not accept freight before your move-in date or on behalf of exhibitors, and never C.O.D. Ship to the general service contractor's warehouse or to show site in its care.
- Day −60Design approved. Rigging, hazardous materials or display-vehicle plans to show management for venue and fire marshal approval.
- Day −35EAC paperwork and insurance filed. Power ordered through the venue's approved electrical contractor; internet ordered with a floor plan showing drops.
- Day −21Purple ships to Salt Lake City through our carrier network.
- Day −10Last day to cancel venue internet without the 20% cancellation fee.
- Day 0Trucks marshal per the contractor; hand-carry crews use the lobbies, everything on wheels uses the docks.
- Show +1Move-out. Empties return, outbound paperwork turned in.
Labor & rules
Salt Palace Convention Center labor rules: right-to-work, contractor's rules
Utah is a right-to-work state, and the Salt Palace's own rules say it holds no agreements with union entities. Several service contractors do have union agreements, so the labor rules come from your show's general contractor, not the building. These columns draw on the venue's facility rules and a GES work-rules page for a Salt Palace show; your show kit is the final word.
✓Your full-time staff
- Install and dismantle your own exhibit: GES's Salt Palace work rules (CLEANPOWER 2021) say the union allows permanent full-time employees of exhibiting companies to do this. No booth-size cap was stated; check your kit
- Do the technical work on your own machines, such as fine balancing, programming and cleaning
- Hand-carry materials through the lobbies, as long as nothing has wheels or a motor
●Contractor and venue jobs
- In that GES kit, stagehands handled exhibit I&D for exhibitors who did not self-build, all rigging, and unloading of freight consigned to GES
- Temporary electrical and plumbing come only from facility-approved contractors. Call 385-468-2229 for the current list
- Rigging only by qualified riggers, from the building's superstructure
- Catering is exclusive to the in-house caterer (Sodexo Live); Encore is the preferred AV provider
- All contractors, EACs included, must register with the facility before working
!Watch for
- No dollies, flatbeds or mechanical equipment through the lobbies, and GES kits have barred exhibitors from bringing their own freight equipment
- No transfer tape anywhere, and no Velcro or tape on air walls
- Hazardous materials and display vehicles need fire marshal approval; vehicles in halls only to load or display
- Selling on site needs a temporary Utah sales tax number
- Overtime hours vary by contractor; they are in your kit
Background photo: "_MG_8623" by dbking, CC BY 2.0 Source
Free tool
Salt Palace Convention Center drayage cost estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 at about $120 per hundredweight, a mid-range figure for a right-to-work Western city. The Salt Palace publishes no rate: the general contractor's show kit carries the actual tariff. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$1,800
Cut this with a lighter booth
On the floor at Salt Lake Comic Con
Photo: "IMG_2776" by evil_cotton, CC BY 2.0 Source
The calendar
Salt Palace Convention Center trade shows 2026–2027
Genealogy, fan culture, hunting and geospatial tech fill the last full seasons before the closure. Confirm dates and halls with each organizer, since 2027 events run with part of the building closed.
Dragonsteel Nexus 2026
Fan convention for Brandon Sanderson readers · exhibitor applications through the organizer · 2026
AAS 249th Meeting
Astronomy · American Astronomical Society winter meeting with exhibitor booths · 2027
Western Hunting & Conservation Expo 2027
Hunting, outdoor and conservation · last edition at the Salt Palace · 2027
Geo Week 2027
Geospatial, lidar and reality capture · new to Salt Lake City · 2027
RootsTech 2027
Family history conference with classes and an expo hall · 2027
Earlier in 2026 the building hosted RootsTech (March 5–7) and FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention (September 24–26). FanX plans two smaller events in March and September 2027 while only part of the building is open, then a move to the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy. Outdoor Retailer, at the Salt Palace from 2023 to 2025, moved to Minneapolis for 2026, citing the planned renovation.
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels near the Salt Palace Convention Center
Attached
Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City
700 rooms, opened in October 2022 on the southeast corner of the Salt Palace block and attached to the center. The only connected hotel.
Across West Temple
Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek
510 rooms, by Visit Salt Lake's count, opposite the center near City Creek Center.
Walking distance
Downtown hotels
More than 7,200 hotel rooms within walking distance, including the Radisson, the Hilton Salt Lake City Center and the Grand America.
TRAX Green Line
From SLC International
About 20 minutes from the airport to downtown for $2.50, with stations half a block from the center. Downtown rides are free in the Free Fare Zone.
Next door
Temple Square and the Delta Center
Temple Square is across the West Temple and South Temple corner to the northeast, and the Delta Center arena is just northwest, at the heart of the planned district.
