The VBCC's own rules set no union jurisdictions. Freight handling and hired labor go through your show's general contractor, whose kit says what your own staff may install.
Exhibitor guide · Virginia Beach, VA · Updated
Virginia Beach Convention Center Exhibitor Guide
Where I-264 runs out, eight blocks short of the boardwalk, the VBCC puts four identical 37,503 sq ft halls under one 240 ft clear-span roof: 150,012 sq ft, 40 ft to the ceiling and not a single column. Virginia is right-to-work and parking is free, but the building has house rules of its own: no freight before move-in, no power tools on the floor or the dock, and overhead signs only through the house AV team.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: Tidewater Comicon on the Virginia Beach Convention Center show floor. “Tidewater Comicon” by TDelCoro, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Virginia Beach Convention Center
The VBCC accepts and stores no advance freight. Ship to the general contractor's warehouse, or deliver direct at load-in; small packages that arrive more than 24 hours early are refused.
All four halls share the 40 ft ceiling under a column-free roof. The ballroom is 35 ft and the meeting suites about 15 ft. Your show sets the booth height limit.
The VBCC's lots are free, first come, first served, for exhibitors and attendees. RVs, campers and oversized vehicles may not park there; trailers go in the north rows by the interstate.
Photos: "Tidewater Comicon May 18-19 2019" by TDelCoro, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source · "Crowded Beach" by Tobyotter, CC BY 2.0 Source · "Holiday Lights on Virginia Beach Boardwalk" by mccready, CC BY 2.0 Source
Only at the Virginia Beach Convention Center
The Virginia Beach Convention Center's 240 ft clear span: planning a column-free hall
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill roofed the exhibit halls with a 240 ft clear span, which the firm calls one of the largest column-free spans in the United States. For an exhibitor that means no column to design around in any booth space, in any of the hall combinations below. Figures are from the VBCC floor plan chart and Users Guide (rev. January 2026).
| Booking | Space and capacity |
|---|---|
| One hall (A, B, C or D) | 37,503 sq ft · 220 10×10 booths |
| Two halls (A–B, B–C or C–D) | 75,006 sq ft · 440 booths |
| Three halls (A–C or B–D) | 112,509 sq ft · 660 booths |
| All four (A–D) | 150,012 sq ft · 880 booths · 13,440 theater seats |
| Clear height | 40 ft throughout, so a double-deck or tall hanging sign has room if your show allows it |
| Hanging a sign | From the roof beams, up to 1,500 lbs per beam, installed only by the VBCC's AV provider or its contractors |
| Floor | 350 lbs per sq ft, 32,000 lb point load: room for vehicles, boats and machinery with Fire Marshal approval |
| Air walls | Moved only by VBCC staff; extra moves on the same day are billed at labor rates |
Sources: SOM project page (240 ft clear span roof, 40 ft ceilings, 147 ft tower), VBCC floor plans and capacity chart, Virginia Beach Convention Center Users Guide rev. 1/12/26 (Floor Loads, Rigging, Moveable Air-Walls, Ceiling Heights).
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels near the Virginia Beach Convention Center
0.3 mi
DoubleTree by Hilton Virginia Beach
The closest hotel, two blocks west of the center: about a five-minute walk to the main entrance.
0.7 mi
Oceanfront hotels from 18th to 21st Street
Holiday Inn Oceanside (21st St), Fairfield Inn & Suites Oceanfront, Country Inn & Suites Oceanfront and others, all within a 15-minute walk.
0.8 mi
The boardwalk
The Atlantic is about 0.8 mile east along 19th Street, which runs straight from the center's front door to Atlantic Avenue.
≈ 20 min
Norfolk International (ORF)
The closest airport, with more than 250 flights a day. Take I-64 East to I-264 East; the center is on the right where the interstate ends.
Free
Parking and trailers
About 1,350 free spaces. Trailers park in the northernmost rows at the west end, along the interstate; RVs and campers are not allowed. The VBCC has no storage for oversize vehicles.
Floor plan & exhibit halls
Virginia Beach Convention Center floor plan: Exhibit Halls A to D
The exhibit level is four equal halls in a row, each 37,503 sq ft and charted at 220 10×10 booths. Book any one, any neighboring pair or three, or all four for 150,012 sq ft and 880 booths. The 31,029 sq ft ballroom is on the same level; the meeting suites are upstairs. Tap a hall for its numbers.
Schematic. Hall widths are proportional to floor area, not an architectural plan. The official floor plans and capacity chart are on visitvirginiabeach.com (Convention Center, Floor Plans).
