The largest convention centers across North America
The bigger, the better, as the saying goes. This is specifically true for meeting planners, who need every square foot to shape their events.
Convention centers are the go-to choice because they typically have a large amount of exhibit space and breakout rooms available, allowing planners to organize and orchestrate an experience for attendees.
Smart Meetings rounded up the top convention centers with the most square footage to help planners better pinpoint what space works best for them.
1. McCormick Place—Chicago, Illinois
Total square footage: 9 million
At the top of the heap, McCormick Place in Chicago has 2.6 million sq. ft. of exhibition space, and the full campus is 9 million sq. ft. of total space.
There are four buildings in total: the North Building, the South Building, the West Building and Lakeside Center. All buildings are connected via pedestrian sky bridges, underground service corridors and the McCormick Place Busway.
McCormick Place is 13 miles from Midway and 20 miles from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and has many transportation options, including downtown Chicago’s Loop, which directly connects to the Metra Electric Line and CTA buses and shuttles utilized during events.
McCormick Place is also LEED-certified with a 20,000-square-foot rooftop garden used for catering.
2. Orange County Convention Center—Orlando, Florida
Total square footage: 7 million
Sunshine and space. Orlando has it; planners want it.
Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) has 7 million sq. ft. of campus space and 2.1 million sq. ft. of exhibit space across the West and North/South buildings.
Read More: Notes from the Road: Orlando
The West Building has 1.1 million sq. ft. of contiguous space and the North/South Building has 950,282 sq. ft.
OCCC is also connected via pedestrian bridges to nearby hotels, including Hilton Orlando, Rosen Centre, Hyatt Regency Orlando and Rosen Plaza Hotel.
OCCC is 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO), which is convenient for attendees who need to rush to their flights.
3. Las Vegas Convention Center—Las Vegas, Nevada
Total square footage: 4.6 million
Conveniently located just off the Vegas Strip, Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) has a total of 4.6 million sq. ft., including 2.9 million sq. ft. of exhibition space, which also includes a theatre capacity of 2,376, banquet capacity of 11,080 and a classroom capacity of 1,100.
Las Vegas Convention Center is undergoing a $600 million renovation that will continue through 2025.
Read More: Las Vegas: A Flair for the Fabulous
LVCC is within a short walking distance of 150,000 hotel rooms—because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t like a convention center that’s quick and easy to walk to? Weather permitting.
The convention center is accessible via the Las Vegas Monorail, a 3.9-mile train system. Trains arrive every four to eight minutes and travel between MGM Grand and SAHARA Las Vegas.
The Vegas Loop, the Tesla-powered transportation system, offers convenient transportation throughout the LVCC campus. Attendees can utilize the free on-campus rides.
4. Georgia World Congress Center—Atlanta, Georgia
Total square footage: 3.9 million
Between the interconnected three buildings of A, B and C, Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) has more than 4.1 million sq. ft. of total space, including 1.5 million sq. ft. of flexible space, as well as 98 meeting rooms, two high-end boardrooms and two ballrooms.
GWCC is equipped for vehicle drive-on, making load-in/out seamless for events with heavy equipment and stage sets.
For planners looking to host a TED Talk-style opening ceremony, Sidney Marcus Auditorium can seat 1,740 attendees.
GWCC’s high ceilings in many of the exhibit halls have built-in rigging points that may benefit tech expos, sport activations and other entertainment-based events.
The convention center has flexible meeting room clusters—modular pods—that allow planners to create larger breakout sessions or smaller configurations.
Outdoor space consists of the 22-acre Centennial Olympic Park, which is perfect for receptions and concerts.
5. Jacob K. Javits Convention Center—New York
Total square footage: 3.3 million
You don’t get nicknamed The Big Apple for nothing.
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center has 850,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, 500,000 sq. ft. of continuous exhibition space on one level and 122 meeting rooms. If that isn’t enough to prove its size, the campus spans six city blocks.
Javits Convention Center is also LEED-certified with 2,014 solar panels and a 6.75-acre green roof.
