McCormick Place

What a great convention center! Wear comfortable shoes and if attending a large convention know your transportation routes, busses etc. before you arrive. I encountered many helpful employees throughout the building. Convenient business center and plenty of food and beverage options! I had an amazing experience attending the National Restaurant Association 2025 Trade Show!

I remember when the Auto show was so much bigger. There were a lot of nice new cars and Trucks. Subaru got the attention from the audience with a nice set up for the new Outback! Always look for a GERALD owned dealer! You have locations pretty much every direction!

It a large convention center with plenty of room for events and panels. Everything relatively easy to traverse & easy to locate with proper signing to make it easy to find on one's own. The staff was friendly and I had no issues. The Regency being attached is very convenient if you are working a convention as a guest or have a need for rest or dropping off on your loots. It's one of the nicer convention halls I have worked at.

This place is big! For me it took a while to get to the Auto Show from Parking Lot A. Although it was cloudy the walk bridge view of Cermak road and of McCormick square is nice. Also it’s nice that there is a train too. The place is cleaner than I expected. Lastly I got to the Auto Show and had fun.

Nice Location, we were here for the ProMat Show. Everything seems to be well arranged. We came with a Shuttle Bus from Downtown and it was a quick ride beside the common roads. Restaurants are quite good, the staff is always friendly.

McCormick Place: Where the Carpet is as Wild as the Crowds (and Just as Hard to Escape) McCormick Place, oh McCormick Place. You're like the Grand Canyon of convention centers – vast, impressive, and slightly terrifying. This place is a labyrinth of interconnected buildings, a rabbit warren on steroids. Getting lost here is practically a rite of passage. But hey, at least you'll have some interesting carpet to look at while you wander aimlessly. Seriously, the carpet in this place is a sight to behold. It's a psychedelic explosion of colors and patterns that could rival a 70s disco floor. I'm pretty sure I saw a hidden message in there somewhere...or maybe I was just hallucinating from sensory overload. But let's give credit where credit is due. McCormick Place has some seriously impressive facilities. Need a bathroom? No problem! They're practically on every corner. Feeling parched after hours of walking? Water stations abound! And forget stairs, this place is escalator heaven. You can practically glide from one floor to the other without breaking a sweat (unless you count the sweat induced by navigating the crowds). Speaking of crowds, be prepared to be swept away by the human tide. People amble around in packs, following the herd like a group of confused sheep. It's a mesmerizing spectacle, and slightly terrifying if you have any sort of personal space issues. And then there's the ballroom. This thing is HUGE. I mean, you could probably fit a small village in there. It's the perfect place for a massive conference, a giant wedding, or maybe even a monster truck rally (just a suggestion). So, should you visit McCormick Place? Well, if you have a conference to attend, you don't really have a choice. But even if you don't, it's worth a visit just for the sheer spectacle of it all. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes, bring a map (and a compass), and maybe pack a lunch. You might be there a while.

I came to the NRA Restaurant Show in Chicago, and the exhibition hall is just so huge! I’ve been walking around for so long that my legs are about to give out. I’m really tempted to rent one of those electric scooters to get around, but I feel a bit embarrassed. I don’t want people to think I’m making a big deal out of nothing. But honestly, I could really use a break, or I might not be able to keep going.

Had a great time here looking at all the cars plus saw my future car too. The convention center is large and going during the week was better than dealing with the weekend rush too 9.1

The largest convention in North America is located in Chicago, how about that. It is spread out amongst four buildings and near lake Michigan . There is a Hyatt Regency joined to the convention center. You can take the green line to the Metra and ride 2 stops and it will let you off inside the mccormick place stop. You can also take the green line to cermak McCormick place stop and walk down cermak distance of less than a mile. You can also take the red line to the cermak Chinatown stop and walk less than a mile as well to the McCormick place convention center. I was here for 1 day for the MAS-Con convention. I had a good time . The sheer size was overwhelming but I can see myself possibly coming back if all the things that made it possible for me to come all the same.

First time here. The campus buildings are huge. The one I went to was the West building. I came for the big Salesforce Connections conference. It didn't disappoint. The building has multiple levels accessible via escalators, elevators, or stairs. There are numerous meeting rooms, ball rooms, large rooms, you name it. In particular, we had all you can eat snacks, DJ music, and free gifts. The keynote speakers were great, and the breakout sessions were educational. Parking was easy. I used SpotHero to reserve a spot less than a block away.

