Cobo renovation proposed to keep auto show in Detroit

[minnfang]

Things may be looking up for the Detroit show...

At this year's Detroit auto show, rumors were circulating that the event might be moved elsewhere in 2009, with Detroit's aging Cobo Center at the center of the controversy. With the public leg of the auto show starting tomorrow, plans have already been disclosed for a major renovation of the venue, which should secure the show's future in Detroit for years to come.

More at Link:
http://www.leftlanenews.com/cobo-ren...auto-show.html

[jeep2c]

I was at the NAIAS only a few years ago and if they think COBO is bad they should come to Ohio and go to most any of our expo centers.

[LAMRONH]

This is one great big DUH and it speaks volumes about Michigan's "leadership."
Chicago has been mentioned for several years, I believe their great hall (name?__) has well in excess of one million square feet and is a better facility to boot.
It's pitiful that MoTown has the likes of Mayor Kwazi and Governer Jennifer to lead them bravely into the future. But it's a darwinian world out there, and whatever Mayor Daily's many flaws may be, lack of imagination doesn't seem to be one of them.

Hopefully they will get this show on the road before the barn door's open and all the horses are loose.

[jomo]

Originally Posted by LAMRONH

This is one great big DUH and it speaks volumes about Michigan's "leadership."
Chicago has been mentioned for several years, I believe their great hall (name?__) has well in excess of one million square feet and is a better facility to boot.

It's Mcormick Place/Center. It's a beautiful facility (and close to me, too), so I'd be all for that plan.

[CADILLACSIXTEEN]

Originally Posted by jeep2c

I was at the NAIAS only a few years ago and if they think COBO is bad they should come to Ohio and go to most any of our expo centers.

Yeah, but the name of the show is NAIAS, "I" standing for international... This is our biggest revealing of cars every year.

The facility needs to be kept to international standards, not Ohio's.

[MechEng]

This investment into COBO is badly needed. COBO is not too bad a place but it has just become too small. This expansion is welcome news. And hopefully it will be better suited to handling the large volume of people that go to NAIAS.

[cemaxc]

I went to the NAIAS a few years ago as well and for all the hype and pictures I remember seeing online I was really let down by the COBO center. Its small, ugly, and in a bad part of town (or it was when I was there). The Dallas convention center is probably more than twice the size and in a much better part of town and is amazing to look at, hell, thats where GM had the pictures taken of the first Camaro concept in 06. It should be moved to Dallas.

Edit: Ok I just checked and the Cobo has around 700,000 sq.ft. and the Dallas Convention Center has around a million sq.ft. But when you are inside the facilities Dallas just feels so much larger.

[usa1]

You have to ask this: Is Cobo hall the right size for Detroit with the exception of the auto show? Does the auto show alone justify the expansion?

I don't know the answer to this, but I've never heard of Detroit as being a major destination for anything outside the auto show.

Mark

[ByTheLake]

Detroit has been discussing an expansion or replacement for Cobo Hall for more than 20 years. Cobo was fine in its day but has long been insufficient for the Auto Show.

Don't hold your breath.

[N8s07ss]

Good point USA1, but strangely, the answer to your question may be yes. If the facility was of high enough caliber, it could possibly bring more interest.

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by usa1

You have to ask this: Is Cobo hall the right size for Detroit with the exception of the auto show? Does the auto show alone justify the expansion?

I don't know the answer to this, but I've never heard of Detroit as being a major destination for anything outside the auto show.

Mark

These are excellent questions. A move to Chicago might be a great idea!

[Ed753]

Originally Posted by MechEng

This investment into COBO is badly needed. COBO is not too bad a place but it has just become too small. This expansion is welcome news. And hopefully it will be better suited to handling the large volume of people that go to NAIAS.

If they really wanted to make it "Bigger" they could blow all the @#$%^! that is downstairs and utilize that space. I appreciate the "stuff" that they have down there, but if push comes to shove it could be eliminated.

[NfamousZ24]

Originally Posted by Ed753

If they really wanted to make it "Bigger" they could blow all the @#$%^! that is downstairs and utilize that space. I appreciate the "stuff" that they have down there, but if push comes to shove it could be eliminated.

They didn't even fill that lower floor space last year anyways.

I thought that the Detroit Redwings is getting a new facility and that Cobo Hall would be able to use that space.

[jae1987]

I think the main reason Cobo hasn't been expanded the guy in charge of Wayne county building is so full of s***. He keeps submitting over the top plans that have little to do with expansion. The latest plans had elevated tunnels connecting to major hotels/buildings in the surronding financial district for about 1/3 of the final price tag.

[jae1987]

One more thing I read all the posts on the article about how Detroit is a hell hole. I'll admit that it's not the best place but downtown around COBO, Campus Martius, theater district is nice. All the press focuses on though is the bad.