Cobo Hall expansion plan approved... will NAIAS recover to need the space?
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Dec 23rd 2008 at 6:28PM 
Automakers have been fleeing the Detroit Auto Show in droves over the last few months. Porsche, citing slow sales in metro Detroit, was the first to announce it was pulling out of the NAIAS, but Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce all followed suit shortly thereafter. While much of the blame can be placed squarely on the broad shoulders of the global economic meltdown, organizers of the event also point to the quickly deteriorating conditions at Cobo Hall and the lack of available space when compared to such venues as the Chicago Auto Show.
Even if they can't fix the economy, the
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gooroo 6:32PM (12/23/2008)
That should be the Michigan senate, not the US senate.
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cdwrx 6:45PM (12/23/2008)
Autoblog, please double check out which body the article is referring to. It is the Michigan state Senate, not the U.S. Senate. I just about had an aneurysm.
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P.V. 7:00PM (12/23/2008)
OK...you have issues if you get aneurysms over that.
Anyway, I find it ironic that just when people complain about lack of space and the expansion gets approved, automakers drop out of the show.
Stingers 7:37PM (12/23/2008)
They dropped out prior to the approval of the expansion.
cdwrx 8:02PM (12/23/2008)
Surely I'm not the only person pork has given an aneurysm.
Reader 10:16PM (12/23/2008)
I'm with you cdwrx... I read that and my eyes went wide while I mouthed 'what the f*ck'. Not that we would have been consulted on this decision by the senate anyway, but I was surprised to not have at least heard of it. All is well though, just a editing mistake.
Mike 7:03PM (12/23/2008)
The Chinese automakers will fill the extra space. Even if they are years away from selling cars in the US, they will put on a better show each year.
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Sea Urchin 7:10PM (12/23/2008)
Instead of spending money on COBO, why not give that money to local colleges that can fund degrees. Thing about it, for about 15-20K government will get a student with 4 year degree who will be paying taxes for the next 50 years.
Detroit's problem is not GM, Ford or Chrysler, Detroits problem is that they have one of the lowest graduating rates in USA.
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G-Meister 7:19PM (12/23/2008)
low graduating rates dont get fixed by handing out tuition money.
I think the expansion will pay off in 4-5 years once thins have turned around a bit.
Jimbo 7:22PM (12/23/2008)
Handing out degrees also does nothing if the jobs aren't there. The graduates will simply go where the jobs are, even if it means going out of state. So much for recouping the investment.
catfish 3:21PM (12/24/2008)
degree holders will go to the jobs, yes.
But jobs also migrate towards the degree holders. Take a look at pittsburgh, for instance, the robotic and technology industries are big there because of the proximity of colleges with exemplary robotics/technology programs.
Companies need to move towards scarce labor because otherwise scarce labor will go elsewhere.
Sean 3:25PM (12/26/2008)
"Instead of spending money on COBO, why not give that money to local colleges that can fund degrees."
Spoken by a person that has no idea what kind of money and press the Auto show generates.
Eric 7:24PM (12/23/2008)
Deteriorating? Cobo is in better shape than 90% of Detroit. Honestly, that's the last thing they need to be spending money on. I was just at Cobo a few months ago and it's just fine. It's a waste of taxpayer money to be expanding it at a time when there are clearly better uses for the money.
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ehisforadam 8:55PM (12/23/2008)
A big thing about expanding Cobo is for more than just the auto show, a lot of conventions won't even consider Detroit because Cobo simply isn't big enough for their needs. With all the new hotel rooms downtown, they need a use for them. Bigger Cobo = more conventions = more money.
fixitfixitstop 2:34PM (12/24/2008)
Cobo is tiny in comparison with convention venues in other cities. I am all for this. Besides, if any place needs jobs, it's Detroit.
Stingers 7:36PM (12/23/2008)
Knowing how construction goes around these parts, this should be done in time for, oh, the 2015 show.
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Eric 7:40PM (12/23/2008)
To be fair that new terminal at Detroit Metro was completed very quickly and it's very nice. Now if only they could afford to tear down the old terminals...
I've always found it funny how Detroit never bothers to tear things down...they just continue to build around the old. No wonder they can't dust off their image - all the reminders of the past are still around.
ehisforadam 8:52PM (12/23/2008)
They left up the old terminal because the airport offices are in it. (Why they didn't build new offices in the new terminal is beyond me.) They also want to try and use the old terminal as a sort of movie/tv studio, at least from what I've read.
Judy Zik 8:17PM (12/23/2008)
This is just smart. During bad economic times the it will be cheaper to do a big construction job like this. They will have a couple of years of slack time to get things done and ready just in time for the economy to pick back up in about two years time. By then there will be enough built up demand that the new car market will be exploding and car makers will be back to wanting to put on a show. It looks like Ford will be a part of that party. Here's hoping GM and Chrysler make it there too.
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ronnie schreiber 8:43PM (12/23/2008)
In spite of the automakers who pulled out, there was sufficient demand for display space at the '09 NAIAS that there actually are more total exhibitors at the show than last year. Admittedly that includes BYD and Brilliance from China and some lower rent displays in the downstairs hall, but there will be more world premieres this year than last.
Also, of interest to car guys and gals, Lotus is reported to have a factory/importer display for the first time @ Detroit and Tesla will have a booth as well with their electric Roadster. Tesla CEO Elon Musk will be at the show and will be speaking at the Society of Automotive Analysts event on the 13th. The Bugatti Veyron will also make its first appearance at the NAIAS this year as well.
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