trade show venues near Kansas City

The Overland Park Convention Center does not sign up exhibitors for shows. Prospective exhibitors need to contact the show promoter/event planner directly. Exhibitors can find the promoter/planner’s contact information by selecting the event on our calendar and using the available contact information or links.

We do not allow outside food and  beverage into the facility for events. Our international, award-winning executive chef and catering team can design an experience for any type of event. From modern to traditional, ethnic to kosher, our food and beverage capabilities are limitless. In addition, our barbecue partner, Jack Stack Barbecue, can be catered in when requested.

For certain events, food and  beverage is available to the public through our concession stands, Cyber Cafe, and portable concession carts. Please contact our sales team at 913.339.3000 for more information. Exhibitors can order food for their booth prior to the event when purchasing Exhibitor Services.

Yes, ordering Exhibitor Services online is easy using our online form, and high-speed Wi-Fi is free!

Services include:

• Electrical Service
• Telecommunications & Internet (Hardline)
• Compressed Air, Water, and Drain (Utilities)
• Audiovisual
• Food & Beverage

Purchase Exhibitor Services

Overland Park Convention Center is located at 6000 College Blvd in Overland Park, Kansas, just south of Kansas City, with direct access from I-435. For attendees flying in, the drive from Kansas City International Airport is typically around 30 minutes, which keeps arrival simple, even for first-time visitors.

That central positioning works especially well for shows drawing their audience from multiple directions—local attendees, regional drive-ins, and exhibitors arriving by air—because getting on and off the highway is straightforward and intuitive. When you’re planning for a broad audience, those location basics often become a deciding factor when comparing trade show venues near Kansas City.

Yes. When a trade show includes demos, breakouts, sponsor talks, or education sessions, the event benefits when transitions are easy.

Visitors can step out, learn something, and come right back to the floor without losing momentum. Overland Park Convention Center’s setup supports multiple event types under one roof, and the facility also offers in-house AV capabilities designed for presentations and hybrid needs. That mix can be a practical advantage for producers looking for expansive trade show venues near Kansas City that don’t force an expo-only format.

Overland Park Convention Center already integrates many foundational elements needed for running a trade show into its event execution processes. In addition to the venue itself, producers can expect access to standard event furnishings and an operational setup that supports day-of flow and consistency.

These planning essentials include:

• Tables, chairs, and podiums for show-floor and session use
• Directional and way-finding signage provided by the facility
• Basic event setup support coordinated by the venue team
• Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the building

Producers can focus planning time on exhibitor mix, attendee experience, and programming instead of sourcing fundamentals—we’ll handle that. That level of readiness is often a deciding factor when comparing trade show venues near Kansas City, especially for shows with tight timelines or multiple moving parts.

If you want the simplest lodging experience for exhibitors and attendees, the attached Sheraton Overland Park Hotel is the best option.
If the Sheraton is fully booked, the immediate area includes multiple additional hotels with over 1,000 rooms clustered right by the convention center, so groups can spread out while staying close enough to make it to the center when the doors open.

That proximity changes the feel of a multi-day show. Exhibitor teams can rotate staff without losing an hour to transportation, attendees are more likely to come back after a break, and your early mornings start on time because people aren’t filtering in from across the metro. If you want a quick orientation to the surrounding hotel/dining area, we have more information on our Eat, Play, Stay page.

Food plays a bigger role in the success of a trade show than most producers or promoters may want to admit. Producers can keep attendees engaged, and exhibitors can keep traffic on the floor by timing meals well and making them easy to access. Overland Park Convention Center handles food service entirely in-house, giving producers more control over pacing, quality, and consistency.

Day to day, attendees can step away from the show floor without leaving the building. CURA Café offers coffee and quick snacks for short breaks, while 1906 Kitchen + Bar provides a sit-down option for guests who want a more substantial pause between sessions or exhibit hall passes.

Executive Chef David Ruiz, a James Beard Foundation competition winner with more than 20 years of experience and a nationally recognized, farm-to-table approach, develops menus for hosted meals, receptions, and VIP hospitality.