I'm not sure why someone said it's abandoned, there are events here all the time like C2E2 and the auto show. SMH. I didn't drive here because I knew parking could be a pain. They had 3 lots that filled up fast. I came here for C2E2. It opened at 10 am on a Saturday but I arrived shortly after 12 pm. The line for will call went quickly as well as the security check. They didn't even check my backpack. There wasn't much of a line to get into the main area. I recommend downloading the app, so that you don't have to pull out the map each time. Pro-tip: bring a backpack with water, empty bottle to refill, snacks, power bank, phone charger, hoodie (Chicago weather is unpredictable), and cash. Oh yeah, either put on deodorant/cologne, or bring some with you. You'll notice some powerful BO when walking around. They just started doing credit cards at the autograph booths but they were more annoying. People's credit cards were declined or they didn't know their own info, made the lines even slower. Be sure to walk around the booths, they give out free samples of food and drinks. Not many but a few. Volunteers by the autograph area are very useless. Don't bother asking them general questions because they will most likely give you a dumb look or give you inaccurate info.

McCormick Place is, I suppose, good for its purpose, but it is just so massive that it's kind of a PITA to visit. I've been here for a conference and the auto show and both times felt like I was going to get lost and wander the rest of my days trying to find my way back. There's parking--I didn't have trouble finding a space, though the first time I was here for an event I was dropped off. However, my biggest problems are parking related. Firstly, the doors from the parking garage to the interior of the building have no button for automatic opening. How do people with disabilities enter if they need the door to open? I mean, there are definitely folks with disabilities who drive. And to add insult to injury, there are TWO doors (so enter one door, then there's a few feet before another door) and neither of them have a button to swing the doors open. I mean... in one direction, those doors open in rather than out. So how does a person in a wheelchair, for instance, open the door toward them and then get into the doorway to exit? Tell me you didn't think about inclusive design without telling me. Secondly, they only have a few pay stations to pay for your parking. Double check if you're parking here, but you may be able to pay in advance when you arrive for your parking, rather than paying at the end, which may make the line a little less painful.

Although this is a very big center, one big drawback is that it is far from other places downtown. Their bathrooms were very outdated. The security staff was very nice and quick to get in for the event I was at. Parking can be expensive, depending on what option you choose. It is not too far from the lake, so depending on where you are staying you may be able to walk along the lakefront.

Beautiful location to have conventions. As you walk through the front you automatically see 3 flights of stairs and escalators. This is how vastly large this place was. I was here for the Magnet conference and just seeing the purple color of our magnet conference displayed on podiums was beautiful and incited excitement in me. Makes me want to run a race here just to come back Bus 3 takes you all the way to the front. I stayed at the Congress Hotel which was further away than other hotels but the transportation back and forth was easy and had no issues with it.

Big convention center. It has its own CTA station even though it's kind of far away from it, but there's a Metra station. McCormick Place is where Chicago holds most of the conventions for industries and whatever. Clean for the most part and that's impressive because there's lots to clean around here. This is close to lots of hotels which is good for those coming from far away to visit. A lot of conventions happen here. It usually has one about every week or so it seems. These are usually for various industries and those types of things. Most often these are private events. Seems like these aren't usually open to the public though. For real. Go on the website and see for yourself. Checked out the list of upcoming events. There literally every one said not open to the public, sigh. Luckily I have been to a few in the past so I can share about those experiences at least. The restaurant one is probably the most popular because of the food and everyone likes to eat so it for sure gets busy when they have this particular one going on, and tickets can get expensive but it's worth it to go once. Get here a few ways, but avoid getting here by car. It's expensive to begin with but even more with paying for parking. There's cheaper and more efficient options with public transportation.

I've only ever been here to attend race expos, to pick up my race packet for either the Chicago Marathon or the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon. The halls that I've been in are over on the East Building/Lakeside Center. The convention halls here are huge and have been well maintained in the years that I've been here. It's pretty convenient to get to while using public transportation. There's even a Metra Station here. You can also use the CTA Cermak-McCormick Station for the Green line or CTA Cermak-Chinatown Station for the Red line.

