This year at Fan Expo, it was a lot more disorganized than past years. I've been going to the convention since when they were Wizard World, over 14 years. This was the first time, the photo op section took longer than 1 min to print out the physical copy of pictures. The physical copy used to be so fast that they would be ready by the time you turn the corner. It took about 40-45 mins to receive my physical copy this past Saturday. The parking garage was atrocious. It took 50 mins to leave the garage. I had to park on level 5 and that was about 1.5 hrs after they opened the doors to the con. Usually, leaving the garage would be no issue at all. For some reason, it took about 40 mins just to go down one level. I understand that they were understaffed but the customer service should still remain good. Almost all of the celeb autograph tables accept cash for autographs, table selfies, and combos. For some stupid reason, they decided to make Sam Witwer's table prepaid and orange ticket only. I know it sounds dumb, considering the bigger names were cash only. I prefer giving the celeb exact cash amount instead of paying extra taxes to Chicago and Leap Epic online. Anyways, the guy in charge decided to be a grinch and not let me and another girl into the line. We both paid extra money for the all weekend pass. Overall 2 out of 5. 2 stars only for the celebs, vendors, and handing out with other fans. Minus 3 for the incompetent staff. read more

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Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Nice. Very large. Some area is clean. Nice venue. I like how the parking across the street has a skywalk and it's fully covered and heated/cooled. Nice. Came here for collect-a-con which is very huge. Park on level 1c and use skywalk. Highly recommended read more

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We were attending a gymnastics meet. Not the first time... lol. The facility is large and the main areas are beautiful. Quite classy. The area where they set up for gymnastics is very large and easy to get around. read more

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Visited Donald E Stephens Convention Center for Collect-A-Con. Its location is ideal for traveling guest being so close to OHare Airport and the expressway. They have 6 convention halls of all sizes. Collect-A-Con was hosted in Hall F. The space was very clean, everything was spaced out nicely, and area was lite well. Security could have been nicer when giving directions. Air circulation in the overall space was also very inconsistent. I did enjoy the amount of restrooms they had throughout and that there was a Starbucks near the main entrance. Parking was across the street and cost $15 (pay stands or off your phone with qr code). There was a skyway off the second floor so one doesn't have to walk outside but it was a longer walk to get to the main convention areas from parking. read more

Donald E Stephens Convention Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Rosemont, Illinois

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center is a massive convention space in Rosemont. This is the perfect size for larger conventions that are going to draw huge crowds. I'm not sure I'd be thrilled to have this space as a location for conventions to attend however, as the staff/event from my experience at Fan Expo 2025 were pretty unorganized, and the lack of clear exit paths/security/police presence for a convention space this size that holds thousands and thousands of people was disturbing to say the least. Nevertheless, if there is an event hosted here that you really want to attend, it could be a fun time and you shouldn't miss out, there's a ton of restrooms throughout the convention which is nice as well. Overall, average convention center with awesome events throughout the year. read more

Donald E Stephens Convention Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Rosemont, Illinois

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I've been to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center multiple times both as a vendor and an attendee, and it's always been a really solid venue. One thing I really appreciate, especially during Chicago winters, is the skyway bridge from the parking garage directly to the convention center. Not having to walk outside in the cold makes a big difference. The location is great too. It's very easy to navigate, close to a lot of good food options, and right near the entertainment district and the outlet shopping. There's usually plenty to do before or after an event. They host a wide variety of events here. I recently went for the World of Wheels show, and parking in the garage was $20 that day. I'm not sure if it varies by event, but it at least gives you an idea of the price. Overall, it's a well located and convenient convention center that works well for both vendors and attendees. read more

Event March 2026. Throughout the ENTIRE massive convention space, there were only TWO water fountains. One in the lobby area and another by the restrooms that were at the far, far end of the main exhibit hall. Like a half hour walk to find them. The motive is obvious: "encourage" attendees to capitulate for grossly overpriced beverage sales at one of their "snack" stands, which themselves are very plentiful. And peddle grossly overpriced "food" that looked really scary. Further, there were NO places to sit throughout that massive facility, except the tables along the far side near one of their "snack" stands. We Old People get tired doing so much walking at trade shows. There should be laws about this. So here's the WARNING: Bring water. Bring a sandwich. The seating I can't help with. read more

It's a huge place. Easy to get lost. I have been here a couple times for different events and the place is looking a little dated. I also wonder what the capacity is, because one of the events I came here for was Anime Central or something and there were thousands and thousands of people here--of course it's a venue that could handle that many, but that event had so many and was so slow to get through that I wondered if they went over capacity. There's about 15 entrance doors here and only one of them has an auto open button for folks with mobility issues, strollers, or whatever. Weird. read more

The convention center is convenient to the chicago suburbs and definitely more navigateable than Mccormick Center. It does, however, feel rundown and the walk from a parking garage to the expo is quite a hike. Getting in and out of the garage also requires a lot of patience since lines and traffic for major events can be extraordinarily long. read more

Donald E Stephens Convention Center - Expo entry - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Rosemont, Illinois

Very nice and huge place! I really hope World of Wheels stays here. Much easier to navigate and really big. I love the drink stands, very good choices and very friendly. read more

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We were here for a wedding expo, lots of local vendors - venues, chiropractors, realtors, bakeries, djs, photographers, dresses/tux, hair and make up, etc. This is a large venue - The event we went to was in hall F. It's a great space for lots of people - there are separate rooms/halls. There is also a bar area on the main floor. There isn't parking directly out front however there are a lot of lots and parking garages a few blocks away. read more

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It's been a while since I've last visited the Donald E Stephens Convention Center. We visited this facility in March 2023 for the Villain Arts Tattoo festival. We had an amazing time here and got a chance to see a lot of the artists at work in their booths. We arrived on a Saturday and there were at least 400+ tattoo artists that traveled in for this show, with a number of them being international. It was cool to see creations being made on the spot. This festival also provides the opportunity to check out each artist's style and if they weren't with a client, you can have the opportunity to speak with the artist directly and learn more about their background and purpose. If you are intent on working with a desired person, there's a possibility to book on the spot. The convention center is huge with over 800,000 sq ft of space. They have a parking garage but didn't realize the garage had a connecting skybridge that would've prevented us from freezing our tails. I believe we paid about $15 for parking. I doubt their parking allows for unlimited in and out privileges. The event however allowed us to enter and exit the facility as long as you had your hand stamped by one of the staff at the ticket entrance upon entry. The folks at the information desk and at parking were helpful with any questions we had regarding navigation and we felt safe the entire time we were there. You will have to pay for parking when you head towards the elevators on the ground floor. I believe it accepts both cash and card. We enjoyed our time at this convention center. It's accessible, close to the 90 expressway and public transport via plane, train or bus. If you plan to extend your stay, there's plenty of hotels, restaurants and entertainment in the area. read more

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This place was very nice. Normally I go to the black woman Expo at McCormick place but for a little razzle dazzle. I tried the woman's expo here at this convention center. It's huge. Get into the parking garage to the main level of where they hold. The events was like going on the field trip to me. I definitely had to call my friend on a phone and help her guide me in so I wouldn't get lost. I'm terrible with directions but this place is massive. They had to have a couple thousand vendors at this place so I assumed that it holds very cuz various conventions throughout the year read more

Donald E Stephens Convention Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Rosemont, Illinois

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Huge venue for The National! Super excited to check this place out! Tristar always does it big!!

Basically a nice facility Easy to get to off of the tri-state tollway ( I-294 ) It was small details that made it less enjoyable Unless you park in the valet parking It's a good long walk to enter. There is a large parking garage across the street. And a smaller one behing the facility that had and enclosed walkway to the entrance. Restroom are adequate but not well marked to be seen across the main halls, consessions are expensive!!! The east parking I parked in, the pay station in the elevator lobby did not work at all and tje one at the exit gate had its credit card reader connection by AOL dialup internet So it took over 3 minutes per vehicle to pay it exit gate causing traffic to back up exiting and entering. But over all ok just could be a bit better read more

Donald E Stephens Convention Center - Receipt for a little food - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Rosemont, Illinois

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The Chicago Travel & Adventure Show was at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont this weekend (1/14,15/2023) Parking was easy and only $15. I like that they provide an indoor heated crosswalk to get across safely and against the elements. There were over 100 exhibitors from all over the world including several from Africa and Asia, Europe, Cruise companies, tours, excursions, various Caribbean Islands, domestic city and state destinations. There were many good lecturers featured as well as several travel giveaways and discounts on future travel. We received a lot of good information to plan future vacations and made some valuable connections. read more

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Attended GotSole Chicago. The place is house and it was a very long walk to the event from the parking garage. They probably need better directions on where to park versus where the event was. I had no idea which side to park on and probably chose wrong. It was nice that the hallways are all heated from the garage to the event. I am sure I will be here again for some other event. read more

The staff there on behalf of Fan expo where completely rude, un-logistical... nobody seems to know what was going on or what do to. As a guest. I was escorted to certain area, then a particular personal, wish i would have gotten her name was, "oh thats great, you still cant be here..." I was still be polite, but politely asked, "will i be losing my place in line? to her reply, "no" but in fact i did and once more had to wait and wait no care for time. people like this is when you get those type of videos on social media and as for "security" if you call them that, more concerned, Where's you badge" vrs my consideration/time... Also not to mention building was over capacity on Saturday 8-16-25 which i did not feel safe for... makes one less guest not want to to go to Rosemount for anything read more

Motorcycle shows do not disappoint! Although, I do not own a bike, I used to race on 79th and Stoney Island in Chicago. I'm just a wee bit older now and just a lil bit wiser. I enjoy walking through convention centers looking at, rubbing and sitting on the bikes. It's a good time! Please do get the VIP package which includes an earlier access time, a souvenier badge, a really nice t-shirt and a key chain. read more

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Traffic can vary when an event is here. I was at the Sports Collector's Convention and it was a mess on River Road in the morning. Garage parking ended up being OK though. For this convention they seemed to route us "through the back door". Worked out alright but ended up coming in on one side of the center which resulted in more walking that had entry points been a little more central. This was a busy convention. Walking space was a little tight, but the biggest issue I had was that it was pretty warm in the place. It was a hot day outside, but with a large convention, a facility should be better prepared to keep the tempertaure at a more comfortable level. read more

I came here for the Jurassic Quest experience in early Nov 2021. The kids really liked the venue - it was massive and spacious. The parking is located right next to the entertainment complex of Rosemont - (its kind of confusing in the parking lot - you could get lost there). However once in the sky bridges that connect the hotels and parking structure to the convention center - it was pretty good. Climate controlled - I just wish signage was a bit more prominent in the sky-walk bridge. The staff was really helpful and it was a good experience at the convention center. I like how you could drop off passengers in the round-about (I'd suggest this if you have people who can't walk well - as its a long walk). read more

I've been to the DES for many shows and many reasons for many years. Each time I've visited, I've had a pleasant time. Conventions held here are world class and amazing to see. DES does a great job of setting up vendors and making them accessible. I also feel they deal with lines and making entry as easy as possible. The only downside..I wouldn't recommend eating anything here. Prices are insane and the food options are basic and un-delicious. Also...parking is cheaper down the street at the Rosemont Transit Center parking lot. Enjoy the show! read more

Pretty nice convention center. I was here for the past three days for the Food Safety Summit. Signage is plentiful and there was plenty of room for all of the sessions at the summit, including the expo hall. This convention center is much smaller than McCormick Place, which I definitely enjoyed. There is also a skywalk connecting the convention center to area hotels, including the Hilton, where I stayed, which was much appreciated with the rainy weather this week. The only negative I can say about the convention center is that the bathrooms are a bit spread out. You will definitely find them, but especially in the expo hall, they only had one men's and one women's restroom area. read more

Donald E Stephens Convention Center - Expo floor - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Rosemont, Illinois

This is a pretty big convention center. I came here for the Tattoo Convention this year and I was surprised by how big the place was and how many tattoo shops there were in Chicago. The place just looked like a huge warehouse and there were some annoying groups who played the LOUDEST RAP MUSIC on the history of the planet that the group even attempted to sing along to and make their own rap songs; this was extremely annoying and cringy, but as for the Convention Center itself, that isn't their fault. Parking was a little annoying because it is across the street from the convention center and it took us a while to realize where it was. Parking is $15 no matter how long you stay, and the garage has five floors I believe, but they get super packed depending on the event and the time you arrive, so watch for that. If you are parking, make sure to try and park in the actual convention center parking lot because the hotel nearby that is further than the convention center parking lot was trying to sell spots for $20... rip off. If you want to save money, the convention center is also pretty close to the Rosemont blueline stop, so you can always take the train and walk the rest of the way, as well. As for food and drinks, pricing is pretty ridiculous. I bought a beer, and she automatically charged me for a large one instead of a regular-sized one and it was $13... what? My friend was also charged for a large one and she got a pretzel, and with both together, it was $20. They do not have very many options for food or drinks, but they did have walking tacos! My advice? Eat before you come and don't waste your money on alcohol here. read more

Great fun at Fan Expo Chicago 2022 read more

Donald E Stephens Convention Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Rosemont, Illinois

I've been attending cons here several times. Modtly as attendees and a few times as an exhibitor. This time around we are here as exhibotors at Wizard World Chicago. It is set up conveniently to park across the street in a parking strucuture. However you might get confused where to turn in from River St. to get to the structure. Once there you can cross over using the enclosed catwalk that is temperature controlled. The heater was on this making it too hot. Luckily the walk isn't too long. If you have a large setup or large inventory to bring in I really appreciate we are allowed to drive onto conention, park by our booth and unload. That is so convenient. A mighty big plus in my book. There is an adquate concession in the main lobby. And, of course a Starbucks to help us all get through the day right. This center is all about convenience. I look forward to doing more shows here. read more

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EPIC FAIL!! 100,000 expected attendees and three tables to pick up neck lanyard credentials. No signs. No ushers. No stanchions to make lines an S curve. read more

I am here every year for Acen (my daughter is a fan) and I have been here for other events as well. It kind of is what it is, big giant rooms. There's a Starbucks inside to keep you going, the food vendors as to be expected are expensive and unhealthy. Location is near everything, restaurants, Rosemont Park, Movies, Blue Line, Hotels. Not a big fan of the pedestrian tunnels but at least they are pedestrian friendly both to the Hyatt and the Hilton. Parking does not come cheap. If you have to hang here for a while for an event and need a place to park your hat, the Red bar in the hotel is conducive. read more

Donald E Stephens Convention Center - Ready to learn - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Rosemont, Illinois

This place holds a lot of memories for me. I went to a Beatles Fest here with my first serious boyfriend (yeah, it was high school -- so what?). My prom was here. Another prom was here. I met my last boyfriend at a comic book convention. Etc. etc. Recently, I was here for the RV show with my husband (yes I geek out over them). Hmm... why do I keep ending up here with the different guys in my life!? Every time I've been here, the inside always seemed different because I've been in different parts. I like the versatility of this building. I like that more than one show can go on at the same time -- but read the signs to make sure you're going in the right place. I like that the center is quite large, but it isn't too hard to navigate. The walkover from the parking lot is pretty handy, too (although a bit crowded). The food sucks. Not only do they serve high-caloric cardboard crap, but they charge you way too much for it. Make sure you bring food or eat before you come here. Anything is better than the stuff they call 'food' here. The bathrooms are kind of dirty too, but hey -- thousands of people pass through almost daily. What else can you expect? Pack up some food, throw on comfortable shoes, grab a map, and have fun! read more

Donald E Stephens Convention Center - 2013 RV Show. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Rosemont, Illinois

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We came here for the 2019 Washington Awards, which is basically an Engineering convention. The room given to us was huge and decorated accordingly. The parking was a little bit of an issue as it is located on the opposite side of the convention center. It is a 15$ flat rate parking and the garage itself consists of several floors and numerous spots, so finding parking was not an issue at all. The parking is connected to a Sky Deck Pedway that reaches into the convention center so you don't have to walk outside in the cold at all. The entire venue is clean and easy to navigate through. They even set up coat check for us right outside the ball room. I am not sure if catering was provided by the convention center itself or if it was outside catering, but either way, the food was delicious and service was extremely professional. If you are planning on hosting anything here, just keep in mind that there are going to be a lot of other events going around. There was a tattoo convention going on at the same time as our event and there were a lot of people just walking around and past our ball room that we had to close the door so as not to be disturbed during presentations. This was my first time at the convention center and I had a great time. TIP - If you don't want to pay for parking or go through that hassle, you can take the blue line and get off on Rosemont. There might be a shuttle in a parking lot next to the blue line station that takes you straight to the convention center, but I am not 100% sure of that. Either way it is about a 5-10min walk from the blue line. read more

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Attended the JF&A (Jewelry, Fashion & Accessories) Show here in February. Super clean. Friendly staff. Great facility. read more

Horrific. Absolutely horrific. We were there for Jurassic quest. Absolutely no safety measures for Covid and the place was packed with mask less mouth breathers. No temperature checks, no mask enforcement. No social distancing. There were people walking in without even having a mask, let alone not wearing it. The event itself was OK, but we did not get to enjoy it because the whole experience was an anxiety inducing exercise in ignorance. Say what you will about some of the rules are enforced in Chicago, but they are at least put in place to try and keep people safe. There was just nothing here. The pandemic has made it so difficult to do things with my kids, and we were all very excited to be able to go and do something as a family, and excited to get the opportunity to attend a yelp elite event in almost 2 years, but thanks to the ignorance of a large amount of people I don't think will be doing anything again anytime soon. read more

I don't go to many conferences or trade shows so I don't have many other convention centers to compare this one too. But to me, the center felt disorganized, with a weird layout. It takes a long time to walk from the parking garage to the center. The blue line CTA stop is a bit far away as well. At the end of the day (5 pm), with everyone leaving at once, there was a long line to pay for parking at the ticket machines and a bottle-neck of people. Inside, the design feels very dated (ugly late 80s/early 90s design) and signage is poor. It's really easy to get lost. Food and beverage choices are minimal. Maybe I'm just not a convention center person. read more

