REPORT: Panel okays money for added exhibition space for relocated Detroit Auto Show - if Cobo talks fail
by Chris Shunk on May 27th 2009 at 9:57AM 
The North American International Auto Show is the biggest event to hit the state of Michigan in any given year, but the location of the event has come under fire due to the advanced state of disrepair of Detroit's Cobo Hall. Earlier in the year, the state of Michigan and representatives from Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties approved up to $299 million to repair and expand Cobo in exchange for the facility being turned over to a regional authority run by all three counties.
Even though the city of Detroit would be relieved of $15-20 million per year in repairs and a $20 million cash payment, the city council turned down the Cobo expansion deal. The defeat of the proposal left the future of the show in the state of Michigan in doubt, so Oakland County executive L Brooks Patterson offered up the Rock Financial Showplace as a future site of the auto show.
According to The Detroit Free Press, that idea is one step closer to reality as a state senate panel has approved up to $135 million to expand the much newer convention center to accommodate future auto shows. The money for the proposal would come from hotel and cigarette taxes, and the money officially goes to the Novi, MI facility if a deal on Cobo isn't reached by July 1.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nellydesign 10:27AM (5/27/2009)
Detroit city council with another genius move. Congrats on pushing the biggest money making event for the city OUT of the city.
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Cameron 10:34AM (5/27/2009)
Yay! I'm all for it, but that's just because I live in Brighton and would like the shorter drive. If they do use the RFS, they will need to get alot more parking. I saw people being towed from various parking lots near the center a couple years ago on a busy day for the Cycle World Show, and that wouldn't pull nearly as many people the NAIAS.
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Lindsey 11:12AM (5/27/2009)
Hey, me too! I hate driving downtown but I might start going again if it's in Novi. The past couple years I've actually enjoyed the GR auto show more for what it is - more cars that you can actually touch. They had more automakers than Detroit this year.
Novi might have a hard time supporting more space any time other than AutoShow time, though - and that space is occupied by set-up for autoshow for months, not bringing in revenue every weekend. I guess they're banking on a big turn-around and people paying $$ to show at NAIAS again.
But... anything will be better than what COBO has turned into. That place was getting downright scary what with the roof falling down on you and all. And Novi really is a nice area, and just as easy to get to from the airport with lots to do besides autoshow.
Kumar 10:48AM (5/27/2009)
I think the people at the soon-to-be expanded Indianapolis convention center would be thrilled to host the auto show. It's a good choice, as the town has about zero public transportation options, meaning you have to/get to drive just about everywhere. ;)
I'll miss the current show wherever it moves too. I miss the frigid winter walk to the show, followed by a trip to Greek town for food and gambling afterwards.
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Chris Whiteford 11:06AM (5/27/2009)
I think people need to stop with the fantasy that the NAIAS is somehow going to leave Michigan.
It just isn't going to happen.
alex 11:33AM (5/27/2009)
Chris, I know exactly what you mean! it's absurd!
Chris 12:51PM (5/27/2009)
An article in the Detroit Free Press this morning describes 2 parking garages near Cobo that have failed structural inspections recently.
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aw9455 11:26AM (5/27/2009)
I hope Detroit gets it together even though Rock Financial Showplace is closer.
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Jeremy 11:35AM (5/27/2009)
Sadly, if it ends up moving to Novi, they are going to lose a hell of a lot of border traffic. I live in Windsor, and I end up going to the NAIAS every year. So do a lot of people over here in Windsor, and its surrounding counties.
It's not going to stop me personally from going to the show if they move it to Novi, I mean, more power to them. The Representatives of the City of Detroit had their chance, and they blew it.
As it works now, in Windsor, you can go to the bus station and buy a round trip bus pass, and ticket to the show for $22CDN. You buy the ticket, on the bus, through the tunnel, clear customs, and your at the doorstep of Cobo Hall, all in under twenty minutes (traffic permitting). It was a convenient way of going to see the show without having to bring the car, or worry about parking, commuting, etc. If it moves to Novi, I doubt they'll be running city buses all the way out there. Many people who would have gone to the show might change their mind. I hope that the locale change might spark some more American patrons to the show to even it out, but they are definitely going to lose a lot of Canadians going to see it.
I just wish Detroit City Council would get their act together. All I ever read about is corruption scandals, ineptitude, and a general inability to get anything done. They've lost the Red Bull Air Race, go to the website, it's listed as Windsor 2009, not Detroit/Windsor. Now they face losing the NAIAS. I mean, is somebody going to step in and stop the bleeding at some point? They way they act, you'd think Detroit was some vibrant city of independent wealth, and not phased by the loss of a silly annual auto show. I mean, how many dollars need to continue to vanish from the area before they do something. I don't want to see Detroit fall any further than it has. Believe me, I'd love to see a resurgence in the D, I just don't think the people in charge right now have any intent or drive to do it.
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mitchw 11:54AM (5/27/2009)
Let's just wait for the "Deus ex Obama" moment before we start thinking for ourselves. Don't like that? How about "Obama ex Machina".
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dc11 1:28PM (5/27/2009)
why even bother anymore. just blow the place up, and make it the first major outdoor autoshow... OH WAIT, the weather sucks in detroit. nm!
Seriously, as sad as it is, the location sucks, the venue sucks, the show is pretty much worthless in this economic climate. Bring back the old school autorama!
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Tikki 9:09AM (5/28/2009)
after my traffic ticket yesterday in Detroit, go ahead and move it to Novi, Im tried of the D let it fall. Absolute crap of a town. I used to back it but not after some shaddy, lets change the law for today and ticket drivers, trick. Not to mention I doubt they'll ever get 75 open again.
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