McCormick Place Survival Guide: Union Labor & Drayage (Chicago)
North America's largest convention center is also its priciest to exhibit at. Here's how McCormick Place union labor and drayage really work - and how to plan around them.
McCormick Place in Chicago is the largest convention center in North America (IMTS, NRA Show, RSNA, PACK EXPO) - and it's famous for one other thing: it's the most expensive floor in the country to exhibit on. The booth isn't what blows the budget; the union labor and drayage do. Here's the honest breakdown so nothing blindsides you.
- McCormick Place is the most expensive U.S. floor: 3 unions + the highest drayage in the country.
- I&D often $75-$140+/hr; each trade is a separate order with its own deadline.
- Small booths may self-handle some tasks under set limits - confirm in the exhibitor manual.
- Cut cost by designing for fewer labor hours, ordering on time, staying in straight-time, and budgeting drayage both ways.
- We ship your booth to Chicago and coordinate the union install with the labor planned in.
Three unions, three jurisdictions
McCormick runs work through three separate trades, and each owns its tasks:
- Teamsters - freight and material handling (drayage): moving your crates dock-to-booth and back.
- IBEW (electrical) - anything beyond plugging into a standard outlet: power drops, under-carpet wiring, hanging lighting.
- Carpenters / IATSE (rigging & I&D) - booth assembly that needs tools, plus all overhead rigging and hanging signs.
Install & dismantle (I&D) labor commonly runs $75-$140+/hr, with overtime and double-time premiums on evenings, weekends and holidays. Each trade is a separate order with its own deadline.
McCormick has, in past reforms, expanded exhibitor self-handling rights for small booths (you can do certain tasks yourself under set limits) - but the thresholds are specific and change, so always confirm in your exhibitor manual.
The highest drayage in the country
Drayage (material handling) at McCormick is consistently the highest of any U.S. convention center - often $100-$200/cwt, billed both in and out. For comparison, Las Vegas drayage runs roughly half, and Orlando about 40% less (see our labor cost by city). It's the single most under-budgeted line item at McCormick.
How to keep the bill sane
- Design for fewer labor hours. A modular, tool-light, fast-to-build booth directly cuts union I&D time - the biggest controllable cost.
- Order every trade before the deadline. On-site floor rates are far higher than advance rates.
- Schedule inside straight time. Avoid OT/DT windows for install and teardown.
- Palletize and ship to the advance warehouse when it pencils out, and budget drayage both ways.
We build for McCormick by minimizing labor hours and handling the freight and order logistics, so you arrive to a booth that goes up fast. We serve Chicago by shipping your booth in and coordinating the union install. Get a free quote with the labor budget built in.
Frequently asked
Why is McCormick Place so expensive to exhibit at?
Three union jurisdictions (Teamsters freight, IBEW electrical, Carpenters/IATSE rigging & I&D) with I&D often $75-$140+/hr, plus the highest drayage rates in the U.S. The labor and freight - not the booth - drive the cost.
Can I set up my own booth at McCormick Place?
For small booths, McCormick has expanded exhibitor self-handling rights for certain tasks under set limits, but most work (electrical, rigging, larger assembly, freight) is union. Confirm the exact thresholds in your show's exhibitor manual.
How much is drayage at McCormick Place?
It's the highest of any U.S. convention center - often $100-$200 per hundredweight, billed both in and out. Palletizing and advance-warehouse shipping help; always budget it both ways.
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