Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority

What Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority does

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) is a municipal corporation created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1989 that owns and operates the McCormick Square campus in Chicago — North America's largest convention complex — under an 11-member board appointed jointly by the Governor of Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago. MPEA's mandate is to promote and operate conventions, fairs, expositions, and meetings in Illinois in order to strengthen the local economy, and the Authority reports a cumulative $9.4 billion in economic impact between 2014–2018 with $676 million in state and local tax revenues and 15,000+ jobs supported; 90% of that economic impact derives from out-of-town visitors.

The Authority's core product is the McCormick Place campus itself: 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space across four buildings (North, South, West, Lakeside Center), 173 meeting rooms, one of the world's largest ballrooms, the 4,249-seat Arie Crown Theater, the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena connected via sky bridges, and two wholly-owned on-campus hotels — the 1,258-room Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and the 1,205-room Marriott Marquis Chicago — plus 5,800+ parking spaces across three structured lots. MPEA's underlying technology stack includes the ACT Hybrid Production Studio (powered by Freeman) in the Arie Crown Theater, which features a 400 sq ft 4K video wall and Hollywood-grade virtual/augmented-reality and live-streaming capabilities, campus-wide GBAC STAR biosafety accreditation (the first convention center to commit), and ISSA CIMS Green Building + Sustainability Certification with Honors (the first facility globally to achieve it).

MPEA's revenue model is multi-stream and transaction-based, comprising venue and meeting-room rental to trade-show organizers and event planners, hotel room revenue from the two on-campus flagships, parking fees (Lot A and Lot C at $25 for up to 16 hours; Lot B at a flat $16 per day), food and beverage operated by SAVOR...Chicago across catering/concessions/hospitality, and arena events including DePaul University basketball and concerts. Go-to-market is direct sales-led: the Authority books trade shows, conventions, and events through direct relationships with show organizers (Chicago Auto Show, RSNA, FABTECH, ASI, NBA Draft Combine, IMTS, Black Women's Expo) and promotes the campus through a vendor registration system, public board meetings, press releases, and economic-impact studies rather than consumer marketing channels.

Name

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority

Legal name

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority

Website

https://mpea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) is an Illinois municipal corporation that owns and operates McCormick Place — North America's largest convention center — along with two on-campus hotels and a 10,000-seat arena, serving trade show organizers, sports teams, and event promoters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convention and Exhibition Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention Campus & District Operators (Integrated Venue Districts) (THAHAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports & Arena Event Venues (Stadiums, Arenas) (THAHAAAF), Large-Scale Headquarters Convention Hotels (THAGALAH)

Keywords

• Convention center operations
• Exhibition venue rental
• Trade show facility
• Event production services
• Hospitality and arena management

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Convention and Event Venue Rental: Primary revenue from renting exhibition space, meeting rooms, ballrooms, and event venues to trade show organizers, convention planners, and event promoters. Revenue based on space rental rates, event duration, and services required.
2. Hotel Operations: Revenue from operating the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place (1,258 rooms) and Marriott Marquis Chicago (1,205 rooms) hotels located on the McCormick Square campus.
3. Parking Services: Parking fees from three main lots: Lot A (2,100 spaces, $25 for up to 16 hours), Lot B (1,800+ spaces, $16 flat rate), and Lot C (1,900 spaces, $25 for up to 16 hours).
4. Food Service Operations: Food and beverage services operated by SAVOR...Chicago, including catering for events, concessions, and hospitality services across the campus.
5. Arena Events: Revenue from Wintrust Arena (10,000-seat multi-purpose venue) hosting basketball games, concerts, family shows, and special events. Home to DePaul University basketball teams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MPEA owns and operates McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America, along with the Arie Crown Theater, Wintrust Arena, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, and Marriott Marquis Chicago. Its core business is the rental of convention, exhibition, meeting, and entertainment venue space, supplemented by hotel accommodations, food and beverage catering, parking, and hybrid event production services delivered to trade show organizers, corporate event planners, sports promoters, and meeting professionals.

Product overview

MPEA operates the McCormick Square campus, a unified convention and entertainment complex comprising McCormick Place as the core 2.6 million sq ft convention center, supplemented by the Wintrust Arena (10,000-seat multi-purpose venue), Arie Crown Theater (4,249 seats), and two on-campus hotels (Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and Marriott Marquis Chicago). The campus offers hybrid event production through the ACT Hybrid Production Studio with 4K video wall and streaming capabilities, GBAC STAR health safety accreditation, and comprehensive event management services including catering and parking. MPEA positions the campus as a single destination for conventions, trade shows, sports events, and entertainment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• McCormick Place: North America's largest convention center with 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space, 173 meeting rooms, and one of the world's largest ballrooms.
• The Collection at McCormick Square
• Wintrust Arena