This is the largest event facility I've ever seen or know of in North America. Easy to get around inside, however, not the best for parking, ease of access by car if not familiar with the area, or dining options. You may as well be at a concert venue looking for a healthy meal. You'll find a coffee and overpriced McD's but if you aren't looking for an $11 slice of awful pizza, plan ahead and eat elsewhere. I did visit a kiosk for an apple ($2.25) and the lady was so taken aback that I asked for an apple, she told me to help myself. Trying to get to campus is quite difficult. You may want to park elsewhere and take an Uber to a door. If you park on site, you will have to walk or wait for a shuttle IF you manage to find an entrance to a parking lot. You cannot trust the signage or the lighted street signs that are event specific. It directed traffic in the option direction of the facility and any parking. Only by GPS were we able to find one of the parking lots. Facilities are clean, and there are plenty of staff on site to help with directions. Once the venue is closed, if you have to get back to your car, you may be able to still get in after hours to take the path you know to get to your car. There are a few restaurants outside of the venue but not many. Near the water, and a freeway junction, but don't venture on foot too far off campus. This is not a safe area for foot traffic.

Large, clean convention center that can host multiple conventions. Well maintained outskirts and lawns. Plenty of bathrooms. Good wifi connection. Beautiful views of Lake Michigan. It is connected to the Hyatt and Marriott hotels. Location is easy to get to by mass transit (bus typically which will connect you to the train system) or ride sharing. Minimal food options in the center. The hotels have cafes and some eateries but would recommend saving your appetite for a chow in Chinatown or head back to the busier areas of Chicago.

We come here at least once a year. I'm in a wheelchair & the ramps from the parking garage are not very wheelchair accessible. They are VERY steep! There's no way anyone would be able to navigate them alone. Once in the facility it's ok however quite a few staff had no idea where elevators were or how to get to the wheelchair seating in the theater.

Really nice. Parking is a challenge and hard to find. Lots of choices for food. Good service and the intro desk is helpful.

It's soooooo big. Really huge. Massive. Gargantuan. But when you need alot of space for a large event, this is the place. Alot of restrooms and snack kiosks we're still closed probably due to the pandemic. And we actually parked in the wrong lot so we literally walked for 30 minutes before even getting to the expo hall. But I'm glad Chicago has a venue like this that can attract large trade shows and hope they make a comeback after the pandemic.

Huge facility for major events. I am attending the IMTS 2022 function for the Whos who of manufacturing event. This event is very well organized with color coordinated directions for venues and plenty of easy to see signage. 3 floors with a cafe centrally located and multiple food stands throughout the layout. Carpeted throughout with plenty of walking space for foot traffic. Parking is nearby and accessible through building. Easy to navigate.

I've been coming to the McCormick Place since the early 80's when I'd help my dad with the auto show. Back then the building was solely on the east side of Lake Shore Drive, and it was just one large building. When they expanded the buildings to the west side of Lake Shore Drive, they were developed in a very user-friendly way. And given the size of the buildings, that's a noble feat! The entire McCormick area has easy road access and a lot of parking, some on the street if you look in the right places. Inside the buildings you'll find just about everything. The weekends may not offer the same storefronts but there's always somewhere to eat in here. Over the years I've been here for trade-shows, work, a million auto shows, and most recently a volleyball tournament, which was interesting to see as they had to transform the entire B hall into a 60 court megaplex. They did an amazing job with that setup. Every time I come here I feel like the layout is smart, navigation is easy, and the reason I'm there is enjoyable. With so many interconnected hotels, restaurants and amenities, McCormick really is a small city unto itself. Cheers.