The building
Three Salt Palaces and a fourth on the way
The name goes back to an 1899 pleasure palace clad in rock salt. Today's convention center sits on the site of the 1969 arena, and the county is about to rebuild it again.
- 1899The first Salt Palace, a domed frame building covered in rock salt, opens on 900 South as the centerpiece of an amusement park. Fire destroys it in 1910.
- 1969The Salt Palace arena opens downtown. It later hosts the Utah Stars and the Utah Jazz, and is demolished in 1994.
- 1996The convention center, begun April 27, 1994 on the arena site, opens in February.
- 1999Expansion restarts in June after an independent study finds no earthquake fault under the expansion area.
- 2002The Salt Palace serves as the Main Media Center for the Winter Olympics.
- 2006A third expansion phase is completed, with underground parking below the exhibit hall.
- 2007The county renames it for Calvin L. Rampton, Utah's 11th governor.
- 2012A 1.65 MW solar array, 3.85 acres, is completed on the roof.
- 2022The 700-room Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City opens in October, attached to the center.
- 2025The county votes to sell 6.5 acres of the Salt Palace site to Smith Entertainment Group for about $55.4 million.
- 2027Full closure for reconstruction is planned from fall 2027, with reopening targeted around 2030–2031.
FAQ
Salt Palace Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors
Is the Salt Palace Convention Center union?
The building is not. Utah is a right-to-work state, and the Salt Palace says it holds no agreements with union entities. Several service contractors do have union agreements, so the labor rules for your show come from its general contractor and are in your show kit.
Can I set up my own booth at the Salt Palace?
In the GES work rules we reviewed for a 2021 Salt Palace show, yes: they said the union allows permanent full-time employees of exhibiting companies to install and dismantle their own exhibits. Size and tool limits vary by contractor, so check your kit.
Is the Salt Palace closing for renovation?
Yes. Salt Lake County plans to close the whole building from fall 2027 for demolition and reconstruction estimated at about three years, with reopening targeted around 2030–2031. Parts of the building west of 200 West may be demolished from early 2027, leaving only part of the center open before the full closure.
Where will Salt Lake City shows go during the rebuild?
Some have announced moves to the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, including FanX and the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo. Others may relocate or pause, so confirm with your show organizer.
Can I hand-carry my booth in?
Yes, through the lobbies, if everything is hand-carried. Dollies, flatbeds and anything mechanical are not allowed there and must come through the loading docks.
Where is the Salt Palace loading dock?
The venue lists 40 loading docks, with marshaling arranged by the general service contractor. A lot attendant routes exhibitors to the closest dock door and issues a 30 or 60-minute unloading pass. Personal vehicles may not park in the dock lot.
How much is drayage at the Salt Palace?
Plan about $120 per hundredweight for crated freight. The Salt Palace does not publish rates; the general contractor's show kit carries the actual tariff.
What is the ceiling height in the exhibit halls?
30 ft in all ten exhibit halls and in the 45,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom. Meeting rooms range from 12 to 20 ft.
Who provides electrical at the Salt Palace?
Temporary electrical and plumbing services come only from facility-approved contractors. Call the Salt Palace at 385-468-2229 for the current list, and order through your show kit before the advance deadline.
How do I get from the airport to the Salt Palace?
The TRAX Green Line runs from Salt Lake City International to downtown in about 20 minutes for $2.50, and stops half a block from the center. Downtown TRAX rides are free in the Free Fare Zone.
Exhibiting in Salt Lake City?
Share your floor plan. Get a booth plan back.
Tell us your show, your hall and whether your 2027 dates fall before or during the Salt Palace closure. Within two business days we send a design brief, a drayage estimate at Salt Lake rates and a booth plan that can also fit a smaller hall in Sandy.
