Bringing technology into the San Diego Convention Center
What an exhibitor needs to know before equipment arrives: who takes delivery, what power you have to order, who supplies the internet, and the rules that cause problems. We deliver into this building regularly and see the same few problems at show after show.
The Convention Center does not accept deliveries
The Convention Center will not accept freight or show materials, and the FedEx Office inside only handles outgoing shipments. Deliveries go to your show's official service contractor, or through the docks with the labor the show requires. Ship to the contractor's advance warehouse, or have someone on site to receive at your booth. Equipment that arrives with nobody named on it goes back on the truck. This is the main reason we deliver our computer rentals in San Diego ourselves instead of shipping them. We bring the equipment in on your dates and take it away afterwards.
There is no power until you order it
The Convention Center provides no event electrical service, so power is ordered separately and in advance. Add up the power draw for everything you are bringing, including laptops, iPads charging all day, a printer and a router, as well as the screens. Order one more outlet than you think you need. Moving a power drop on show morning costs more than ordering it right the first time.
Power strips: what is allowed
The venue's rules are specific, and they are enforced. All equipment must be UL approved. Extension cords must be three-wire with ground, serving one device each. Multi-plug adapters must be UL approved with an internal overload breaker. Household cube taps are prohibited.
- Bring UL-listed power strips with a breaker, not cube taps
- One device per extension cord
- Tape down anything crossing a walkway
Internet comes from Smart City Networks
Network services for exhibitors, including wired internet, wifi and phone, come from Smart City Networks. Order ahead, because ordering onsite costs more. If your demo needs the internet, order a wired connection. A dedicated line is more reliable than shared wifi in a hall with thousands of phones. What wireless equipment an exhibitor may bring depends on the show, so check the exhibitor manual.
Order early
Services are cheaper booked in advance than onsite, and the exhibitor services desk is usually open 7am to 4pm during move-in, though hours vary by event. Anything you settle two weeks ahead costs less and saves time on show morning.
Where we fit
We deliver and set up computers, iPads, screens, printers and AV into this building and the hotels around it, and our staff can stay for the event. Equipment arrives imaged and tested, so a registration desk is ready to use once it is set up. If you would rather ship it in yourself, everything goes out boxed with return labels included.
Check your show's exhibitor manual
Everything above comes from the Convention Center's published rules as of September 2026. Venues change their rules, and your show's own exhibitor manual can be stricter than the building. Read both, and call us if you want us to look over the technology requirements.
Photos
24 photosOpen a photo to see it larger, download it or copy a link to send. All equipment photos
Equipment for this
Tell us what you need and a person replies within the hour during business hours. Nothing is booked until you say so.
Tell us what the job is
You don’t need a parts list. Describe what has to happen and we’ll work out the equipment, tell you what it costs, and book nothing until you say so.