McCormick Place is a massive multi-building (4), multi-level (5) that is the largest convention center in North America. It is the country's premier meeting with easy access from all areas of Chicago including downtown, O'Hare via public or private transportation. With over 170 meeting rooms, 4 ballrooms, 4 theaters, 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, ceiling heights up to 50 feet, free wi-fi to attendees, the buildings are linked by dramatic pedestrian promenades and sky bridges, containing retail shops and other visitor amenities. There are alos over 100 pieces of art in the south and west buildings, take time to stop and enjoy it if you can. The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is adjacent to McCormick Place and the Marriott Marquis Chicago is just a short walk away for those who would like to stay nearby. I have included a map of the facility because it is very easy to get lost, but once you know the layout, it is easy to navigate. Probably best known for the Chicago Auto Show #CAS19, McCormick Place is host to many conventions, meetings and trade shows throughout the year. You can also visit on most days and take time to enjoy the architecture of the space, look up and enjoy the beautifully lighted hallways and enjoy the fountains. But be warned, you might be stopped by security that is located at every entrance. Parking is plentiful, with prices ranging from approximately $15.00 for outdoor parking to $36.00 for indoor parking and most lots do not have in and out priviledges. No matter where you park, you will definately have to walk a good 15 to 20 minutes, so make sure to add that to your traveling time. The only downside to the facility is that I feel that the majority of the bathrooms need to be updated. Most of the fixtures are outdated and should be modernized.

I have been to McCormick Place dozens of times over the years for a variety of events like the Auto Show, Consumer Electric Show, Houseware Show, National Restaurant Asociation Show. McCormick Place is the largest convention center in North America. The newest addition is a spectacular piece of architecture & definitely worthy of hosting events which brings a ton of business for Chicago Years ago I got to work on setting up the booths for The Consumer Electric Show in the capacity of a carpenter. My Dads uncle financed Matsushita the founder of Panasonic when he was starting up so my dad (who was a carpenter) wrote a letter to Masushita. He was able to not only get himself onboard but me as well. Kind of cool to think that my dad was able to pull strings w/the founder of Panasonic and get me a job. This was in one of the older buildings that make up McCormick Place. Fast forward the Auto show is now exhibited in the newer building. The entry into the facility @ 2301 S King Drive is beautiful. As you enter the space there is a large 3 story arched atrium that serves as a circulation corridor that runs the length of the center back to the exhibition hall where the auto show is housed. As you walk in the entry there are a series of level changes. You enter at street level off of King Drive about a 1/3 of the way down the corridor there are a series of stairs & escalators that help w/the transition to the first level up. As you continue back there is another series of stairs and escalators that bring you up another level to the exhibition hall level where the auto show is. The whole connecting link is covered by an arched vault w/curved acoustic panels to help absorb some of the sound. The low end of the arched circulation is on the south side of the spine with the arch higher on the north side. The division of this circulation spine is very artfully done w/a continuous row of stone clad columns ending at continuous clerestory above. The vertical element continues in the same spacing rhythm, but w/a large vertical curtain wall member that mirrors the colonnade below and at the same time ties into the arched ceiling where the curve of the arch follows continues the same rhythm of the colonnade creating a beautiful well thought out aesthetically pleasing space. For me I can really appreciate the thought of the whole design and how they were able to integrate all the different components into a gorgeous space. McCormick Place is made up of 4 buildings build over a period of several decades and is over 2,670,000 SF. What an awesome convention center. Unfortunately the need to provide Union labor (higher cost) at McCormick Place is causing some businesses to look to other cities where the costs are substantially less

It's amazing how many square feet of floor space this location has. Every two years the manufacturing industry puts on a show that is attended by anyone involved in machining throughout the United States and other parts of the world. If you're seriously there to learn you could spend an entire week in different areas and maybe not see everything! It's almost like a manufacturing Disneyland for those that are geeked out by that

This venue is MASSIVE and can easily handle the crowds of convention-goers! Came for the Chicago Marathon Expo and despite how many people were there, the traffic flow was good, restrooms didn't have much of a line and the City of Chicago smartly set up free shuttles to/from which made it an easy decision to go checkout everything. Even as a Non-Marathon runner, it was still really fun and there were lots of booths with vendors giving out samples and some selling merchandise. Its also nice that they have some concessions for food and coffee in the main entrance area since there isn't much in the way of food inside the Expo.

I've been coming to McCormick Center for decades, whether it's for trade shows, conventions or other expo type exhibitions this space does it as good or better than any in the country. I know lots of people on both sides of the aisle but actually there are three sides to this coin - you either exhibit- you attend or you put it together no matter the politics it's a revenue stream that seems to never dry up for the City of Chicago. The truth is everyone benefits no matter who you are if you call Chicago home, from the bum on the street, to the cabbies to the hospitality industry this place is a generator of money and everyone associated with it gets paid. This ginormous facility is the largest of its kind in North America boasting more than 2,670,000 square feet, one can easily walk five to eight miles a day attending an event here. The strategy location almost forces you to eat and drink onsite while the show is underway - grabbing a cab or Uber to grab lunch offsite can easily take 2 - 3 hours on the conservative side. No matter where your staying in the city you're only a fist full of twenties away from the front entrance to McCormick...