Known for building menus that prioritize seasonal ingredients and local sourcing, Chef Ruiz also works within the practical demands of large-scale events. His leadership allows food service to support the rhythm of the show—whether that means fast turn times, plated experiences, or flexible formats that keep attendees on schedule. That culinary depth is a meaningful differentiator for producers evaluating trade show venues near Kansas City, where food quality and execution matter as much as logistics.

At Overland Park Convention Center, “under one roof” means you can keep the show floor, sessions, show office, and attendee breaks connected on one campus. The facility is a 150,000 sq. ft. event complex on a 26-acre site (opened in 2002), built to reduce the little friction points that quietly derail show days.

Here’s what that looks like in real conditions:

• Exhibition Halls (~60,000 sq. ft.)
• Ballrooms (~25,000 sq. ft.)
• Courtyard Rooms (~14,145 sq. ft. total)
• Executive Conference Room (900 sq. ft.)
• Outdoor Courtyard (~25,000 sq. ft.)

You can design a day where registration, exhibit aisles, breakouts, and food breaks feel intentional, leading to less wandering, fewer bottlenecks, and better pacing for both attendees and exhibitors.

Overland Park Convention Center supports shows with in-house audiovisual capabilities designed for real show conditions, including sound reinforcement for announcements, presentations, and speaker-led sessions within exhibit-adjacent spaces.

Instead of juggling multiple vendors or temporary setups, producers can rely on built-in infrastructure that supports clear audio and straightforward presentation needs. That simplicity reduces setup friction and helps maintain a professional tone throughout the day, which is often a deciding factor when comparing trade show venues near Kansas City.

Show producers work with an on-site event management team and technical staff who stay involved throughout planning and show days, helping coordinate timing, room readiness, and operational details as the event unfolds.

That support also includes foundational setup elements like tables, chairs, podiums, and way-finding signage. These intentionally designed paths, readable signage, and accessible circulation help provide operational consistency.

Yes. We offer in-house audiovisual capabilities that support livestreaming as well as recorded content for multi-session events. This allows presentations or panels to live beyond the show floor. For shows that blend in-person engagement with digital reach, reviewing the available audiovisual information can help clarify what’s possible and how those tools fit into your overall event plan.

Parking is one of those details that disappears when it works well. At Overland Park Convention Center, there are approximately 1,000 free parking spaces surrounding the building, which helps consumer shows handle staggered arrival patterns without creating backups or confusion.

That kind of access makes it easier for attendees to arrive, step inside, and get oriented quickly, while exhibitors and staff have predictable places to park throughout the day. For producers, reliable parking often shapes first impressions long before registration opens, and it’s one of the practical advantages people notice when comparing trade show venues near Kansas City.

We’ve designed Overland Park Convention Center’s sustainability program for the realities of exhibitor-heavy trade shows, where packaging, printed materials, and food service can generate significant waste. Rather than focusing on a single recycling effort, the venue takes a more comprehensive, operational approach.

Key sustainability practices include:

• Waste sorting and recycling: Back-of-house and administrative areas use clearly labeled containers for glass, compost, paper, plastics, aluminum, batteries, and landfill waste. E-recycling is also in use across departments.
• Composting and food recovery: OPCC participates in the FRED (Food Residual Environmental Diversion) program, which provides waste audits, staff training, and composting for food waste and common show materials such as coffee grounds, filters, napkins, food-soiled paper, and uncoated takeout containers.
• Culinary sustainability leadership: Led by Executive Chef David Ruiz, the kitchen team emphasizes zero-waste practices and responsible sourcing. OPCC also partners with Pete’s Garden to donate surplus meals and reduce food waste.
• Green purchasing and cleaning: The venue prioritizes compostable disposable dinnerware, recycled paper products, and environmentally responsible cleaning methods, including Aqueous Ozone systems.
• Energy and water conservation: Sustainability extends to the building itself through LED lighting upgrades, sensor-based lighting, low-flow and automatic plumbing fixtures, and a multi-million-dollar energy conservation program.

For producers working with exhibitors or sponsors that value environmental responsibility, these built-in practices can be an important factor when evaluating trade show venues near Kansas City.

The facility is equipped with 24-hour surveillance cameras & on-site security personnel. Entrances to the Exhibition Halls, Ballrooms, and Courtyard Rooms are secured with restricted access electronic locks. To learn more, call 913.339.3000.