Exhibit Hall A
- 37,503 sq ft · 40 ft ceiling
- 220 10×10 booths
- 2,240 theater seats
An end hall. Like each hall, it has its own 21′6″ × 15′6″ overhead door to the dock. Pair it with B for 75,006 sq ft and 440 booths.
Exhibit Hall B
- 37,503 sq ft · 40 ft ceiling
- 220 10×10 booths
- 3,680 theater seats
A middle hall. B to D together give 112,509 sq ft and 660 booths, the same as A to C.
Exhibit Hall C
- 37,503 sq ft · 40 ft ceiling
- 220 10×10 booths
- 3,680 theater seats
A middle hall. B and C make a 75,006 sq ft center pair, so two smaller shows can run in A and D on either side.
Exhibit Hall D
- 37,503 sq ft · 40 ft ceiling
- 220 10×10 booths
- 2,240 theater seats
The other end hall. All four combined: 150,012 sq ft, 880 booths, or 13,440 theater seats.
350 lbsper sq ft uniform floor load in the exhibit halls and ballroom, or a 32,000 lb point (wheel) load. Meeting rooms take 125 lbs per sq ft
31,029sq ft ballroom, 35 ft ceiling, splits into three rooms of about 10,000 sq ft each, with its own dock door
5 suitesof meeting rooms on Level 2 that divide into 26 rooms, with two 903 sq ft show management offices
147 ftglass tower with a 1,600 sq ft café lounge, a 1,569 sq ft board room, a 1,077 sq ft VIP lounge and an observation deck for client meetings
Up to 65 ftceilings in the first-floor pre-function hall (15 to 65 ft). Power there is limited, so check before planning a registration or sponsor build
Loading dock & move-in
Virginia Beach Convention Center loading dock and freight
Get directions to Virginia Beach Convention Center →
- Back of the building onlyAll load-in and load-out runs through the docks at the rear, on the I-264 side. Moving freight through the front entrance is not permitted, and parking or unloading in the 19th Street circle drive gets ticketed or towed.
- 21 bays, 5 rampsThe VBCC lists 21 cargo bays and 5 loading ramps, with dock levelers in some locations. Each exhibit hall has a 21′6″ wide × 15′6″ high overhead door; the ballroom doors are 11′6″ × 15′6″.
- Gate controlAn Access Control Officer opens the dock at set times, and dock guards send you to a ramp, a dock well or a spot along the interstate. Unload, then move your vehicle outside the gate to general parking. The decorator cannot block an exhibitor's access to the docks.
- Your own car or vanPrivately owned vehicles may use the dock only to load and unload, with a dock entry authorization form issued through the VBCC Event Manager. Vehicles left on the dock past posted times may be towed.
- Day −30Booth design final. Covered booths over 100 sq ft, double-decks and booths of 750 sq ft or more have Fire Marshal rules to meet.
- Day −21Any banner or hanging sign request goes in through show management (the VBCC wants them 21 days before move-in).
- Day −14Food sampling form filed and rigging requests in. Purple ships to Virginia Beach through our carrier network, timed for the show's warehouse deadline.
- Day −7Electrical, water and data ordered from the VBCC, internet from Smart City Networks. Check each order form's discount deadline.
- Day −1Small packages may arrive no earlier than 24 hours before move-in. Anything earlier is refused at the door.
- Show closeEverything out within 24 hours of the event. Carpet and bulk waste go in the open-top container on the dock.
Labor & rules
Virginia Beach Convention Center labor rules: right-to-work, with house exclusives
Virginia is a right-to-work state, and the VBCC's Users Guide sets no union jurisdictions. What your own people may install is set by the show's general contractor in your kit. The building keeps a short list of services for itself and its contractors, and a few rules that catch exhibitors out.
