San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) is one of the most logistically demanding trade shows in the country. With more than 130,000 attendees packed into the San Diego Convention Center over four days, every exhibitor faces the same three problems: where do my booth materials live before move-in, how do I get them to the show floor, and what happens after the show ends?
This guide walks you through the full timeline — from shipping materials weeks ahead of the show to coordinating same-day delivery to the convention center — and how on-demand storage in San Diego saves you from paying convention drayage rates or scrambling for last-minute warehouse space.
Why Out-of-Town Exhibitors Need Local Storage
If you're flying into San Diego for SDCC, your two realistic options for booth materials are:
- Ship directly to the convention center's advance warehouse — fast, but you'll pay drayage fees that often exceed $100 per 100 lbs, plus you can't access your materials again until move-in.
- Ship to a local San Diego storage partner — your materials arrive early, get checked in, and stay accessible if you need to swap inventory or add last-minute giveaways.
For most exhibitors with more than a single pallet, local storage is dramatically cheaper and far more flexible. Learn more about Comic-Con exhibitor storage at Juujbox.
SDCC Exhibitor Timeline
4–6 Weeks Before the Show
- Confirm booth size, location, and move-in window with Comic-Con's exhibitor services team.
- Book storage with a San Diego receiving partner. You'll need a delivery address, expected pallet count, and a tentative move-in date.
- Begin shipping non-perishable booth materials (signage, displays, swag, fixtures) to your storage partner.
2 Weeks Before
- Confirm all freight has arrived and been checked in.
- Coordinate the delivery route from your storage facility to the San Diego Convention Center loading docks.
- Reserve liftgate truck service if you have heavy displays or equipment.
Move-In Day
- Your storage partner delivers booth materials to the convention center based on your assigned move-in window.
- You meet the truck at the dock and walk pallets to your booth space (or your storage partner can provide on-site labor).
- Save your packing materials — you'll need them for tear-down.
Move-Out Day
- Repack your booth and label every pallet with your storage partner's return address.
- Your storage partner picks up materials from the convention center and returns them to the warehouse for storage or onward shipping.
- From there, you can store materials month-to-month for next year's show or ship them home.
What to Look For in a San Diego Storage Partner
- Climate-controlled warehouse — banners, vinyl, and electronics don't survive a hot summer storage unit.
- Forklift and pallet jack access — you'll need it for both intake and delivery.
- Certificate of Insurance (COI) available on request — required for most loading dock access.
- Direct convention center delivery experience — drivers who already know the SDCC dock procedures save you hours.
- Month-to-month storage — so you can keep materials in San Diego for next year's show without re-shipping.
Typical Pricing for SDCC Exhibitors
Plan on roughly $75 per pallet per month for booth and exhibit storage in San Diego, plus $175 each way for delivery to the convention center within a 20-mile radius. Compared to convention drayage — often $100+ per 100 lbs each direction — local storage typically saves exhibitors with 3+ pallets several thousand dollars per show.
Year-Round Storage Between Shows
If you exhibit at SDCC every year, leaving your booth in San Diego permanently can be the smartest move. You eliminate two rounds of cross-country shipping per year, your materials stay in climate-controlled storage, and you can swap in new signage or swag without unpacking your entire booth.
Next Steps
Ready to plan your SDCC logistics? Request a custom Comic-Con storage quote or browse our full event storage services.
