Denver

By Michael Flavin | Last updated October 29, 2026

The Colorado Convention Center (CCC) is at 700 14th Street in downtown Denver. It has 577,000 square feet of exhibit space in six halls, plus three ballrooms and 63 meeting rooms, and it's managed by Legends Global, per the CCC's 2026 GSC Guidelines (the Event Planning Guide still says ASM Global). Show labor here runs through IATSE Local 7, and the building's rules on hand-carrying and do-it-yourself setup are worth reading before you plan to do any work yourself.

Colorado Convention Center

Per the CCC's Event Planning Guide, the building has:

• 577,000 square feet of exhibit space in six halls, with floors rated for 350 pounds per square foot
• The Four Seasons Ballroom (35,000 sq ft), the Mile High Ballroom (50,000 sq ft) and the Bluebird Ballroom (80,000 sq ft), plus the 20,000-square-foot Bluebird Terrace
• The Bellco Theatre, with 5,005 seats
• 63 meeting rooms, from 800 to 2,700 square feet
• 42 loading docks and a 772-space parking garage

Exhibit Hall A is the only hall with programmable lighting. If your show is in another hall and your booth depends on a lighting effect, plan to light it yourself.

Other Denver venues to keep on your radar

The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in nearby Aurora also hosts big shows. TSNN's 2026-2027 Top 250 white paper counts two of them there (TSNN). Check your show's manual for that venue's own rules.

Local labor rules and EACs

Who does what. The CCC's Union Labor Requirements say IATSE Local 7 (the Denver Theatrical Stage Employees Union) does the decorating, display, drayage, rigging, theatrical, audiovisual and material-handling work at trade shows.

What you can do yourself. Full-time employees of an exhibiting company may install and dismantle their own display only if the work takes less than 60 minutes and uses no mechanized tools. Placing your own product in the booth is always allowed. In practice, a pop-up display or a tabletop exhibit that two of your people can put up in half an hour fits the rule. A 20x20 island with a hanging sign doesn't, so plan for union labor.

Using your own exhibit house (EAC). Outside labor has to come from the official general service contractor (GSC) or another contractor that has signed the IATSE Local 7 labor agreement. That's the EAC question in Denver. My trade show logistics page has more on EAC planning.

Is Colorado a right-to-work state? No, but its rules are unusual. Under Colorado's Labor Peace Act, a union contract can require all covered workers to pay dues or fees only after a second election, which passes only with a majority of all eligible employees or three-quarters of those who vote, whichever is greater (Colorado Department of Labor and Employment). A 2026 bill to drop that second election was vetoed and didn't become law (Colorado General Assembly). For your booth, the CCC's work rules above are what matter.

My advice: Read your show's exhibitor manual before you book anyone. If you plan to use your own exhibit house, ask the GSC whether that company is a signatory to the IATSE Local 7 agreement before you sign. Finding out on move-in day costs you time and money.

Exhibitor need-to-knows

My exhibitor logistics 101 guide covers the basics that work the same in most buildings, like the advance warehouse, material handling, targeted move-in, hotel blocks and hiring local staff. Here's what's specific to Denver.

Advance warehouse or direct to show?

The CCC's exhibitor page says not to send packages directly to the convention center. Use the shipping information in your exhibitor kit or from your show's GSC. Dock space is limited and controlled by the GSC, and truck marshaling is arranged through the GSC too.

Material handling (drayage) and how to cut it

In Denver, exhibitors may carry their own hand-carried materials in and out. Anything that needs a dolly or forklift is handled by IATSE Local 7 through the GSC (Union Labor Requirements). The lobbies are hand-carry only. The Event Planning Guide bans dollies, flatbeds and other mechanical equipment in the lobbies because the escalators and elevators are for passengers, so wheeled freight goes through the docks.

Move-in and move-out

Your show sets the targeted move-in schedule, and vehicles must be staged in their assigned areas. Unless it's approved in advance, no one under 16 is allowed on the exhibit floor or loading dock during move-in and move-out (GSC Guidelines). Leave the kids at the hotel.

Peak seasons and big annual shows

The MINEXCHANGE 2027 SME Annual Conference & Expo comes to the CCC Feb. 28 to March 3, 2027, with exhibitor move-in starting Feb. 26 for booths 200 square feet or larger (SME exhibitor schedule). More 2027 dates are on our trade show pages.

Neighborhoods for client dinners

Book client dinners early during a big show, and pick a spot your guests can reach from the convention center without a long ride.

Wi-Fi and internet

Smart City Networks is the CCC's exclusive event technology provider and runs a wireless network throughout the building for exhibitors and attendees (CCC internet page). Smart City's number is (303) 228-8056. For a demo or lead scanners, order a wired line.

Electrical and utilities

Order electrical, data, telecom, water, air and gas through CCC Exhibitor Services at (303) 228-8027, online or with the order forms in your exhibitor kit (CCC exhibitor services). The CCC's 2026 Exhibitor Services order form says online orders must be received 15 days before the show's first contracted move-in day to get the discount price, and later orders pay the standard rate. Orders placed on or after the first move-in day carry a 30% surcharge, and the paper-form rates are 20% higher than online. Check the current form in your exhibitor kit, since the CCC can update it.

Food sampling and outside food

Sodexo Live! is the CCC's exclusive caterer and holds the building's liquor license. The CCC's Event Planning Guide says shows must tell the building about any food or beverage sampling, and that sampling alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

Sampling rules also vary by show. One 2025 show at the CCC allowed samples only of products the exhibitor makes or distributes (anything else had to be bought from Sodexo Live!), with food up to 4 ounces, non-alcoholic drinks up to 8 ounces, single-serve portions and written Sodexo Live! approval (GES sampling policy). That was one show's policy, not a building rule. Ask your show and Sodexo Live! before you plan to serve anything, especially alcohol.

