Pennsylvania Convention Center

What Pennsylvania Convention Center does

The Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) is a 14th-largest U.S. convention facility located at 1101 Arch Street in Center City Philadelphia, operated by the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA), a public authority established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Opened in 1993, the venue spans over 1 million square feet of event space (more than 2 million square feet total) and hosts over 250 national and international events annually, attracting approximately 1 million guests and generating $700 million in economic activity for Greater Philadelphia. Management is contracted to ASM Global under a multi-year agreement renewed in 2023 as the first venue in ASM Global's 'Premier Package' convention center expansion.

The facility offers a comprehensive product portfolio including exhibit halls, flexible meeting rooms, the 600-seat Michael A. Nutter Theatre with 4K cinema projection and 7.1 surround sound, an executive boardroom, sensory rooms for neurodivergent guests, and a 127-piece contemporary Pennsylvania art collection. Technology infrastructure includes HPE Aruba Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, 150+ digital screens, Siemens smart-building HVAC with real-time air quality monitoring, and meeting planner tools with interactive facility maps. The venue holds LEED v4.1 O+M Silver certification, GBAC STAR reaccreditation, EIC Sustainable Event Standards Gold, and is the first U.S. convention center to achieve Sage Inclusion accessibility certification.

Revenue is generated through quote-based event space rental, food and beverage concessions managed by Aramark Sports + Entertainment, and ancillary services including parking, FedEx Business Center, retail space, and theatre rentals. Distribution relies on direct enterprise sales to meeting planners, channel partnerships with the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and Visit Philadelphia, and ASM Global's network of 400+ venues. Customer segments span associations, corporate event planners, exhibition producers, and entertainment/cultural event producers across medical, education, sports, government, energy, and entertainment verticals.

Name

Pennsylvania Convention Center

Legal name

Pennsylvania Convention Center

Website

https://paconvention.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a Center City Philadelphia venue operated by a Pennsylvania public authority and managed by ASM Global, offering over 1 million square feet of event space and hosting 250+ conventions and trade shows annually for associations, corporations, and government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convention and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Convention Center–Adjacent/Connected Hotels (THAGALAD)

Keywords

• Convention venue rentals
• Exhibition hall facilities
• Event space booking
• Trade show hosting
• Meeting room services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Event Space Rental and Booking Fees: The primary revenue stream comes from renting exhibition halls, meeting rooms, ballrooms, and event spaces to conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, and special events. Bookings include various configurations based on event size and duration.
2. Food and Beverage Concessions: Aramark Sports + Entertainment manages concession offerings at the venue, providing food and beverage services during events through renovated concession spaces.
3. Ancillary Services: Additional revenue from services including parking, FedEx Business Center, retail space rentals, Wi-Fi, and contractor services during events.
4. Theatre and Special Venue Rentals: The Michael A. Nutter Theatre (600 seats) is available for film festivals, movie premieres, corporate meetings, comedy shows, musical performances, and other signature events for additional rental fees.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Pennsylvania Convention Center rents over 1 million square feet of flexible event space—including exhibition halls, meeting rooms, ballrooms, and the 600-seat Michael A. Nutter Theatre—to convention organizers, trade show producers, corporate meeting planners, and entertainment event producers. The venue provides ancillary services such as Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, FedEx business services, parking, on-site food and beverage concessions operated by Aramark, and sustainability programs, generating approximately $700 million in annual economic activity for Greater Philadelphia.

Product overview

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a major convention and event venue in Center City Philadelphia, operating as the 14th largest convention facility in the nation. The venue offers a comprehensive portfolio of event spaces and services including exhibit halls, flexible meeting rooms, the 600-seat Michael A. Nutter Theatre, and specialized facilities like sensory rooms for neurodivergent attendees. The venue is managed by ASM Global and serves as the largest economic driver of the Philadelphia hospitality industry, hosting over 250 national and international events annually. Supporting services include HPE Aruba Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, FedEx Business Center, the PCC Art Collection featuring Pennsylvania artists, comprehensive meeting planner tools, and sustainability programs with LEED and EIC certifications. The venue partners with Aramark for food services and operates under the ASM Global Acts corporate social responsibility framework focusing on environmental protection, community investment, and workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Michael A. Nutter Theatre: A state-of-the-art, multi-purpose theatre at the Pennsylvania Convention Center offering 600 seats for film festivals, movie premieres, screenings, corporate meetings, comedy shows, musical performances, poetry events, and auditions. Named for former Philadelphia Mayor and Chairman of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority.

Products and services

• Exhibit Halls Large exhibition hall facilities available for rent to trade show organizers, convention planners, and large-scale event producers requiring extensive square footage.
• Meeting Spaces Flexible meeting rooms and conference facilities available for corporate meetings, seminars, and smaller gatherings.
• Michael A. Nutter Theatre A 600-seat multi-purpose theatre featuring a G4 film screen, Christie 4K cinema projector, 7.1 surround sound, and 40-channel digital mixer, used for film festivals, movie premieres, corporate meetings, comedy shows, and musical performances. Named for former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
• Wi-Fi Services High-speed Wi-Fi 6E connectivity provided by HPE Aruba Networking, supporting approximately 1 million annual guests across more than 2 million square feet of event space.
• FedEx Business Center On-site FedEx business center providing printing, shipping, and business services for exhibitors and event attendees.
• Retail Space On-site retail space available for rental by exhibitors and visitors during events.
• Food and Beverage Concessions Food and beverage concession offerings managed by Aramark Sports + Entertainment, providing dining services for event attendees through renovated concession spaces.
• PCC Art Collection Extensive art collection featuring works from Pennsylvania artists, displayed throughout the convention center's grand hallways and public spaces, housing over 127 pieces of contemporary art.
• Sensory Room A dedicated sensory room for neurodivergent event customers and staff, providing a calming space with controlled lighting and reduced sensory stimulation.
• Executive Boardroom Meeting Space A new executive boardroom meeting space added to the venue's meeting space inventory, designed for executive-level meetings and corporate gatherings.

