Convention center guide

Exhibiting at the San Diego Convention Center

The San Diego Convention Center on the bay and the hotels around it: what to know about exhibiting in San Diego.

By Michael Flavin Last updated October 12, 2026

Please note: Venue rules, rates, labor requirements, and deadlines change often and vary by show. Always confirm details in your show's exhibitor manual and with the show's general contractor before you plan or budget.

San Diego is an easy city to enjoy as an exhibitor. The convention center sits right on the bay, the Gaslamp Quarter is just outside, and downtown is very walkable. Here's what I'd want to know before I booked travel or shipped a booth to San Diego.

San Diego Convention Center

The San Diego Convention Center is on the waterfront at 111 W. Harbor Drive. From its own space pages:

525,701 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, divisible into up to seven halls (A through H), about 2,939 10x10 booths with everything combined
204,000 square feet of meeting space in 72 meeting rooms, including two ballrooms of about 40,000 sq ft each
The 90,000 sq ft Sails Pavilion, a glass-enclosed space under the sail-shaped roof that's used for everything from receptions to exhibits
Eight loading dock access points, with drive-on access from the docks into each hall

The building is long. Halls A through H run about 1,918 feet end to end, so check which hall your booth is in before you plan meetings.

Other San Diego venues I'd keep on your radar

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. On the bay, with 320,000 sq ft of total event space, including 89,000 sq ft of exhibit space (Hyatt fact sheet).
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. 271,186 sq ft of total event space, and its 35,631 sq ft Grand Ballroom fits up to 137 booths (Marriott).

Local labor rules and EACs

Who does what. California is not a right-to-work state, and the San Diego Convention Center is very open about its union partnerships. Per its labor partnerships page, it has an Exclusive Jurisdiction Agreement, in place since 2004, with IATSE Local 122, IBEW Local 569, the Painters' Tradeshow and Sign Crafts Local 831 and Teamsters Local 542. Those unions do the exhibit and theatrical work under the show's contractors. The building also has collective bargaining agreements with the Carpenters, Operating Engineers, Plumbers and Pipefitters, SEIU and others.

What you can do yourself. The convention center's regulations don't publish a list of what exhibitors can set up themselves, so check your show's exhibitor manual. One rule to know: cleaning is exclusive to the convention center. That includes vacuuming your booth, and it applies to exhibitors and EACs as well as the contractors, so order booth cleaning through the building.

Using your own exhibit house (EAC). Normally you file your show's EAC form with the general contractor or show management and have the EAC send a certificate of insurance. The convention center requires show management to submit its list of contractors at least 30 days before the first move-in day, so your show's EAC deadline will come before that. Go by the date in your exhibitor manual. EACs can't provide any booth cleaning here.

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 San Diego.

These are the practical things I'd want to know before exhibiting in San Diego. Where I could check a venue- or city-specific detail against an official source, I've linked it. The rest is general advice that works in any convention city.

Advance warehouse or direct to show?

The San Diego Convention Center won't accept show materials or freight. Carriers have to deliver to your show's official service contractor or show management during the contracted days, and nothing can arrive before the first contracted day. Also, the FedEx Office in the convention center only handles outgoing shipments. It won't accept or store incoming packages (SDCC regulations). So use the advance warehouse or ship direct to the contractor, not to the building.

Move-in and move-out

There's no truck marshaling at the convention center itself. Your show's official service contractor sets it up (SDCC regulations), so use the address and schedule in your manual. Closed-toe shoes are required in the exhibit halls and on the docks during move-in and move-out, and children under 18 aren't allowed on the floor.

Peak seasons and big annual shows

The big one is Comic-Con International in July, when downtown hotels fill up for blocks around the convention center. San Diego's mild weather keeps the convention calendar busy year-round, so book hotels early for any major show.

Hotel strategy

Big bayfront hotels like the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and the Manchester Grand Hyatt are a short walk from the convention center, and the Gaslamp Quarter hotels are just across Harbor Drive. Most exhibitors can walk. The MTS Trolley helps if you're staying farther out (see Getting there below).

Neighborhoods for client dinners

The Gaslamp Quarter is right across the street, so it's the default. For something a little quieter, I'd look at Little Italy or the East Village. The San Diego Tourism Authority has a neighborhood guide.

Last-minute printing and supplies

The convention center has a FedEx Office, but remember it's for outgoing shipments only (SDCC regulations). For printing, call it before you arrive to confirm what it can do for your show, or use a print shop downtown.

Wi-Fi and internet

Smart City Networks handles internet, Wi-Fi and phones for exhibitors (SDCC exhibitor services). Its SDCC exhibitor ordering guide (effective October 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026) lists basic Light Wired Internet at $895 by the advance deadline, $1,140 after that and $1,368 on site. Its dedicated services allow your own router. Smart City's guide says a personal hotspot will work, but it runs on a shared cellular network, so it can slow down or drop when the hall is busy.

Food sampling and outside food

No outside food or beverage is allowed in the convention center. Exhibitors who make or distribute food or beverage products related to the event can give out samples from their booth with approval before the show. Samples are limited to 2 oz. of solid food and 4 oz. of non-alcoholic beverage, and alcohol sampling has to be served by the convention center's food and beverage department (SDCC regulations). CBD sales and sampling aren't allowed at the venue.

Weather and time of year

San Diego's weather is about as easy as it gets for a trade show. It's mild year-round, though late spring and early summer often bring cloudy, cool mornings along the coast. Bring a light layer for the evenings by the water.

Sales tax on show services

The sales tax rate in the City of San Diego is 7.75% (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration). The convention center's regulations refer sales and use tax questions to the show's license agreement, so ask show management if you plan to sell on site.

Getting there

San Diego International Airport is only about three miles away, roughly 10 to 15 minutes by car or shuttle. The MTS Trolley has two stops right in front of the convention center, and the Gaslamp Quarter is just across the street. Check the convention center's getting here page for construction updates on Harbor Drive before you drive in.

San Diego is an easy city to love as an exhibitor. Book your hotel early for the big shows. For the rest of the city, San Diego Tourism Authority is the place to start.

Sources

All convention center guides

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