AV Production at MGM National Harbor
Prime AV produces galas, award dinners, holiday parties, and keynotes at MGM National Harbor with our own crew and equipment, from the glass walled Grand Ballroom to The Theater.
If the in-house quote is on your desk and you want an independent production company that knows how to light a room with a river view, start here.
How we produce at MGM National Harbor
The Grand Ballroom and its glass wall
The MGM Grand Ballroom is 16,137 square feet with a 24.3 foot ceiling and room for about 1,800, and one entire side is floor to ceiling glass facing the Potomac, opening to a 6,000 square foot terrace. The Bellagio Ballroom is 4,284 square feet at 19.6 feet, and the breakout rooms run about 1,800 square feet with 12 foot ceilings.
Daylight through that glass wall is the design problem and the design opportunity. We spec LED walls bright enough to hold up in daylight, plan blackout where the program needs it, and light the stage so the river view becomes part of the picture instead of a glare problem.
Rigging and house systems through Encore
Encore is the exclusive technology provider at MGM National Harbor and rigging requests go through their rigging form. The conference center also has serious built in infrastructure: a 64 by 64 matrix router that can send audio, video, and data to any room, with fiber ports and touch panels throughout.
We design to the ballroom’s 24.3 foot trim, submit the plot, and coordinate the motor call. When overflow or a second room matters, we use the house matrix to feed it rather than running a second production.
The Theater
The Theater seats 3,000 and holds 4,000 standing, with retractable seating, a platform lift system, motorized rigging, and seven VIP suites. It is a touring grade room that corporate groups can book for keynotes, award shows, and town halls.
Producing in a touring venue is different from a ballroom. We advance with the venue’s technical staff, bring the show elements that are not part of the house package, and run the program the way a tour would.
Power, internet, and ordering windows
Power and internet are ordered through Encore’s online system, which closes two days before load in; later orders go through the on site team. The breakout rooms have fiber and touch panels built in, which simplifies small meetings considerably.
We size the load, order early, and bring our own distribution and show network for the ballroom and theater, so you are paying for infrastructure you actually use.
Load-in and parking
The resort has a loading dock for production, more than 5,000 self parking spaces, and sits at 101 MGM National Avenue in Oxon Hill, a short drive from our Chantilly warehouse by the Beltway and the Wilson Bridge.
We schedule the dock with the hotel’s event team, keep a small footprint, and plan crew parking so nobody is hunting for a space at call time.
The details that change your budget here
MGM National Harbor is a resort and casino with a purpose built conference center and a touring grade theater. These are the published facts that shape an AV plan here.
The rooms
One big room, one theater, small breakouts.
Daylight
The glass wall decides the screen.
House technology
Exclusive provider, strong infrastructure.
Logistics
Easy by truck, easy by car.
Frequently asked questions
Can we bring an outside AV company to MGM National Harbor?+
Yes. Encore is the exclusive technology provider for house systems and rigging, and outside production companies produce galas, award dinners, and keynotes here with rigging and house patching coordinated through Encore. We bring our own sound, LED, lighting, cameras, and crew.
How do you deal with the glass wall in the Grand Ballroom?+
We design for daylight. LED video walls stay bright with the room lit, stage lighting is balanced to the daylight rather than fighting it, and blackout is planned only where the content needs it. For evening events the glass becomes a backdrop and we light accordingly.
Can corporate groups use The Theater?+
Yes. The Theater seats 3,000 with motorized rigging and a touring grade stage, and groups book it for keynotes, award shows, and town halls. We advance with the venue’s technical staff and bring the show elements that are not part of the house package.
How do we order power and internet?+
Through Encore’s online system, which closes two days before load in. We size the show load with you, order early, and bring our own distribution and show network, so on site orders at on site rates are rarely needed.
How far is MGM National Harbor from Prime AV?+
About 25 miles from our Chantilly warehouse via the Beltway and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which keeps trucking and crew costs sensible. We also serve the rest of National Harbor and Prince George’s County.
Planning a meeting or conference? Start with an RFP.
Download our free Event AV & Production RFP Template, fill in what you know, and email it to sales@goprimeav.com. We will help you build the scope.
Download the RFP TemplateProducing at MGM National Harbor?
Send us the room, the dates, and the agenda
You will get a lighting and screen plan for that glass wall, an itemized quote, and a clear note on what the in-house provider will charge on top.