This was one of the largest event venues I've been in for quite come time. It's also not very easy to get to. It's about a 15-min walk from the closest train station and chaotic if you uber during a special event. All that said it's a smart venue if you have a big event. The floor plates are huge, so plenty of room for vendors to set up and spread out. The main floors are up the escalators. We found this made for a convenient meet up area right near the street level doors.

Always liked this convention center for a variety of shows...like the Auto Show and the RV & Boat Show. Now they have opened part of it up for Covid shots with the National Guard helping. As to the McCormick facilities...they were really nice. Clean meeting rooms, pretty fresh bathrooms, clean carpets, and all around loads of space. When we put this Pandemic behind us, Chicago is ready to welcome the world. Lots of convenient parking at the Convention Center and in the Soldier Field lots nearby. Nice safe buildings for a major city so you don't have to be worried. Give this place a try and you'll like it.

Stopped by to pick up my Hot Chocolate Race Day package. They usually host the annual vendor show and pick-up. It seems to be I. A different location in the building every year. Signage wasn't clear as to how to find the vendor pickup, but we eventually did. Large space. Very good for social distancing. Always busy. I love the atmosphere!

It's been a long time since I was in the windy city for a convention. Forgot what it was like to attend a show here at this facility. McCormick Place is huge, worn looking, and a bit outdated. It does get the job done though. Adequate for any size event small or large. It's far away from the downtown area where all the hotels, restaurants, and places to eat are. It's located in an area where there is basically nothing. Nowhere to eat, nowhere to walk to, nothing to see, nothing to do. It's basically an eyesore of a functioning convention center in the bumfluck Chicago suburbs. Expect a $15-20 cab/uber ride from your downtown hotel. If you have a 6pm flight, and heading to O'Hare airport from this place, be sure to leave around 3pm as traffic is a nightmare and it's easily an hour ride. As far as convention centers go this has to be the worst when it comes to the food offerings. Overpriced God awful swill that is all on the unhealthy side. Processed and overpriced crap to eat here and not much else. There is a Hilton a few minutes away to walk to and eat at the bar area which has better menu options on the pricey side. Otherwise, it's a basic facility. Not great, not horrible, it's just kind of there. It really should be torn down and placed much closer to downtown as a modern convention center.

I always like the space here better for Race Expos way better than the Auto Show. Put on your walking shoes, it's a long way from the entrance/coat check to some of these halls! In addition to the sprawling space, they have nice, intimate rooms for seminars. It's easy to get around via instructions, lots of functioning bathrooms too. If possible bring food or eat in advance, the prices in the fast food places are kind of bumped up. The food ranges from fast to healthy. Today my sister was picking up her Hot Chocolate 5K or 10K packet. It is always so well organized, picking up a packet, bib, and shirt. This year they added a feature where you try on a separate shirt (NOT yours) to see how it fits, then exchange it as you see fit, instead of exchanging an already worn shirt. They have samples of hot chocolate (what else) protein or energy bars, drinks, clothing, accessories, and they advertise for other races, (Cinco de Miler, Turkey Trot, Soldier Field 10 Fight for Air).

I've been here a handful of times for conventions. Simply put, this place is massive! I don't know of another convention center that comes close to the same size as this place. They have food courts as well as places to stop and get drinks. Customer information center. We have left mid day to go get food, and they have staff outside assisting with getting taxi's so that you can get out of there quickly. Buses have designated pick up and drop off locations that are out of the main traffic areas. Staff was friendly and it seemed like they had people there doing everything you can think of. Customer support, cleaning and maintenance, security...you name it they were taking care of it. The facility itself is the premier convention facility in North America. It has more than 2.6 million square feed of exhibition space makes it perfect for our every other year trip to come to a conference. Keep in mind, wear some comfy shoes, your feet won't forgive you if you don't....plan on walking a lot if you come here for anything.

