San Diego is a mid-size convention center with an outsized reputation, largely because of one show. SET Exhibits builds in New York and installs at San Diego shows.
615,700
sq ft exhibit space
What Catches Exhibitors Out Here
Comic-Con distorts the calendar
During Comic-Con the entire city b
Smaller floor, tighter competition
At 615,700 square feet the floor i
Where the Shows Happen
1
San Diego Convention Center
111 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
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Exhibit Space
615,700 sq ft
Total Facility
2.6 million sq ft
Location
Waterfront, downtown San Diego
Known For
Comic-Con International
Walkable to a large share of the city’s hotels, which makes attendee logistics easier than at most venues. The trade-off is a smaller floor than the top-tier centers.
The Detail
Planning a San Diego show
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A compact venue in a walkable city.
Hotel proximity is genuinely good, most of the downtown supply is within walking distance.
Floor space is tighter than the biggest venues, so vertical presence earns its keep.
Avoid the Comic-Con window for anything that needs city capacity.
Booth Sizes for a San Diego Floor
Every standard footprint, built custom or supplied as a rental. See what each size costs →
10x10
100 sq ft
Back wall, counter, one demo point
The standard starter footprint
Lowest total cost of entry
10x20
200 sq ft
Twice the aisle frontage
Product display plus a meeting corner
Same install window as a 10x10
20x20
400 sq ft
Island, open on four sides
The size where hanging signs become possible
Room for several zones
30x30
900 sq ft
Enclosed meeting rooms
Theater seating and large-format LED
A headline presence on the floor
How Your Booth Gets Built
The same sequence on every project, whether the show is in San Diego or anywhere else across the 50 states.
1
Week 1
Brief and budget
We start with your show, your space and what you actually need to achieve there. You get a straight answer on what fits.
2
Weeks 1-2
Design in 3D
Layout and graphics built around your placement, sightlines and brand. Revised until it is right.
3
Weeks 3-8
Fabrication in Haverstraw
Built in our own shop in New York. Structure fabricated, graphics printed and mounted, finishes applied, everything checked before it goes anywhere.
4
Before it ships
Pre-build and inspection
The booth goes up in our warehouse before it goes anywhere near a show floor, so install day is a repeat, not a first attempt.
5
Show week
Freight, labor and install
We handle the marshalling yard, the union labor calls, the paperwork and the install. You walk into a finished booth.
6
During the show
On-site support
Someone from our team is reachable while the show runs, not a ticket queue.
7
Final day
Dismantle and return
We pack it properly and handle the return so your team can leave the venue without a checklist.
Major Shows Held in San Diego
San Diego hosts a mix of association conferences alongside one of the largest consumer events in the world.
Comic-Con InternationalIndustry and association conferences
San Diego Exhibitor FAQ
How large is the San Diego Convention Center?
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Related Pages
Exhibiting Here Soon?
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