Chicago Convention Center

McCormick Place
McCormick Place Events
History of Chicago McCormick Place

Chicago's McCormick Place is the premier convention facility in North America. Located just minutes from downtown, Chicago McCormick Place is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and attracts close to 3 million visitors each year.

McCormick Center Chicago is comprised of three state-of-the-art buildings: the North and South Buildings and Lakeside Center. Together, they form what many consider to be the economic engine that powers the entire convention and tradeshow industry.

McCormick Place Hotels -

If you are attending a convention or event at Chicago McCormick Place, stay at our comfortable boutique hotel just 20 minutes from McCormick Center Chicago. After a long day of meetings, presentations, and functions at Chicago McCormick Place, you'll want to relax in a peaceful, down-to-earth setting.

Our 59 guestrooms feature 22 suites, and all of our guestrooms are tastefully decorated and appointed with boutique amenities such as free wireless broadband Internet access, premium cable television, refrigerators, and microwave oven. Several rooms come with sofa beds and separate sitting areas so you can spread out and get some work done or unwind in comfort.

All of our guests receive complimentary continental breakfasts, and there are also complimentary bottles of water in each guestroom. We have a fully equipped onsite workout room with whirlpool spa, and our fabulous location in the Lakeview district puts us in the middle of a vibrant neighborhood replete with shops, restaurants, and cafes.

McCormick Place Events -

The size and versatility of Chicago McCormick Place is impressive, and by the numbers comprise 2.2 million square feet of exhibit halls, 112 meeting rooms, assembly seating for 10,000 people, a 4,249 seat theater (the Arie Crown), 3 smaller theaters seating 345 each, ceiling heights up to 50 feet, and easy access to 8,000 parking spaces.

McCormick Center Chicago also features a 50,000 square-foot pedestrian promenade, referred to as the Grand Concourse, which links the entire campus and contains retail shops and other visitor amenities. Full service bars, cafes, and restaurants are located throughout the entire campus.

History of Chicago McCormick Place -

McCormick Place is named in honor of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, a controversial and charismatic visionary who served as editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. It was Colonel McCormick who spearheaded the drive to build a world-class Chicago convention center. Under Colonel McCormick's leadership, the state endorsed construction of a permanent exhibition hall to host conventions and trade shows. Col. McCormick never lived to see his dream become a reality. Chicago McCormick Place bearing his name opened in 1960, five years after his death.