The Chicago Auto Show is a great way to start the year off! There is always something for everyone and it's family friendly. I am a hands-on person and enjoy the more interactive exhibits. I will stand in line for a trail ride or a test drive. I enjoy playing the games win or lose! The free bags, the key chains, the stress balls and the photos with props! Just a good time!

Though this venue is massive, it is well organized and maintained for holding large-scale events, conferences, and expos. The parking garage is super easy to navigate and it's always nice to take advantage of a validation option for parking in there. You can get the elevator to the building easily from your parking spot. Once you are in the building, the signage is very clear so you know where you're going. Inside, the facility is clean and well-kept. Lots of food and dining options there, in addition to some really cool art pieces. I love the fountains, in particular--especially the ones that are lit up with different colors in addition to the awesome jumping fountains. This is a top-notch expo/convention venue.

Pros: Went for FNCE, the place is phenomenal for conferences. Spacious, plenty of restroom, lots of stairs and escalators. They maintained the restroom and conference rooms very clean. Cons: They need more coffee stations during conferences, the Starbucks had a 1 hour line, the other coffee stands about the same. If you are going for a conference/event in the early morning, get your coffee before you arrive. They also ran out of food fairly quickly during the lunch rush, additionally, the food selection offered left a lot to be desired.

What an event highly recommended to come to the national restaurant association . Beautiful professional appliances and high end cookware , dishes, furnishings everything for your dream kitchen. It's an international show with beautiful large and small appliances. Not to mention the world renown chefs. Wandered around just skimmed the surface and had great samples of seafood, beef purveyors , pastries and all these gastronomic delights. I signed up so I'll definitely return next year.

Love coming here for all the different conventions that our great city has to offer. We came for the annual Chicago Auto Show. We try to make it a family annual outing to see the new car and concept cars that the big manufacturers have to offer... and the little one loves to jump in and out of the different cars as well. The place is massive and you can tell why the show is held here every year. With all the square footage that the center has and all the massive car manufacturers displays that are put up, you don't feel like it's crammed. There are tons of places to move around. This year, I loved the Subaru display that included the dogs that were up for adoption. We waited in line for a little while in order to get into the area that the dogs were in and the daughter had a grand time playing with the little puppies available for adoption. Looking forward to the other things that are scheduled for this year... like Comic Con and other things that come up throughout the year.

Worse place to come here on a semi truck. Workers are disrespectful. I heard people are staying here since morning and waiting to unload. You have weight on your papers, they still make you go and weight for no reason. Then after many hours waiting, you wave to get an empty scale ticket. What a shithole. AVOID this place

One of the worst convention halls in the country (second only to Boston). Not in a good location in the city, terrible food options and bad floor plan for water and bathrooms.

Whether it be for Chicago Marathon, Rock n' Roll Chicago, Hot Chocolate Run, or even The Biggest Loser 5K. I get very excited to visit McCormick Place because it just does not get any better than this as for a venue for health & fitness expo. From its inner and outer beauty of the water fountains located on its premises; to its large maze like architecture which can easily get you lost if not guided by signs. I can honestly never get bored of visiting this place, even though when i visit its food court and businesses are rarely open, but it is not that I care about. Visiting McCormick Place prior to a local weekend race builds that anticipation for what many of us registered for. McCormick Place does have many other events that take place here, such as the exam to be a Chicago Police officer; The Black Women's Expo; Auto Show; American Diabetes Health and Wellness Expo, plus many more, but honestly I can only speak about what I have visited it for, which is for health & fitness expo. Getting to McCormick Place is not an issue because if you catch the CTA train it is short of a mile from CTA Cermak - McCormick Place - green line. One headache that you may encounter upon leaving McCormick Place, is a ton of taxi cabs being located in the area which may make it easy for you as a visitor, but trust me it is much more easier and cheaper catching the train. So save yourself the headache from dealing with the traffic, and decrease of money in your bank account from that taxi cab ride to wherever in the city you are going. Thomas Gouard

This is for the parking and parking staff. They are poorly organized and do not understand flow. We were there for a volleyball tournament and it was the biggest mess. It should not take 45 minutes to get in and out of the garage. Absolutely terrible

