We assume most Chicagoans seldom set foot in the McCormick Place after the Auto Show. The nation’s largest convention center is also a microcosm of how the city and state does business. It’s a political playpen where politicians and unions exert their influence on the ingenuous outside businesses. more ›

McCormick Place will remain home to the National Restaurant Association's annual trade show, under a new agreement signed between the Association and the McPier Authority today. Changes made by Governor Quinn to reduce expenses to convention holders were sufficient enough for the NRA to keep its convention in Chicago through 2016. more ›

One advisor says the only way to stop the McCormick Place bleeding is to privatize the convention center. more ›

Mayor Daley had his hands full with McPier this week, staving off the suggestion of a merger of the troubled Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority with the state agency that owns and operates U.S. Cellular Field. "First of all, you can't take McCormick Place, which is not doing that well, and merge it with the Illinois sports authority, which is doing well," Daley told the Tribune. "You're saddling the Illinois sports authority. You couldn't do that, no, it would be unfair." more ›

We mentioned earlier today that the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority is in debt but we didn't offer any solutions. Fortunately, WBEZ's Justin Kaufmann put his thinking cap on and came up with a few ideas that might help out. Our one caveat: we like Shakespeare, Justin. Don't mess with the lit nerds. more ›