✓Your own team
- Unload your own car or van at the dock with a dock entry authorization, then park in the free lots
- Set up your booth with your own full-time staff where the show kit allows it (typical for regional contractors in Virginia; check your kit)
- Hand-carry items in, usually without dollies or other material handling equipment (check your kit)
- Use 3-wire grounded, UL-listed extension cords of 14-gauge or heavier
- Mark the floor with vinyl tape or chalk, and remove your own tape at move-out
●Contractors and the VBCC
- Drayage, pipe and drape, booth carpet and booth cleaning: the show's general contractor
- Electrical, water, drainage and data: sold by the VBCC; internet: Smart City Networks, exclusive
- Banners and hanging signs: the VBCC's preferred AV provider, with minimum labor calls and lift rental
- Rigging, air walls and facility equipment: VBCC personnel or its contractors only
- All food and beverage: Centerplate (Sodexo Live), exclusive; event security: the VBCC
!Watch for
- Power tools are banned in the exhibit area and on the dock; cut along the fence line by the interstate
- No nails, screws, staples or drilling, and no duct or packing tape; gaffer's or low-residue carpet tape only
- Forklift drivers must carry proof of an approved operator course
- Helium balloon handouts are restricted; balloon removal starts at $150 an hour
- Vehicles on display need a Fire Marshal permit; no refueling, and no gasoline vehicles driven inside
Background photo: "Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine - Tidewater Comicon MAY 18-19, 2024" by TDelCoro, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Free tool
Virginia Beach Convention Center drayage cost estimator
Planning numbers at about $100 per hundredweight. The VBCC publishes no drayage tariff because each show brings its own general contractor. A 2026 kit from a regional contractor for a Hampton Roads show priced material handling at $86/cwt through the advance warehouse and $98/cwt direct to site, with a 200 lb minimum; $100 covers both. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$1,500
Cut this with a lighter booth
Because the VBCC refuses freight that arrives before move-in, "direct to site" here means delivered during your move-in window. That 2026 regional kit added 25% for shipments arriving after the show opened. The estimator's multipliers are general; your show kit carries the actual tariff.
Boardwalk Art Show at the Oceanfront
Photo: "Virginia Beach Boardwalk Art Show" by Tobyotter, CC BY 2.0 Source
The calendar
Virginia Beach Convention Center trade shows 2026–2027
The VBCC mixes national association meetings, statewide professional conferences and buyer expos with big Hampton Roads consumer shows. Confirm dates and exhibitor rules with each organizer.
Master Brewers Conference
Brewing technology and supply · trade · 2026
MBC Fall Conference and Expo
Public procurement and small business · trade · 2026
Supplier Connect Expo (Public Procurement Forum)
Suppliers meet 800+ state procurement staff · trade · 2026
Mid-Atlantic Home & Outdoor Living Show
Coastal Virginia Building Industry Association · consumer · 2027
Virginia Fire Rescue Conference
Virginia Fire Chiefs Association · trade · expo hall Feb 18–20 · 2027
Master Brewers, MBC and Supplier Connect dates are from the organizers (Master Brewers Association of the Americas, City of Virginia Beach, Virginia DGS). The Home Show date is from the organizer's site. The Fire Rescue Conference dates are from the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, which held the 2026 edition here; confirm the building in the 2027 exhibitor packet. The Mid-Atlantic Sports and Boat Show ran here Jan 30–Feb 1, 2026; its 2027 dates were not posted when we checked. Tidewater Comicon also uses the halls (May 16–17, 2026).
The building
From the Pavilion to a glass lighthouse: the Virginia Beach Convention Center story
The VBCC replaced the city's old Pavilion convention center. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed it, Turner built it for $207 million, and its 147 ft glass tower nods to the city's historic lighthouse. It is owned and run by the City of Virginia Beach through its Convention and Visitors Bureau.
- 2005Phase One opens in July while the rest of the building is still going up.
- 2007Phase Two is completed in January: four exhibit halls, the ballroom, meeting suites and the tower.
- 2010LEED Gold certification. The VBCC calls itself the first U.S. convention center to earn LEED Gold for Existing Buildings.
- 2020The 285,000 sq ft Virginia Beach Sports Center opens in October directly across 19th Street, making a sports and convention campus.
- TodayAn in-house event manager for every booking, Centerplate catering and Smart City internet, with a 2026–27 calendar of trade, association and consumer shows.
Insider tips
Virginia Beach Convention Center exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Make the cuts before you come
Power tools are banned in the exhibit area and on the dock; cutting or grinding happens along the fence line by the interstate. Pre-cut and pre-fit everything in the shop so the build needs only hand tools.
Never ship to 1000 19th Street early
The VBCC takes no advance freight, and small packages arriving more than 24 hours before move-in are refused. Send everything to the show's warehouse, or bring it on move-in day.
Bring the trailer to the north rows
Trailers park in the northernmost rows of the west lot, along the interstate. RVs and campers are barred from VBCC lots, and the dock wells have little room, so plan where a trailer sits for the whole show.
Pack gaffer's tape, not duct tape
Duct, clear and packing tape are banned. On the hall floor use professional low-residue double-sided carpet tape such as Polyken; gaffer's tape is sold in the VBCC Business Center.