Background photo: "Salt Lake City At Night" by aqua.mech, CC BY 2.0 Source
Compare venues
Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center vs other major U.S. convention centers
How the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center stacks up against other big-city halls we have guides for. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention CenterThis guide | Convention center | 515,000 sq ft contiguous, 10 halls | 30 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $120/cwt | SLC · ~6 mi |
| America's Center Convention ComplexSt. Louis | Convention center | 574,000 sq ft contiguous, with Dome floor | 40 ft | Union · 300 sq ft rule | ≈ $150/cwt | STL · 14 mi |
| Anaheim Convention CenterAnaheim | Convention center | 221,284 sq ft Hall D | 25 ft Hall D · 13 ft 8 in Hall E | Union · check kit | ≈ $172/cwt | SNA · 13 mi |
| Boston Convention & Exhibition CenterBoston | Convention center | 516,000 sq ft contiguous (Halls A–C) | 35 ft low · up to 100 ft | Union · staff setup OK | ≈ $324/cwt | BOS · 3 mi |
| Charlotte Convention CenterCharlotte | Convention center | 280,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–C | 30 ft listed max | Right-to-work | ≈ $115/cwt | CLT · 7 mi |
| Fontainebleau Las VegasLas Vegas | Resort ballrooms | 105,264 sq ft Royal Ballroom | 28 ft 10 in | Union · check kit | ≈ $185/cwt | LAS · 4.3 mi |
| Georgia World Congress CenterAtlanta | Convention center | 1M+ sq ft contiguous (Halls B, BC, C) | 30 ft to grid | Right-to-work | ≈ $150/cwt | ATL · 15–20 min |
| Huntington PlaceDetroit | Convention center | 623,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–D | 30 ft (A–D) · 18 ft 8 in (E) | Union · 400 sq ft rule | ≈ $155/cwt | DTW · 20 mi |
| Iowa Events CenterDes Moines | Convention center | 150,000 sq ft contiguous, EMC Expo Center Halls A–C | 35 ft (Halls B–C) | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | DSM · ~10 min |
| Javits CenterNew York | Convention center | ~500,000 sq ft contiguous (Level 3) | Varies by hall · check plan | Union · 250 sq ft rule | ≈ $195/cwt | EWR / LGA / JFK · 45–70 min |
| Kansas City Convention CenterKansas City | Convention center | 388,800 sq ft column-free, Bartle Hall A–E | 33 ft A–C · 42 ft D–E | IATSE 31 · check kit | ≈ $145/cwt | MCI · ~19 mi |
| McCormick PlaceChicago | Convention center | 840,000 sq ft Hall A (South) · 1.2M+ on one level | Varies by hall · check plan | Union · staff setup any size | ≈ $210/cwt | MDW · ~20 min |
| Minneapolis Convention CenterMinneapolis | Convention center | 376,200 sq ft contiguous, Halls B–E | 30 ft 6 in to truss · 85 ft domes | Union · open dock | ≈ $150/cwt | MSP · ~20 min |
| Moscone CenterSan Francisco | Convention center | 502,440 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–F | 37 ft Halls A–C · 28 ft Hall F | Union · check kit | ≈ $180/cwt | SFO · 25–40 min |
| Oklahoma City Convention CenterOklahoma City | Convention center | 200,730 sq ft continuous, up to 4 halls | 30 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $105/cwt | OKC · ~9–10 mi |
| Orange County Convention CenterOrlando | Convention center | 1,103,538 sq ft West Building | 30–40 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $155/cwt | MCO · 12 mi |
| Oregon Convention CenterPortland | Convention center | 255,000 sq ft Halls A–E | 30 ft | Union · check kit | ≈ $150/cwt | PDX · MAX ~30 min |
| San Diego Convention CenterSan Diego | Convention center | 525,701 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–H | 27 ft 4 in A–E · up to 64 ft F–H | Union · check kit | ≈ $176/cwt | SAN · 3 mi |
| San Jose McEnery Convention CenterSan Jose | Convention center | 143,000 sq ft Halls 1–3 | 32 ft | Union · 30 min / 10 ft rule | ≈ $160/cwt | SJC · 4 mi |
| Santa Clara Convention CenterSanta Clara | Convention center | 90,014 sq ft Halls A–D | 28 ft 6 in | Union · check kit | ≈ $160/cwt | SJC · 5–6 mi |
| Seattle Convention CenterSeattle | Convention center | 205,700 sq ft Arch Halls 4A–4F | 25 ft Arch · 30 ft Summit | Union · check kit | ≈ $165/cwt | SEA · Link ~40 min |
More major U.S. guides
Other major convention centers
Seattle Convention CenterSeattle, WA
Minneapolis Convention CenterMinneapolis, MN
America's CenterSt. Louis, MO
Charlotte Convention CenterCharlotte, NC
Huntington PlaceDetroit, MI
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Rebuild dates are the county's current plan and may change. Sources: Visit Salt Lake Salt Palace specifications, brochure, meeting planner guide and transportation pages; Salt Palace facility rules and regulations, facility operations guide and shipping policies; Salt Palace event technology services guide; GES work rules for CLEANPOWER 2021 at the Salt Palace; IATSE Local 99; KSL, Deseret News, Utah Business and Hoodline on the rebuild; Wikipedia (Salt Palace); Reaveley Engineers; TSNN and KSL on Outdoor Retailer; organizer sites and coverage for RootsTech, FanX, the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo and Geo Week.