The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (5555 N. River Road) is located in Rosemont, Illinois, just five minutes from Chicago O’Hare International Airport and about 15 miles from downtown Chicago.
There is 840,000 square feet of flexible exhibition space all on one level, with 250,000 square feet of continuous space for up to 1,225 booths. There are six halls with ceiling heights from 16 to 26 feet, seven drive-in freight doors, and a 30,000 square foot lobby that offers plenty of room for registration.
The Hilton Hotel Rosemont and Hyatt Regency O’Hare are just two of several hotels directly connected to the center. Within walking distance is the Parkway Bank Park entertainment district: a 200,000 square-foot entertainment and dining complex that runs the gamut of family-friendly events to exciting nightlife. Sports and concert arena, Allstate Arena, formally the Rosemont Horizon, is also nearby.
Parking is available in the center’s Skybridge attached garage with 8,000 spaces, and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line’s Rosemont Station is nearby. One of the convention center’s biggest boons is that it is less than two miles from O’Hare and accessible via I-90 and I-294, making it incredibly convenient for out-of-town exhibitors and attendees.
Originally opened in 1975 and named in honor of Rosemont’s long-serving mayor, the convention center has played host to major shows such as the Chicago Travel & Adventure Show, Anime Central, and the International Gem & Jewelry Show. It’s also the longtime home of Wizard World Chicago (now Fan Expo Chicago), one of the largest pop culture conventions in the Midwest.
The facility has made consistent upgrades over the decades, including improvements to lighting, technology infrastructure, and food service. Its in-house food and beverage provider, Aramark, manages multiple concessions and catering options throughout the building.
While not the giant that is McCormick Place, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center is still one of the biggest venues in the Midwest, and an important part of the Windy City’s convention history.
This story originally appeared as a truncated version in the Q4 2025 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 60. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/exhibit_city_news_-_oct_nov_dec_2025/60.