File the sampling form two weeks out
Food samples need an approved form two weeks before the event, or a $100 late fee. Samples are bite-size (1 oz or less) and drinks 3 oz, and generic giveaways like coffee or popcorn must be bought from Centerplate.
Order the hanging sign three weeks ahead
With 40 ft of clear height, a hanging sign reads across the whole hall. Requests go to the VBCC 21 days before move-in, and only its AV provider hangs them, with minimum labor calls and a lift.
FAQ
Virginia Beach Convention Center FAQ for exhibitors
Is the Virginia Beach Convention Center union?
No. Virginia is a right-to-work state, and the VBCC's Users Guide sets no union jurisdictions. Freight handling and any labor you hire go through the show's general contractor, and your show kit says what your own employees may install.
Can I set up my own booth at the Virginia Beach Convention Center?
Usually yes, with your own full-time employees, but the rule comes from your show's general contractor, not the building. A 2026 kit from a regional contractor in Hampton Roads let exhibitors' full-time staff install and allowed hand-carrying without material handling equipment. Check your show kit.
Can I ship freight directly to the convention center?
Only during move-in. The VBCC does not accept or store advance freight: consign it to the general contractor's warehouse or deliver it to the contractor at load-in. Small packages arriving more than 24 hours before move-in are refused, and everything must leave within 24 hours after the event.
Where is the Virginia Beach Convention Center loading dock?
At the back of the building, on the I-264 side; load-in through the front entrance is not allowed. There are 21 cargo bays and 5 loading ramps, and each exhibit hall has a 21 ft 6 in wide by 15 ft 6 in high overhead door. Your own vehicle needs a dock entry authorization from the VBCC Event Manager.
How much is drayage at the Virginia Beach Convention Center?
Plan about $100 per hundredweight. The VBCC publishes no rate because each show's general contractor sets it. For comparison, a 2026 regional contractor kit for a Hampton Roads show charged $86/cwt through the advance warehouse and $98/cwt direct, with a 200 lb minimum.
What is the ceiling height in the exhibit halls?
40 ft in all four exhibit halls, under a column-free 240 ft clear-span roof. The ballroom is 35 ft, the meeting rooms about 15 ft, and the first-floor pre-function area 15 to 65 ft.
Can I use power tools at the Virginia Beach Convention Center?
Not in the exhibit area or on the loading dock. The VBCC's policy for vendors and exhibitors says cutting, grinding or other power tool work must be done along the fence line parallel to the interstate.
Who provides electrical and internet?
The VBCC sells electrical, water, drainage and data services to exhibitors through its online exhibitor services forms. Smart City Networks is the exclusive internet and telecom provider. Power is limited in the pre-function area and the ballroom.
Can I give out food samples?
Only with an approved food sampling form, filed two weeks before the event ($100 late fee). Samples must be bite-size, 1 oz or less, and drinks 3 oz. Centerplate is the exclusive food and beverage provider, and generic draw items like coffee or popcorn must be bought from it.
Is parking free at the Virginia Beach Convention Center?
Yes. About 1,350 spaces are free, first come, first served, for exhibitors and attendees. RVs, campers and oversized vehicles may not park in VBCC lots; vendors with trailers use the northernmost rows of the west lot along the interstate.
Exhibiting in Virginia Beach?
Send us your show and hall.
Tell us which hall you are in and how tall you want to go. Purple ships and installs from New York for the Mid-Atlantic, and within two business days you get a booth built for a hand-tools-only floor, a drayage estimate at Virginia Beach rates, and a freight plan that never reaches 19th Street before move-in.