Weather and time of year

Denver is a mile high and the air is dry. Keep water at the booth for your staff.

Sales tax on show services

Denver's city sales tax is 5.15%, with a 4% city rate on prepared food and beverages, per the City and County of Denver's Tax Guide Topic 70. State and district taxes are added on top, so check your invoices for the combined rate. If you sell or take orders on the floor, you need a valid Colorado sales tax license and must follow Denver's sales and use tax rules, including the special event tax license (Event Planning Guide).

Parking

The attached garage has 772 spaces, but the CCC says capacity is reduced during its expansion and the garage fills quickly (CCC parking). Posted rates as of Oct. 12, 2026, are $13 for up to 8 hours, $16 for 12 hours, $18 for 18 hours and $26 for 24 hours. There's no in-and-out parking, vehicle clearance is 8 feet 2 inches, and trailers aren't allowed. The CCC partners with SpotHero if you want to reserve a space nearby in advance.

Getting there

By train: RTD's A Line runs between Denver International Airport and Denver Union Station. RTD says the 23-mile trip takes about 37 minutes (RTD).

Near the building: RTD's Theatre District/Convention Center station is at 1325 Stout St. (RTD). It's on the Downtown Loop, which RTD is rebuilding. The D, H and L light rail lines that serve the loop were suspended on June 7, 2026, and RTD expects the work to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2027 (RTD rail project, RTD June 2026 service changes). RTD also says the D Line will be permanently discontinued once the project is complete (RTD September 2026 service changes). Check RTD for the lines that stop there before you travel.

For other cities, see our convention center guides, including Las Vegas and Dallas.

Colorado Convention Center FAQs

Where is the Colorado Convention Center?

It's at 700 14th Street in downtown Denver.

How big is the Colorado Convention Center?

It has 577,000 square feet of exhibit space in six halls, plus three ballrooms and 63 meeting rooms.

Can exhibitors set up their own booth at the Colorado Convention Center?

Only if the work takes less than 60 minutes and uses no mechanized tools, and only with full-time employees of the exhibiting company. Otherwise, labor comes from IATSE Local 7 through the general service contractor or another signatory contractor.

Can I bring a dolly through the Colorado Convention Center lobbies?

No. The lobbies are hand-carry only. Anything on a dolly, flatbed or other equipment goes through the loading docks.

How much is parking at the Colorado Convention Center?

The posted garage rates are $13 for up to 8 hours, $16 for 12 hours, $18 for 18 hours and $26 for 24 hours. Garage capacity is reduced during the expansion, so plan another option.

How do I get from Denver International Airport to the convention center?

RTD's A Line runs from the airport to Denver Union Station in about 37 minutes, per RTD. From there, check RTD for connections to the Theatre District/Convention Center station.

Sources

All checked Oct. 8 to 12, 2026.

1. Colorado Convention Center, Event Planning Guide (PDF): https://denverconvention.com/media/general/CCC-Event-Planners-Guide.pdf
2. Colorado Convention Center, Union Labor Requirements (PDF, 2024): https://denverconvention.com/media/general/Union-Labor-Requirements-2024_2024-08-06-154628_decs.pdf
3. Colorado Convention Center, General Service Contractor Guidelines (PDF): https://denverconvention.com/media/general/General-Service-Contractor-GSC-Guidelines_2026-06-23-213709_zvty.pdf
4. Colorado Convention Center, Exhibit at an Event: https://denverconvention.com/exhibit-at-an-event/
5. Colorado Convention Center, Order Internet: https://denverconvention.com/exhibit-at-an-event/order-internet
6. Colorado Convention Center, Order Exhibitor Services: https://denverconvention.com/exhibit-at-an-event/order-exhibitor-services
7. GES, Food Safety and Sampling Information for a 2025 CCC show: https://ordering.ges.com/016600571/download/FoodSafetySamplingInfo
8. City and County of Denver, Tax Guide Topic 70 (PDF): https://www.denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/1/finance/documents/treasury/tax-guides/2026/taxguidetopic70_salestax.pdf
9. TSNN, Top 250 Trade Shows 2026-2027 white paper (PDF): https://eu-assets.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt8634bd701c67871e/blte71fc5dedfcc531f/6a32b35efc7db16580e8096d/TSNNTop250-2026-2027_WhitePaper-0-Combined-v5.pdf
10. Colorado Convention Center, Parking: https://denverconvention.com/parking
11. RTD, A Line facts and figures: https://www.rtd-denver.com/open-records/reports-and-policies/facts-and-figures/a-line
12. RTD, Theatre District/Convention Center station: https://app.rtd-denver.com/facilities/theatre-district-convention-center
13. SME, MINEXCHANGE 2027 Exhibitor Schedule: https://smeannualconference.org/exhibitor-schedule/
14. Colorado Convention Center, 2026 Exhibitor Services Order Form (PDF, as posted by a 2026 CCC show): https://s23.a2zinc.net/clients/Diversified/geoweek2026/CUSTOM/PDFs/2026-CCC-Exhibitor-Services-Packet-Fillable.pdf
15. Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, INFO #15A Colorado Labor Relations Rules and Procedures (PDF): https://cdle.colorado.gov/sites/cdle/files/info_%2315a_colorado_labor_relations_rules_and_procedures_10.21.22.pdf
16. Colorado General Assembly, HB26-1005: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb26-1005
17. RTD, Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project: https://www.rtd-denver.com/railproject
18. RTD, Final June 2026 Service Changes: https://www.rtd-denver.com/service-changes/final-june-26-service-changes
19. RTD, Final September 2026 Service Changes: https://www.rtd-denver.com/service-changes/final-september-2026-service-changes