EXHIBITION-ISM The largest convention center in North America (holy sh*t!) is home to some of Chicago's most prominent trade shows. Located on scenic Lakeshore Drive just south of Soldier Field, McCormick Place hosts numerous events throughout the year including the annual National Restaurant Association show. It also holds the Boat & RV Show in January, the Auto Show in February, and several college fairs. It wasn't until last year that I'd even set foot inside this cavernous conference arena. Thanks to Jeff & Janet G, I was able to attend the NRA show for the first time ever and had an absolute blast. I returned once again in 2018 with Nichole C, as we ate our way around 5 miles worth of vendors. Originally built in 1958, it opened to the public two years later and currently sits at a cost of $2 billion (including renovations). Additions were built over the decades, like the West Building, which has one of the world's largest single ballrooms at 100,000 sq ft, the size of a football field. The grand concourse is illuminated by plenty of natural lighting, with hundreds of glass ceiling panels made part of the structure. Navigating the lower levels can get confusing, especially since signal reception is poor. Maps and staff will help you find your destination. MCP is split up into four interconnected buildings, but the most well-known is the 300,000 square foot East Building, commonly referred to as the Lakeside Center. The massive black roof overhang has made it a Chicago landmark and is frequently featured in documentaries about the city. As with anything downtown, parking prices are pretty steep ($20-30). What's more, getting to it from southbound Lake Shore Drive can be tricky, as you'll need to drive several miles past the convention center before making a U-turn and doubling back. * TL;DR * For a 5th grade project, I once used McCormick Place as my ideal fortress for some end-of-the-world scenario, likely because it's gigantic and has that looming appearance to it. Of course, the roughly bazillion doors would make it impossible to safeguard, but whatever, I was 10. Even though it can be an expensive endeavor, coming here for the NRA show (restaurants, not rifles) is something I look forward to every year. The convention halls are humongous, and it's always an educational experience.

Huge venue with many conference rooms on many different levels. The staff was friendly and helpful (which was great when trying to find another session). It's connected to the Marriott and the Hyatt (and maybe a Hilton) by skyways.

I have been coming to McCormick Place every May for the NRA Show ie National Restaurant Association for the past six years. My review will be of this past visit. There is many convention centers across the country however this Show always is here and at the same time. The pluses is that they have hotels connected however the location is 2 miles outside the city. Onsite there is two Starbuck's and the waiting lines are ginormous all the time. They do sell food but for this Show it makes zero sense as they are giving away food at all the booths more than anyone could ever want to eat. Thus the problem in all the Halls North,South, and Lakeside poor ventilation and each night you leave smeeling of fried foods. Also the temperature is never quite right for the massive crowds so you can hardly breath and at times the heat is overwhelming. You especially notice this when walking from the North and South halls to Lakeside. All those glass windows all attract more heat. Thankfully it isn't Summer or it would be worse. The registration this year was the best ever. Conveniently located you would walk up to the computers type in your name if preregistered and badge would print out quickly. Also getting in and out on the buses was fairly easy as well. Lastly and most importantly the bathrooms too few for the amount of people and need updating as well as more regular cleaning.

5/5 for the roof top garden tour. Over 70,000 lbs. of produce grown annually here. I highly recommend for the gardener or foodie.

La Madre of all convention centers. A place you'll walk 13,000 steps per day easily in 5 hours and their concrete floors will make your dogs bark.. What other place, outside of Vegas can you hold a trade show with 90K attendees? McCormick handles it all like its no big deal. Its a Byzantine maze of halls, Auditoriums, classrooms, and meeting rooms. Was here for a show in which Condi Rice was the Keynote speaker. Impressive, to say the least. They should offer complimentary foot massage therapy after a session here. A good tip is avoid the crazy long taxi line in front, as well as the uber area. Use the Lakeside door 38 area to make your escape, you will be rewarded with no waiting. Uber and Lyft both know this spot well...

Although I haven't been on the planner side of this venue, I loved my attendee experience. I came here for a HUGE international convention. With thousands of people, we didn't even use all the rooms this place had to offer. Loads brighter and more airy than the adjoining Marriott Marquis. Facilities are clean. All the staff was friendly and accommodating. Rooms are pretty easy to find because of signage. As I said in my review of the Marriott, I'm not the biggest fan of the surrounding Chicago neighborhood, but there are some pretty architectural structures outside. I didn't have any of the food here, as I believe everything for our event was catered by the Marriott. It was mostly the general sessions and exhibit hall that were at McCormick Place. Anyways, I could have explored this convention center for days. I had no idea it was the biggest in the country. Cool fun fact!

