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Key Information

Huntington Place (formerly known as Cobo Hall, Cobo Center, and briefly TCF Center) is a convention center in Downtown Detroit, owned by the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and operated by Legends Global. Located at 1 Washington Boulevard, the facility was originally named after former Mayor of Detroit Albert Cobo.

The largest annual event held at Huntington Place is the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), which has been held at the center since 1965.

Facilities

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Huntington Place is 2,400,000-square-foot (220,000 m2) in size and has 723,000 square feet (67,200 m2) of exhibition space, with 623,000 square feet (57,900 m2) contiguous.[5] It previously featured an arena, Cobo Arena, which hosted various concerts, sporting events, and other events.[3] In 2015, the facility completed a renovation that repurposed the Cobo Arena space, adding additional meeting halls, a glass atrium with a view of the Detroit riverfront, and the 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) Grand Riverview Ballroom.[6][7]

It is served by the Detroit People Mover with its own station.[8] Huntington Place has several large, attached parking garages, as well as parking on the roof of the facility, and direct access to the Lodge Freeway.[9][10] The facility is located along the Detroit International Riverfront, and within walking distance of several downtown hotels.[11]

History

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Huntington Place, then Cobo Hall, in 2007, with the southern end of M-10 passing under the center 300 yards (270 m) from ending at street level (and becoming/leaving Jefferson Avenue)

The facility and its attached arena initially cost $56 million.[3] It was designed by the Detroit architectural firm Giffels & Rossetti and took four years to complete.[3][1] Louis Rossetti was the chief architect.[1] The facility is on the site where Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, a French colonist, first set foot and landed on the banks of the river in July 1701 and claimed the area for France in the name of King Louis XIV.[3] The first convention at the facility was held in 1960 by the Florists' Telegraph Delivery (FTD).[3] The first event was the 43rd Auto Industry Dinner on October 17, 1960, at which President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the keynote speaker.[3] In 1989, a renovation was completed to expand its size to 2,400,000 square feet (220,000 m2).[3][5]

Joe Louis Arena, named after boxer and former heavyweight champion Joe Louis, was built adjacent to the facility.[12] It served as the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League from 1979 until its closure in 2017 when the team moved to Little Caesars Arena. Demolition of the arena began in 2019.[13]

In 2009, Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. vetoed the Detroit City Council's resolution against the expansion of the facility.[14][15] Shortly after, the facility came under ownership and operation, through a 30-year capital lease, of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA). The five-member Authority Board consists of one representative from each of five government agencies – the City of Detroit, State of Michigan and the three Metro Detroit counties of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb. Consensus agreement from the authority is needed for all decisions, and it has become a model for regional cooperation in Southeast Michigan.[16]

In October 2010, the DRCFA awarded a management contract to SMG,[17] which merged with AEG Facilities to form ASM Global in 2019.[18] It extended the contract for three years in September 2013 and again in June 2017.[17][19] In 2015, a five-year, $279 million renovation was completed, including a new atrium, ballroom, and meeting spaces, constructed mainly within the former Cobo Arena building.[6][7]

Huntington Place, then Cobo Center, in 2015

In 2017, in the wake of the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Detroit riot, current mayor Mike Duggan proposed that Cobo Center be renamed due to modern reappraisals of Cobo's tenure as mayor. Cobo had upheld exclusionary covenants against African Americans, and was accused of responding poorly to allegations of harassment and police brutality against African American residents.[20][21][22][23] In 2018, the DRCFA stated that it had already been considering the sale of naming rights to the facility, for the first time in its history.[22]

Huntington Place was converted into a temporary hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan.

In June 2018, the DRCFA approved a 22-year naming rights agreement with Chemical Bank, which took effect on July 1, 2018; the following month, Chemical announced that it would relocate its headquarters to downtown Detroit. The parties agreed to delay the official announcement until February 20, 2019, after Chemical and TCF Financial Corporation announced their intent to merge.[24] Chemical stated that it would wait until after the completion of the merger to announce Cobo Center's new name, but that it was expected to carry the TCF branding. In the meantime, Chemical Bank logos appeared on advertising and signage at the facility, and a ceremonial bust of Albert Cobo was removed from public display.[24][25][26] The merger between Chemical and TCF was completed on August 1, 2019, with the combined company taking on the TCF name.[27] Cobo Center was officially renamed TCF Center on August 27, 2019.[22]

On December 13, 2020, Huntington Bancshares announced its intent to acquire TCF.[28] The merger was completed in June 2021,[29] and on December 9, 2021, TCF Center was renamed Huntington Place.[30][31]

In July 2025, the DRCFA approved a new $125 million expansion, which will add a 20,000 square-foot expansion to the southwest end of the building along Steve Yzerman Drive. The expansion will include a rooftop terrace, and a skyway that will connect the complex to the new JW Marriott Hotel being constructed on the site of the former Joe Louis Arena. The DRCFA aimed for the expansion to be completed by the end of 2026, in time for the opening of the hotel.[32][33]