Products and services

• McCormick Place Convention Center McCormick Place is the largest convention center in North America, offering 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, 173 meeting rooms, six ballrooms, and the Arie Crown Theater, used by trade show organizers, associations, and corporate meeting planners for conventions, trade shows, and large meetings.
• Wintrust Arena Wintrust Arena is a mid-size multi-purpose arena on the McCormick Place campus used for sports (including DePaul University Blue Demons basketball), concerts, family shows, and entertainment events targeting promoters and entertainment producers.
• Arie Crown Theater The Arie Crown Theater is a fixed-seat theater located within McCormick Place, used for entertainment events, keynote sessions, performances, and special events.
• Marriott Marquis Chicago Marriott Marquis Chicago is a 1,205-room hotel connected to McCormick Place, offering accommodations for conventions, trade shows, and business travelers.
• Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is a hotel directly connected to McCormick Place, offering guest rooms, meeting space, and exhibition support for convention attendees.
• ACT Hybrid Production Studio ACT Hybrid Production Studio offers a dedicated studio production space for hybrid and virtual events at McCormick Place, supporting live streaming, broadcast, and digital event production for event organizers.
• SAVOR...Chicago Food Service Operations SAVOR...Chicago is MPEA's in-house food and beverage operation, providing catering and concession services for events at McCormick Place and other Authority venues.
• Event Scheduling and Facility Booking Services Online event scheduling and booking services allow event organizers to schedule exhibitions, meetings, and events at McCormick Place and other MPEA venues, functioning as a customer-facing booking channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• $9.4 billion economic impact between 2014-2018
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fight2FeedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2021Non-profit partnership providing donated space in the East Kitchen of Lakeside Building (22,000 square feet) at no cost to Fight2Feed. Organization rescues food from local restaurants and distributors, turning it into meals for those in need. Partnership enables Fight2Feed to store food and prepare meals at scale while MPEA supports community food security initiatives.
• SAVOR...ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood service provider operating catering and concessions at McCormick Place. Manages food and beverage services across all campus venues including event catering, concessions, and restaurant operations.
• Navy Pier, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit corporation that operates Navy Pier. Navy Pier is owned by MPEA but operations are run by Navy Pier, Inc.
• FreemancoreTechnology or IntegrationExpanded partnership through operation of the ACT Hybrid Production Studio at McCormick Place. Freeman provides production capabilities for hybrid events including technology, set design, and virtual event solutions. Partnership enables McCormick Place to offer Hollywood-grade event production.
• Wintrust Financial CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNaming rights sponsor for Wintrust Arena under a 15-year sponsorship agreement. Chicago-based community and corporate banking company sponsors the 10,000-seat arena as part of revitalization efforts for the McCormick Square district.
• DePaul UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome of DePaul University men's and women's basketball teams at Wintrust Arena. Long-term partnership for basketball games, with arena also hosting concerts, sporting events, meetings, and family shows.
• MetraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetra station at McCormick Place underwent significant upgrades including waiting room redesign, new digital signage, sound system, lighting, and platform enhancements. Partnership supports transit access for event attendees.
• After School MattersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago program providing high school teens with after-school opportunities. Chicago Public School students participating in the program painted murals for Metra station upgrade project at McCormick Place.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Houston First Corporation: Municipal corporation that operates the George R. Brown Convention Center and manages Houston's theater and entertainment venues. Closely analogous to MPEA's municipal authority model and convention venue focus.
• Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA): Municipal convention authority operating the Las Vegas Convention Center, one of the largest in North America, and promoting trade shows, conventions, and tourism in Nevada. Closest comparable to MPEA in structure, scale, and mandate as a government-affiliated convention operator.
• Orange County Convention Center (OCCC): One of the largest convention complexes in the US, located in Orlando, hosting major trade shows and conferences. Directly comparable to McCormick Place in scale of exhibition space and trade show focus.
• Georgia World Congress Center Authority: State-authorized authority operating one of the largest convention centers in the US, along with Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Centennial Olympic Park. Comparable to MPEA in operating an integrated convention, sports, and entertainment campus.
• Kentucky Exposition Center: State-owned convention and exposition facility in Louisville hosting major trade shows, equestrian events, and the Kentucky State Fair. Comparable in operating as a public convention authority with diversified event programming.
• Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority: Authority operating the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, hosting major conventions and trade shows. Direct comparable to MPEA as a similarly structured convention center authority in a major US city.

Others

• Freeman: Largest event production and exposition services company in North America and a strategic partner of MPEA via the ACT Hybrid Production Studio. Adjacent ecosystem participant that shapes the trade show value chain at McCormick Place.
• Choose Chicago: Official destination marketing organization for Chicago, partnering closely with MPEA to attract conventions and trade shows. Adjacent ecosystem participant that drives demand to McCormick Place.
• SAVOR...Chicago: Catering and food service partner operating across McCormick Square's venues. Closely tied to MPEA as a core on-campus operator and a key contributor to event and convention revenue.

Broad incumbents

• ASM Global: Largest privately held venue management company globally, managing convention centers, arenas, stadiums, and theaters. Competes with MPEA in providing outsourced venue operations and competes for the same trade show and event demand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mpea

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority