If your show attracts a lot of international exhibitors and attendees, choosing a city with an international airport makes sense, even if you have to pay a little more. Another regional factor that can affect affordability is the labor market. Downtown vs. suburban Downtown venues generally cost more than venues in neighboring suburbs, but other factors must be considered. If they want to party after work or entertain clients, it's probably best to have them in the city, where there is greater accessibility to restaurants and other attractions. Non-traditional venues Convention centers and hotel exhibition facilities come to mind first when thinking of where to hold a show, but there are lots of other possibilities.
Sports arenas can accommodate shows of significant size.
High school gyms also are used for regional garden shows, home-maintenance shows, antique fairs and other consumer events that take place on weekends. Some corporate parks have suitable space for small shows, which is particularly appropriate for business events that attract the local working community. Coastal cities may offer exposition space on piers. In New York, three exposition halls at a Hudson River ship terminal are popular venues for trade and consumer shows. Among the hottest sites for consumer shows is retail space.