This is one of the better spaces that I've been to. The bathrooms are always clean, and the staff is super helpful and easy to find. There's a shuttle, the south shore train stops there, and the El train gets close by. The floor space is massive, making even huge conferences seem not overcrowded or uncomfortable. It's a bit confusing in organization, but it doesn't take long to get the hang of things, and the people there are fast to help you find where you need to go.

For conference centers, McCormick Place isn't bad. Here's why: 1) Size: It's HUGE! I attended a 22,000+ conference there and it felt much smaller because of the sheer size of the place. It's massive and you'll get thousands of steps walking from room to room. 2) Design: For a potentially sterile conference center, they did a good job of creating an inviting environment with fountains, high ceilings, etc. 3) Bathrooms: They are plenty throughout the building that you'll never have to walk so far. 4) Accessibility: The Metra runs right through it, which is a good thing because it's kind of in a random part of town. Lyft/Ubers are constantly nearby picking up and dropping of conference goers.

I'm going to keep this review pretty short but McCormick is probably one of the best Convention Centers I've been to! II was rather impressed. For starters, this venue was absolutely massive. It almost felt like an airport due to the sheer size, multiple floors, and modern design. There were a few convenient shops/services located within the building such as a FedEx, a gift shop, coat check, shoe shine, and several food options. Moreover, while other venues may have lousy food, the items at McCormick weren't terrible. I opted for their protein snack package (ham, cheese, nuts, hardboiled egg) and it kept me fueled for much of the conference. Meal prices are a bit high. I paid around $8 for a snack but that is probably due to convenience as I didn't have to leave the convention center in search of some food. This location is somewhat out of the way unless you are staying at the Hyatt located across the street. However, buses, trains, and taxis are all rather accessible. Overall, this was a solid venue. Hopefully I'll be back for another conference or something.

Ideal Auto Show of the Midwest! Have been here 20 times in a row since I was a tiny wee thing. A huge and crazy expanse of rooms sorted out well for how much they cram into the square feet. It's always busy beyond belief but always worth it!

Better than a lot of places to bring convention loads. They are more organized for the most part. They do use teamsters for their work force. Today was a 0200 check in and then docking at 0430, and they started to unload me around 0730. It makes for along day at any convention center. Parking is $23.00 for a 24 hour period.

I went to McCormick Place for the 2018 Chicago boat rv and sail show and it was really good!! The conference hall is magnificently large with state of the art accommodations for any kind of convention . The coat check was secure and safe (I was curious to see how they would handle 1,000 + coats and there was A Lot Of Space!! The showroom itself was well organized and left lots of room to easily navigate between businesses and their merchandise. I enjoyed being so close to a world that I don't know anything about and welcomed to discuss and learn the ways of the nautical community. In respect for the craftsmanship of certain yachts, we had to remove our shoes before taking tours, and I was blown away by the luxurious interiors. There were numerous booths selling all things Boat 'n Eats and we got to talk with others that were passionate about sailing so I'm glad I went to the boat show and I'm gonna try to definitely make it to a couple of other different events so I can post more pictures in the future :)

One of my least favorite places to go to cause it's huge and always confusing. If you drive just remember that you should put your GPS to go to 2301 S Martin Luther King Drive versus 2300 S Lake Shore Drive. They barely ever use the East side of the building so most events will be on the West Side. Your looking to park at garage A versus C. One thing I do like though is taking public transportation here is pretty simple. I normally take the red line and get off at Cemak/Chinatown and walk about 15 minutes. The building itself although huge is usually for the most part always clean and when you do find your event it's a good time. I'm usually here for various expo's and for the The Chicago Auto Show first Look For Charity Event.

This is a HUGE conference center. I think it might be one of the biggest in the country. Conference food is never great. It is a metro stop so that helps. You do have to commute a little away from the area to get to all the nicer restaurants and to see more of downtown Chicago. Neighboring hotels are not cheap around here and obviously the conference center is big business for them. In terms of the architectural design of the place. It fits the designs of downtown Chicago and it's adjacent skyscapers. In terms of uniqueness compared to other conference centers, not high up on my list. Chicago is definitely an excellent place to visit and would highly recommend making the trip out here.