Notable events

[edit]
Ford Motor Company exhibit at the 2018 North American International Auto Show

In 1961, the show car event Detroit Autorama moved to the facility, and has been held there annually since.[34]

Since 1965, the largest event held at Huntington Place is the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). This event draws thousands of international press and suppliers during its initial five days and has a charity preview party for 11,000 guests before the public opening.[35] Since 1976, the Charity Preview has raised an average of $2.4 million yearly for southeastern Michigan children's charities.[36] After the Charity Preview party, the NAIAS is open to the public for ten days, drawing, on average, 735,000 attendees.[17][37]

Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated Emanuel Augustus, then known as Emanuel Burton, via a ninth-round TKO on October 21, 2000. The fight took place at Cobo Hall rather than Cobo Arena.[38][39]

The anime convention Youmacon has been held annually at Huntington Place since 2012.[40]

Cobo Arena

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Cobo Arena
Map
Interactive map of Cobo Arena
Capacity12,000
Construction
Built1960
Closed2010
Tenants
Detroit Pistons (NBA) (1961–1978)
NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships (NCAA) (1965–1981)
Detroit Loves (WTT) (1974)
Michigan Stags (WHA) (1974–1975)
Detroit Mercy Titans (NCAA) (1989–1994; 1997–1999)
Detroit Ambassadors (OHL) (1990–1992)
Detroit Rockers (NPSL) (1990–2001)
Motor City Mustangs (RHI) (1995)
Detroit Dogs (ABA) (2000–2001)

Cobo Arena was an arena built in 1960 with seating for 12,000 that served as the home court of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association from 1961 to 1978 and the host of the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships from 1965 to 1981.[3][41] The short-lived Michigan Stags of the World Hockey Association and the Detroit Loves of World TeamTennis called Cobo Arena home in 1974, as did the Detroit Rockers of the National Professional Soccer League, the Detroit Mercy Titans basketball team of the NCAA, and the Motor City Mustangs of Roller Hockey International.[42][43][44][45]

Cobo also hosted rock concerts, by such artists as Anthrax, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, The Cure, The Doors, Duran Duran, Exodus, Judy Garland, the Grateful Dead, Green Day, Helloween, Jimi Hendrix, Iron Maiden (twice in 1982), The J. Geils Band, Jefferson Starship, Journey, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Ted Nugent, Parliament-Funkadelic, Phish, Prince, Queen, The Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, Bruce Springsteen, The Tragically Hip, Van Halen, and The Who.[46][47][48]

Notable live albums that have been recorded at the arena include:

As the venue for Big Time Wrestling on every other Saturday night in the 1960s and 1970s, it was considered to be "The House the Sheik built."[52] It also hosted Skate America in 1995.[53]

WWE and WCW hosted numerous house shows at the arena during the 1980s and 1990s.[54] Additionally, WWE returned to the arena for a Saturday Night's Main Event special on March 18, 2006.[55][56]

On June 23, 1963, following the Detroit Walk to Freedom civil rights march, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the original version of his "I Have a Dream" speech at Cobo Arena to a full house.[46][57][58]

In January 1994, during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Joe Louis Arena, skater Nancy Kerrigan was bludgeoned in her right lower thigh by an assailant in a corridor of Cobo Arena, which was being used as a practice facility. The assault, which was dubbed "the whack heard 'round the world",[59] was planned by rival Tonya Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and co-conspirator Shawn Eckardt, in a plot to prevent Kerrigan from competing at the championships and the 1994 Winter Olympics.[60][61]

Cobo Arena closed in 2010 as part of a major renovation completed in 2015. The space was used to construct new facilities, including the 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) Grand Riverview Ballroom, a new atrium area, 21 additional meeting rooms, and an outdoor terrace.[62][63]

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Huntington Place

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from Grokipedia

Huntington Place is a in , , originally constructed by the City of and opened on August 15, 1960, as Cobo Hall in honor of former mayor Albert E. Cobo, whose vision drove its development.
The facility spans 2.4 million square feet overall, including 723,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space across five halls, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom, and over 100 meeting rooms, positioning it as the 16th largest in the United States.
Managed by the nonprofit Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority since 2009, it hosts major events such as the , which has been held there annually since 1965 and draws over a million attendees, alongside conventions, trade shows, and consumer events that generate significant economic impact for the region.
The center underwent extensive renovations between 2013 and 2017, enhancing its infrastructure with modern amenities, certification, and expanded capacity, while the adjacent Cobo Arena was demolished in 2011 to make way for further development.
Name changes reflect corporate agreements: from Cobo Center to TCF Center in 2019 following a deal with TCF Bank, and to Huntington Place in December 2021 after TCF's merger with Huntington National Bank.