Background photo: "Tropicana Hotel, Virginia Beach" by nayukim, CC BY 2.0 Source
Compare venues
Virginia Beach Convention Center vs other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York
How the Virginia Beach Convention Center stacks up against other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach Convention CenterThis guide | Convention center | 150,012 sq ft · Halls A–D | 40 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | ORF · 20 min |
| Atlantic Union Bank Convention CenterRaleigh | Convention center | 146,843 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–C | 47 ft listed max | Right-to-work · check kit | ≈ $110/cwt | RDU · 18 min drive |
| Baird CenterMilwaukee | Convention center | 300,275 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–E | 30 ft | Right-to-work · in-house utilities | ≈ $115/cwt | MKE · 8 mi |
| Bayfront Convention CenterErie | Convention center | 28,800 sq ft Great Hall · 160 booths | 23 ft (Great Hall) | No venue union rule · check kit | ≈ $50/cwt | ERI · about 6.5 mi |
| Birmingham-Jefferson Convention ComplexBirmingham | Convention center | 92,234 sq ft East Halls 1–3 · 473 booths | 30 ft East · 25 ft 10 in North · 20 ft South | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | BHM · 4.5 mi |
| Charleston Area Convention CenterNorth Charleston | Convention center | 76,960 sq ft, Halls A–C | 30 ft to beams | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | CHS · 2 mi |
| DeVos PlaceGrand Rapids | Convention center | 162,000 sq ft column-free hall, A–C | 37–72 ft (hall) · 28 ft (ballroom) | Self-unload · IATSE 26 stagehands | ≈ $125/cwt | GRR · 13 mi |
| Eastern States ExpositionWest Springfield | Fairgrounds | 129,400 sq ft Mallary Complex · 123,000 sq ft BLC | — | Check show kit | ≈ $125/cwt | BDL · about 25–40 min |
| Greater Richmond Convention CenterRichmond | Convention center | 178,159 sq ft · Exhibit Hall A–D | 35 ft | Right-to-work · non-union | ≈ $110/cwt | RIC · ~15 min |
| Greenville Convention CenterGreenville | Convention center | 125,000 sq ft Hall 1 (280,000 total) | 10–22 ft Hall 1 · 19–22 ft Hall 2 | Right-to-work | ≈ $105/cwt | GSP · 12 mi |
| Hershey Lodge & Convention CenterHershey | Resort ballrooms | 32,004 sq ft Great American Hall | 22 ft (Great American Hall) | In-house decorator · check kit | ≈ $50/cwt | MDT · ~20 min |
| Joseph S. Koury Convention CenterGreensboro | Hotel ballrooms | 40,000 sq ft Guilford Ballroom | 32 ft Guilford · 18 ft Imperial | Right-to-work | ≈ $95/cwt | GSO · ~12 mi |
| Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono MountainsPocono Manor | Resort ballrooms | 38,000 sq ft Kilimanjaro Ballroom | 16–25 ft | Not right-to-work · check kit | ≈ $120/cwt | AVP · ≈40 mi |
| New York State Fairgrounds Exposition CenterSyracuse | Fairgrounds | 110,000 sq ft clear span, Exposition Center | 60 ft truss height | Show contractor · check kit | ≈ $95/cwt | SYR · about 10 mi |
| Philadelphia Marriott DowntownPhiladelphia | Hotel ballrooms | 34,300 sq ft Grand Ballroom · 31,962 sq ft Franklin Hall | 10.5 ft Franklin Hall · 22 ft ballroom | Union · check kit | ≈ $170/cwt | PHL · SEPTA to Jefferson Station |
| Vandalia Health CenterCharleston | Convention center | 50,086 sq ft Grand Hall · up to 256 booths | — | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | CRW · about 5 min |
| Vibe Credit Union ShowplaceNovi | Expo center | 305,000± sq ft, Halls A–C + Event Center | 24 ft clear (A–C) · 40+ ft (Event Center) | No venue union rule · check kit | ≈ $95/cwt | DTW · about 20 min |
| York Expo CenterYork | Fairgrounds | 114,000 sq ft UPMC Arena (74,000 clear span) | 24–30 ft arena · 12–22 ft other halls | Show contractor · check kit | ≈ $90/cwt | MDT · roughly 30 mi |
More venue guides
Other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York
Greater Richmond Convention CenterRichmond, VA
Raleigh Convention CenterRaleigh, NC
Koury Convention CenterGreensboro, NC
Roland E. Powell Convention CenterOcean City, MD
Gaylord National ResortNational Harbor, MD
Walter E. Washington Convention CenterWashington, DC
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Figures marked for verification are being confirmed with the venue. Sources: Virginia Beach Convention Center Users Guide (rev. January 2026), VBCC Policies & Procedures for vendors and exhibitors, VBCC floor plans and capacity chart and facility brochure on visitvirginiabeach.com, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill project page, Wikipedia (Virginia Beach Convention Center), Virginia Beach Sports Center page, Hollins Exposition Services 2026 exhibitor kit for a Norfolk show (regional rates and labor rules), Code of Virginia § 40.1-58 (right to work), organizer pages for the Master Brewers Conference, MBC Fall Conference and Expo, Forum2026 Supplier Connect Expo, Mid-Atlantic Home & Outdoor Living Show, Virginia Fire Rescue Conference, Mid-Atlantic Sports and Boat Show and Tidewater Comicon, Navan hotel distances.