REPORT: North American International Auto Show likely to move out of Detroit, see other people
In car-related news that will further disappoint an already reeling city, the chairman of Detroit's North American International Auto Show has gone on record that he is exploring ways to move the event out of the city.
The very public battle to expand the show's home, Motown's Cobo Center appears to have failed for good, after the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Detroit City Council, in effect killing plans for a $288 million expansion, a plan voted down by council members in February. For his part, city mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. is evidently declining to go to the state Supreme Court to force the issue.
So now, the search is on to take the show to a new venue, likely beyond Detroit's city limits, and potentially beyond the bounds of Southeast Michigan, as well. Automotive News quotes auto show co-chair Douglass Fox as saying:
At this point we need to consider any viable option that might be out there for us... There have been leaders -- (Oakland County Executive) L. Brooks Patterson comes to mind – who have made those overtures. We need to explore those options.Fox and his team are expected to move quickly, but given the scope of the planning required for a major international auto show, it is perhaps likely that the NAIAS will still be hosted by Cobo next January. Beyond that, though, the city of Detroit looks set to witness yet another auto-related casualty.
[Source: Automotive News - subs. req]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
i.c. weiner 5:04PM (4/17/2009)
FINALLY!
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AMcA 2:00AM (4/18/2009)
CHICAGO!
Four halls the size of Cobo!
70,000 hotel rooms!
And all the amenities of one of the world's great cities!
What else could you ask for?
Eddie 5:06PM (4/17/2009)
It would make sense moving the show to New York, Chicago or LA.
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Dondonel 5:34PM (4/17/2009)
I don't see it moving further than Oakland Co.
alex 7:36PM (4/17/2009)
oh yeah that makes sense.... the Detroit Auto Dealers Association putting on an auto show in chicago...... it almost makes TOO much sense
Jamarr 8:53PM (4/17/2009)
New York's show is already bigger so not here... I like the LA idea a lot better. Just another reason for me to jet to sunshine during the stupid winter here.
Upthewazzu 5:08PM (4/17/2009)
I know of a large, unoccupied venue in Memphis that might fit the bill...
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sk 5:10PM (4/17/2009)
What left? Time to bulldoze this city.
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Kumar 5:29PM (4/17/2009)
Greektown is what's left, so don't mess with my 24 hour gyro joints.
The organizer would be better off selling the naming rights Chicago, NY, or LA.
LA would be best, as it is the driving capitol of the US. My vote is for Indianapolis, my LA driving wannabe hometown. They're expanding their convention center, and we have almost no public transportation to speak of like Chicago and New York. A perfect match? ;)
Jim 9:35PM (4/17/2009)
"LA would be best, as it is the driving capitol of the US."
given the california state government's general hostility towards cars (and the auto industry,) I'd prefer to see it stay out of LA just out of spite.
though I'm biased, 'cos I hate California with a passion.
sk 9:34AM (4/18/2009)
Jim, I assume you hate the cities and people, but how can you hate the natural beauty of California?
Tango 5:10PM (4/17/2009)
no, not finally.
deserting the city of Detroit will only exacerbate their weak economy
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asuka 5:17PM (4/17/2009)
Its their own fault. The good people of Detroit decided to elect a group of crazy militants to govern them. They got what they deserved. Move it to LA, New York, or DC.
g00fba11 5:53PM (4/17/2009)
Absolutely, Asuka. Why appease a bunch of dumb-ass elected officials? This hopefully send a valuable lesson.
Jim 9:36PM (4/17/2009)
"The good people of Detroit decided to elect a group of crazy militants to govern them."
they're not crazy militants. they're just delusional.
jc 5:18PM (4/17/2009)
Detroit is what happens when unions and Democrats take over.
The only way the US auto industry will survive is to leave places like Detroit and go to non-union states where workers are rewarded for performance VS demanding more entitlements and hamstringing industry to death.
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Chuck 5:24PM (4/17/2009)
The Democrats finally get their wish to turn Detroit into welfare paradise they've always dreamed of.
jpm100 5:30PM (4/17/2009)
Unions don't run the city. In fact Detroit City has been devoid of most of its former auto industry for some time.
Although what happened to the city is tied to its governance, what happened to Detroit also goes beyond what simpling being run by Democrats has done.
Chris 5:55PM (4/17/2009)
It was neither unions nor necessarily democrats that took over Detroit. Unions wrecked US automakers, but Detroit was wrecked long before that.
But they certainly are a mixed-up bunch in city hall who place more importance on their "pride" than in actual priorities for the city.
Jim 6:41PM (4/17/2009)
guys, don't bother with jc, he just lets Hannity & Co. tell him what to think.