My girlfriend and I came to Stephens Convention Center for the Travel & Adventure show to see Rick Steves speak. It's a very nice convention center and absolutely massive! We couldn't believe how much there was to see in our show but also blown away by how many other convention halls there were. Be prepared to walk if you park in the parking garage but besides that we had a great time here! read more

Everything will sound better if you are not surprised, at least I was, with the parking cost of $15. It's a event fee. There is not a hourly parking choice. That was my first time to visit a convention center. Signages for direction to event not so clear, but I founded my way. Other than that nice and clean venue. read more

We came here for the International Motorcycle Show. The walkway from the cold parking lots was much appreciated so we didn't have to schlep and babysit our big winter coats at the show. The staff are really nice, everything seemed organized and well laid out. The size of the space is quite large, but again there are visible signage pointing you to the right direction. They had coat check, at least for this show. The bathroom facilities were clean and abundant, the former being very important at large conventions such as this one. $15 special events parking. read more

Donald E Stephens Convention Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Rosemont, Illinois

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I attended the International Quilt convention here in June of 2013 and for the most part, I felt this center was very well organized and run. Positives: -There is a Starbucks right at the entrance, yay for caffeine! - If you are lucky enough to be dropped off and picked up by your husband, it is a breeze to get in and out. Well marked. - Lighting and ventilation were terrific. - There were scooters to rent for those patrons who could not walk through a big show. I am very thankful I don't need that but glad it was there for those who did. Negatives: -When we entered, if you were not with a bus tour they make you walk around in a circle and come back to the beginning basically and then walk in. - For such a huge facility, I found the restrooms to be far apart and inadequate. And if you washed your hands after using the restroom inside the hall, there was a goofy traffic flowing back on itself and squeezing by a small opening. Crazy! The show was just wonderful and I would come again but they could use some work on the entrance procedure and bathrooms for those of us who don't wear astronaut diapers to a quilt show. (Speaking of which, do you think that gal doing the fillibuster in TX used those? But I digress.) See you next year at the Quilt show! read more

Rosemont , Illinois On 05 June 17 I had occasion to patronize the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont , Illinois. The occasion was a graduation ceremony of a new recruit class of Rosemont Auxilary Police Officers. I must say , this was a very classy and well orchestrated event. Present was the recruit class , several officers to be promoted and two auxiliary officers who entered retirement after approximately thirty years of service. First there was the presentation of the Flag by the Color Guard. Then there was the playing of the National Anthem as the officers stood at attention and held their salute until the completion of the Anthem. The civilians in attendance stood , with many holding their right hand over their heart. Next came the Priest who rendered the invocation. Shortly there after the Rosemont officials in attendance were introduced starting with the mayor , Bradley A. Stephens, followed by several other officials in attendance. Following that was a presentation of the Superintendent of Rosemont Police and his command officers. Subsequently each recruit was called up to the stage and presented with a certificate of graduation from the Rosemont Police Auxilary Training Facility. Each congratulated by the Mayor and the Superintendent with their photo taken for posterity. After each recruit was presented with their certificate the family and friends present rendered an applause. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Color Guard retrieved the Colors ( Old Glory ) and the Priest returned to offer a prayer for the new recruits , retirees , and those promoted to a higher rank. That concluded the ceremony. It was an honor to witness the ceremony and to see the retirees singled out for their service and greeted with warm applause. My hat is off to the Mayor of Rosemont and all the city officials in attendance for a job well done. The ceremony was performed with dignity and class. Congratulations to the new Rosemont Auxilary recruit class of 2017. read more

This convention center is really easy to get to from the Blue Line Rosemont CTA station. I had done a google maps to figure out how to walk to the convention center from the Rosemont CTA stop. Google maps failed me!! All you really need to do is exit through the door (there is only one exit at this station), turn left, then turn another left. Continue walking for 10 minutes and you will be at the convention center entrance. DO NOT CROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. I made the mistake of following people walking in this direction who ended up crossing the street. I ended up having to cross back over because the convention center is on the same side of the street as the CTA station. The center itself is huge. If you end up coming here for any reason, make sure you are at the right place. When I came here for the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show, there was also an Outdoor Adventure convention. The place is very large with rooms upstairs and downstairs. Bring comfy walking shoes because you'll need it! In our showroom there were food options, although it was quite limited. But at least there is the option to buy food in case you don't want to bring anything. read more

This is an awesome place to go to for a convention. The facilities are tidy and easy to navigate. Best of all, it's right in Rosemont, which is loaded with fun activities and eats. read more