Mandalay Bay Convention Center rules exhibitors miss
Mandalay Bay's planner guide is written for show organizers, but much of it lands on exhibitors. These rules come straight from the current guide (V4.26). Your show can add stricter rules, so read your exhibitor manual too.
Last checked Nov 6, 2026
What to know
- Air conditioning and lights
Heating, air conditioning and full lighting run during show hours only; load-in and load-out get minimal lighting. Mandalay Bay won't heat or cool a hall while freight doors are open.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- No drilling into concrete
Drilling and anchoring into concrete isn't allowed, and drilling into any other surface needs approval in advance.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Children
Children may be on the trade show floor during show hours if show management approves, but never during load-in or load-out.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- What you can plug in yourself
Electrical, plumbing, gas and compressed air are exclusive to the house contractor. You can plug in your own grounded equipment up to 120V-20A; everything else, including monitors on booth walls, overhead signs and special lighting, is installed by the house.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Booth walls and power access
Hard-wall booths must sit at least nine inches from the booth line so electricians can reach the power.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Pay first, order early
Mandalay Bay needs your order form and full payment before it provides a service, and gives advance discount rates on orders received 21 days before the first event day.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Rigging and signs
Encore is the exclusive provider of rigging and power equipment. The general service contractor may hang signs in exhibit halls only if they weigh 200 lbs. or less and have no electrical parts, and free-climbing is no longer allowed.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Small shipments go through FedEx
All shipments of 150 lbs. or less to and from the trade show floor are exclusive to the FedEx Business Center.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Confetti, balloons and glitter
Confetti, balloons, glitter and similar materials bring an extra cleanup charge.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Food samples
Samples are limited to products you make, process or distribute: half (0.5) an ounce of food and two (2.0) ounces of nonalcoholic drinks. Exhibitor Services must approve them, and giveaway food used to draw traffic must be bought from Mandalay Bay.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Food safety in the booth
Keep food at 41 degrees F. or colder or 135 degrees F. or hotter, provide hand washing with 110-degree water, and wash hands for 20 seconds on entering the booth. No smoking or eating in a booth that serves food.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Selling on the floor
If you're approved to sell, you need a Clark County business license and a State of Nevada sales tax permit.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Dock security
Mandalay Bay's own security is required at all docks.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 5, 2026
- Vehicles on display
Fuel can't exceed a quarter tank or 5 gallons, whichever is less, vehicles can't be fueled inside, and one starting-battery cable must be removed and taped. You need a Clark County Fire Department vehicle display permit, one per assembly area.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 6, 2026
- Floor load limits
Bayside A to D take 350 pounds per square foot, Bayside E and F 250, and ballrooms and meeting rooms 150. Anything heavier needs special handling, and equipment over 250,000 lbs needs a site plan and route meetings.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 6, 2026
- No truck staging on the streets
There's no truck staging around the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, and Las Vegas Metro police ticket trucks parked on surrounding streets. Your contractor must arrange an off-site marshalling area and send trucks only when the ramp has space.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 6, 2026
- Forklifts: propane only
Forklift operators must be certified through the general service contractor, forklifts must be propane powered (no gas), and they can't go on tile or into public areas.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 6, 2026
- Animals in the booth
An animal must be relevant to your booth, approved by show management and the hotel, accompanied by a trainer and covered by its own $1 million certificate of insurance naming Mandalay Bay, and it can't stay in the building overnight. Service animals are always welcome.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 6, 2026
- Damage is billed after the walk-through
Mandalay Bay walks your contracted space with you before and after the event, and any damage not noted in writing at the first walk-through goes on your invoice.
ConfirmedMandalay Bay meetings and convention planning guide (V4.26)Checked Nov 6, 2026