There are 1,400 Wi-Fi access points around the campus that allow 140,000 users to connect at one time.
The conference center is conveniently located in New York City’s Hudson Yards, making it easily accessible from LaGuardia Airport (LGA), JFK Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) using multiple forms of transportation like the subway, bus, Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad. Attendees can also hop on the ferry.
6. New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center—New Orleans, Louisiana
Total square footage: 3 million
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has 322,924 sq. ft. of meeting space, 296 meeting rooms and 1.1 million sq. ft. of exhibit space.
Morial Convention Center offers a full technology service that is fiber optic. The tech team can handle the cabling, networking equipment and extra necessary support for smooth internet connection. The convention center offers free Wi-Fi in all public areas to guests.
On-site staff are easily distinguishable in purple coats and can answer all questions. They are also first aid- and CPR/AED-qualified.
7. America’s Center—St. Louis, Missouri
Total square footage: 2.7 million
St. Louis’s America’s Center, conveniently located in the heart of downtown, has completed phase one of a $256 million expansion, with phase two finishing in late 2025. The renovation will add 72,000 sq. ft. of exhibit hall space, double the number of loading docks, a hybrid meeting broadcast stage and an enhanced ventilation and filtration system.
Currently, America’s Center offers 502,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 80 meeting rooms and 67,000 seats in the Dome at America’s Center.
There are more than 7,500 hotel rooms within a mile of America’s Center.
8. San Diego Convention Center—San Diego, California
Total square footage: 2.6 million
Waterfronts and sunny days? San Diego Convention Center has that too. There is also 2.6 million total sq. ft. of space that includes 615,701 sq. ft. of exhibit space and 204,114 sq. ft. of meeting space that holds two 40,000-square-foot ballrooms.
The Sails Pavilion is 90,000 sq. ft. and is located between the two ballrooms. It is glass-enclosed and provides amazing views of the outside.
In 2025, San Diego Convention Center achieved LEED Gold Certification for Cities and Communities from the U.S. Green Building Council. Fruits, vegetables and more are purchased within a 150-mile radius. The kitchens have no disposals, so any green waste is composted. There are water refill stations situated throughout the building.
Attendees are granted complimentary Wi-Fi in the lobby, meeting rooms and ballrooms. There is also digital signage for key locations as well as mobile displays. San Diego Convention Center is complete with AV and production capabilities.
The convention center is within walking distance of many hotels, shops and restaurants, and is 3 miles from San Diego International Airport (SAN).
9. Huntington Place Convention Center—Detroit, Michigan
Total square footage: 2.6 million
Huntington Place Convention Center offers planners 723,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and more than 200,000 sq. ft. of flexible space. The Wi-Fi system allows for 30,000 users at the same time.
There is a 40,000-square-foot ballroom that is divisible and glass-enclosed so guests can get a view of the Detroit River and skyline. The Riverview Ballroom can accommodate theater seating, banquet style or a reception.
Huntington Place has 24,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space that can be used for a variety of activations.
The convention center has a state-of-the-art digital signage system and high-speed Wi-Fi.
Also worth mentioning: Huntington Place Convention Center gained LEED Gold Certification, making it the largest LEED-certified building in Michigan.
10. Toronto Congress Centre—Toronto, Ontario
Total square footage: 1 million
Toronto Congress Centre features more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibit, meeting and convention space. It also offers 56 state-of-the-art meeting rooms totaling over 100,000 sq. ft.
There is also a 30,000 square-foot ballroom, the largest in Canada.
Loading docks are on street level, allowing for easy access, and include 30 heated and covered Ingenious Docks and 12 drive-in doors for cars and trucks.
Toronto Congress Centre is five minutes from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and 20 minutes to downtown Toronto.
There are more than 8,000 hotel rooms within walking or short driving distance. For guests driving in, the on-site parking lot has over 6,000 spaces.
Planning a small get-together or a feast? The culinary team can accommodate from 50 to 10,000 guests. Not to mention, the venue partners with local growers and wine producers to give guests the very best of the region.
