The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) is a municipal corporation created by the Illinois General Assembly. Its Board of Directors is appointed by the Governor of Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago. The Chairman is selected by the MPEA Board.
MPEA owns McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America, and seeks to promote and operate conventions, fairs, expositions and meetings in the state of Illinois in a dedicated effort to strengthen the local economy. MPEA also owns the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, the Marriott Marquis Chicago, and the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena.
Learn more about our growing community here.
McCormick Place Advisory Council
The McCormick Place Advisory Council was created to oversee and advise the implementation of the reforms passed by the Illinois General Assembly in May 2010. The reforms are designed to reduce costs for customers, and provide greater flexibility while doing business at McCormick Place. The Advisory Council includes show organizers, exhibitors, labor, service and exhibitor contractors, and MPEA, ASM Global/McCormick Place and Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB) management.
Larita Clark | Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
Kelvin D. Moore | McCormick Place/ASM Global
Pat Allen | Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
Joe Amabile | I.A.T.S.E. Local 110
John Coli Jr. | Teamsters Local 727
Anthony DeGrado | Decorators Local 17
John Jaworski | Radiological Society of North America
Peter Eelman | Association for Manufacturing Technology
Brian Brown | I.B.E.W. Local 134
Robert Fulton | Riggers Local 136
Robin Gathman, CME, DES, CTSM| New Beginnings Tradeshow Advisors
Francesca Lendrum | Nordson Industrial Coating Systems
Lynn Osmond | Choose Chicago
Terrance McGann | Whitfield McGann & Ketterman Attorneys at Law
Kevin McLaughlin | Carpenters Local 10
Pete Carroll | Global Experience Specialists
Ann Pennino, CME, CTSM| Linde
Jim Pittas | Packaging Machinery & Manufacturing Institute
Don Villar | Chicago Federation of Labor
David Sloan | Chicago Automobile Trade Show Association
Jennifer Morand | Chicago Automobile Trade Show Association
Dennis Sullivan | Freeman
Adrienne Tiritilli | International Housewares Association
Getting Here
Find Us
McCormick Square is accessible via car or transit. We encourage visitors to utilize the following options if driving:
Visitors can access the campus using the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94), Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), Dan Ryan (I-90/94), Stevenson Expressway (I-55) as well as Lake Shore Drive. Detailed directions are available here.
Public Transportation
McCormick Place is now connected to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) via both city bus and elevated train. For visitors arriving via public transportation, we are pleased to note the following options:
- Google Maps (with integrated driving, public transit, walking and bicycle directions)
- RTA Trip Planner (Transit Information Hotline at 312-836-7000)
- TransitChicago.com
Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station
The nearest CTA rail station is located at the intersection of Cermak Road and State Street, two blocks (0.15 mile) from the northwest corner of the McCormick Place West Building, Gate 41 located at Cermak Road and Indiana Ave.
Parking & Rates
There are three main parking lots on the McCormick Square campus. All lots are within walking distance to our convention complex.
- Events in the North, South and West Buildings designate Lot A as the primary parking location.
- Events in Lakeside Center and Arie Crown Theater designate Lot C as the primary parking location.
Lot A – 2301 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616: (8′ height clearance) is a six-level garage with 2,100 parking spaces located on Martin Luther King Drive, adjacent to the West Building. Covered walkways from Lot A leading directly into McCormick Place and the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel provide added convenience. *The parking rate is $25 for up to 16 hours and $38 from 16 to 24 hours. There are no in-and-out privileges. Overnight parking is also available in Lot A only. Lost tickets will pay the full $38 (overnight) fee per day.
Lot B – 3050 South Moe Drive, Chicago, IL 60616 (also known as 31st Street Lot) is an outdoor surface parking lot located at 31st Street near Lake Shore Drive South and Moe Drive. It holds more than 1,800 vehicles. *The parking rate is a flat fee of $16 per day with no in-and-out privileges. This parking lot is only open during event hours. Overnight parking is not available.
Lot C – Fort Dearborn Drive, Chicago, IL 60616 (6’4″ height clearance) is an underground garage with 1,900 parking spaces and is located on Fort Dearborn Drive, adjacent to the Lakeside Center. *The parking rate is $25 for up to 16 hours and $38 from 16 to 24 hours. There are no in-and-out privileges. This parking lot is only open during event hours. Overnight parking is not available.
* Credit cards are accepted at the parking pay stations.
MPEA Staff
- Larita Clark | Chief Executive Officer, lclark@mpea.com
- Jason Bormann | Chief Financial Officer, jbormann@mpea.com
- Matthew Simmons | General Counsel, msimmons@mpea.com
- Pat Allen | Sr. Director of Labor Relations and Campus Operations, pallen@mpea.com
Contact MPEA
Metropolitan Pier and
Exposition Authority
Careers
Workforce Diversity/ HR Commitment
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to maintain a workforce that is as diverse as the community in which we operate. The philosophy of inclusion and our commitment to our staff are a key part of our business strategy, pushing MPEA to be a leading employer and community resource. It’s this philosophy that keeps MPEA customer-centered and service-oriented to deliver the best possible experience for clients, contractors and visitors.
History
Formed in 1989 by the Illinois General Assembly, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) encompasses the entire Collection at McCormick Square campus, which includes McCormick Place, The Hyatt Regency, the Marriott Marquis Chicago, and the Wintrust Arena. Formed as a convention center, McCormick Place is comprised of four buildings and hosts some of the largest and longest running conventions and trade shows in the nation while providing a major economic impact to the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois and further positioning McCormick Square as one of the most successful convention center campuses in the nation.
Navy Pier is owned by MPEA, but its operations are run by Navy Pier, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation.
Learn more about McCormick Square here.