Quantifiable outcome

• $700 million in annual economic activity generated for Greater Philadelphia
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Aramark Sports + EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2024Aramark Sports + Entertainment manages all food and beverage concession offerings at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The partnership celebrated a major renovation completion of concession offerings in January 2024, providing enhanced dining experiences for event attendees.
• HPE Aruba NetworkingcoreTechnology or Integration · 19 September 2023HPE Aruba Networking provided Wi-Fi 6E infrastructure for the Convention Center, connecting approximately 1 million annual guests across more than 2 million sq. ft. The new wireless network supports over 250 national and international events annually.
• Auto Dealers Association of Greater PhiladelphiamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2023Produces the Philadelphia Auto Show, one of the biggest auto shows in the country drawing approximately 250,000 attendees, hosted annually at the Convention Center.
• Methodist ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2022Nonprofit organization providing services to children and families, partnered with the Convention Center for backpack drive initiative to support 200 students in foster care through Methodist Family Support Services.
• Foster Angels on EarthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2022Nonprofit founded in 2006 that aims to raise awareness of issues experienced by children in foster care, partnered with the Convention Center for backpack drive initiatives.
• PHLCaresmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019PHLCares is a business-led initiative investing in solutions to address chronic street homelessness in Philadelphia. Founded in 2019 by the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, PREIT, and Wawa. The PCC pledged a $250,000 match grant to support housing solutions. Since founding, PHLCares has raised over $1.5 million.
• ASM GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASM Global is the world's leading producer of entertainment experiences and global leader in venue and event strategy and management. ASM Global has managed the Pennsylvania Convention Center since 2013, delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies. The partnership was renewed in August 2023, becoming the first venue in ASM Global's 'Premier Package' convention center expansion.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Siemens for HVAC upgrades and sensors connected to air handling units which monitor real-time air quality and system performance. The partnership has spanned over 20 years and includes installation of smart building technologies.
• Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHLCVB works with the Convention Center on joint annual reports, destination marketing, and attracting conventions and events to Philadelphia. The organizations publish annual reports together highlighting milestones and economic impact.
• Visit PhiladelphiamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVisit Philadelphia serves as the destination marketing organization for Philadelphia, promoting the city and its attractions including the Convention Center to potential event planners and tourists.
• CloroxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClorox partnership for cleaner venues and sanitization products, supporting health and safety initiatives at the Convention Center.
• American Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Philadelphia Auto Show and the American Red Cross to host blood drives at the Convention Center, supporting community health initiatives.
• PennsylvaniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Visit Pennsylvania for destination tourism marketing and promotion.
• Legends GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegends Global is a premium experiences company that acquired ASM Global in August 2024, dedicating resources to achieving measurable sustainability results throughout the venue portfolio.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ASM Global: World's largest venue management company (now owned by Legends), managing 400+ venues globally including PCC. Comparable as the operating partner and indirect benchmark for venue performance, revenue per square foot, and event strategy.

Direct peers

• Moscone Center: San Francisco's convention center. Directly competes for tech, healthcare, and association events on the West Coast with a similar multi-hall configuration and city-center location.
• Walter E. Washington Convention Center: Washington D.C.'s convention center, operated by Events DC. Directly comparable as an East Coast convention venue competing for association meetings, political events, and trade shows.
• McCormick Place: The largest convention center in North America, located in Chicago. Directly comparable as a large-scale, multi-hall convention facility hosting trade shows, corporate events, and association meetings in a major U.S. city.
• Javits Center: New York City's primary convention facility on Manhattan's west side, recently expanded. A direct peer for Northeast conventions, corporate events, and high-profile association meetings.
• Los Angeles Convention Center: Major West Coast convention facility. Directly comparable for trade shows, entertainment industry events, and association meetings in a large U.S. metro.
• Georgia World Congress Center: Atlanta's convention complex including the adjacent Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Centennial Olympic Park. Directly comparable as a multi-hall convention campus hosting trade shows and major sporting/civic events.
• Las Vegas Convention Center: Major destination convention center operated by the LVCVA in Las Vegas. Directly competes for trade shows and association meetings, with an even larger exhibit footprint and integrated resort/hotel ecosystem.
• Orange County Convention Center: One of the two largest convention facilities in the U.S., located in Orlando. Directly competes with PCC for large national trade shows and association rotations, with comparable ASM Global management and similar scale.
• Boston Convention & Exhibition Center: Massachusetts convention facility in Boston's Seaport District. A direct Northeast peer for life-sciences, healthcare, and academic conferences with comparable scale and ASM Global-style management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PAConvention
• Facebookfacebook.com/PAConvention
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pennsylvania-convention-center-authority

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Pennsylvania Convention Center