Location and Facilities

Architectural Design and Site

Huntington Place occupies a prominent site at 1 Washington Boulevard in , directly adjacent to the waterfront. The facility's layout integrates with the urban fabric, extending eastward toward the river and westward in ongoing expansions linking to Second Avenue, facilitating improved pedestrian and vehicular flow within the city grid. Its positioning provides unobstructed views of the and across the international boundary, while maintaining proximity to key landmarks such as the , reachable via a short walk along the Detroit Riverwalk or the system. The original architectural design, completed in 1960 by the firm Giffels & Rossetti under chief architect Louis Rossetti, embodies modernist principles with robust, unadorned construction optimized for functionality in hosting large assemblies. This approach prioritized expansive, column-free interiors within a total initial footprint of approximately 1.2 million square feet, utilizing raw elements to support heavy loads from exhibits and crowds without decorative excess. Subsequent modifications, including a major facade overhaul in the , replaced portions of the river-facing exterior with a glass curtain wall to enhance and vistas, adapting the structure to contemporary aesthetic and operational demands while preserving core spatial efficiencies. Urban infrastructure enhancements underscore the site's evolving connectivity, notably the Second Avenue Extension project initiated in August 2025. This initiative extends Second Avenue southward from Congress Street to Atwater Street, bridging the M-10 freeway and incorporating pedestrian skybridges to link Huntington Place directly with the riverfront trail and adjacent developments, thereby mitigating prior access barriers posed by highway infrastructure and bolstering integration with Detroit's .

Exhibition Halls and Capacities

Huntington Place offers 723,000 square feet of dedicated exhibition space across five primary exhibit halls, with 623,000 square feet configurable as contiguous flooring for large-scale trade shows and events. These halls, designated as A through E (including subdivisions like E1 and E2 in the section), range in size from approximately 100,000 to 200,000 square feet each and support division into smaller sections via movable walls. The exhibit halls feature column-free layouts, ceiling heights up to 40 feet, and capacity for 2,500 standard 10-by-10-foot booths, enabling versatile setups for automotive shows, conventions, and industrial displays. Technical capabilities include robust electrical systems, advanced points, and direct access via multiple dedicated loading areas, aligning with standards managed by operator ASM Global for high-volume freight handling and event adaptability. Complementing the core halls, 200,000 square feet of flexible space allows for expanded configurations, while the overall facility ranks as the 16th largest in the United States by exhibition square footage.

Meeting Spaces, Amenities, and Accessibility

Huntington Place provides over 100 dedicated meeting rooms for smaller gatherings, breakout sessions, and corporate events, complemented by four ballrooms offering a combined 51,527 square feet of configurable space. The largest, the Grand Riverview Ballroom, spans 40,000 square feet and accommodates up to 3,500 in theater-style seating or 2,250 for banquets, while smaller options like the 6,139-square-foot Ambassador Ballroom support more intimate functions. Adjacent pre-function areas and terraces, including glass-enclosed spaces overlooking the , enable flexible setups for hybrid events with integrated audiovisual capabilities. Amenities emphasize operational efficiency and attendee comfort, with complimentary high-speed available throughout the facility and state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment for presentations and virtual integrations. On-site dining and catering are managed through a partnership with Sodexo Live!, renewed on March 13, 2025, for an additional decade, which includes a 24/7 , upgraded café offerings, and investments in culinary innovation such as a $50,000 annual fund for new concepts. Post-2020 health measures incorporate enhanced sanitation protocols, contactless services, and public safety features to address ongoing visitor concerns. Accessibility features ensure broad usability, with the facility fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including wheelchair-accessible entrances, ample walkways, and manual doors where automated options are unavailable. Attached garages accommodate over 3,000 vehicles, with designated spaces for disabled visitors using standard cars or vans, providing direct entry to wheelchair-friendly zones. The site connects to the station for seamless public transit access, and ongoing expansions include a skybridge connector project initiated in 2025 to link with adjacent developments, further improving pedestrian connectivity and urban integration. Wheelchairs are available on request, supporting inclusive event participation.

Historical Development

Origins and Construction (1950s–1960)

The origins of what became trace to the vision of Detroit Mayor Albert Cobo, who served from 1950 to 1957 and advocated for a large-scale convention facility to capitalize on the city's status as the epicenter of the American automotive industry amid post-World War II economic expansion. Design work for the project, led by architect Louis Rossetti of the firm Giffels & Rossetti, commenced in the early 1950s to create a venue capable of hosting major trade shows and conventions, reflecting Detroit's manufacturing dominance and need for infrastructure to sustain industrial growth. Construction of Cobo Hall, built by the City of , progressed through the late , with the facility opening on August 15, 1960, shortly after Cobo's death in office, and named in his honor. The initial complex, including the exhibition hall and attached arena, cost approximately $56 million and spanned about 400,000 square feet of exhibition space, establishing it as one of the world's largest such venues at the time. This scale directly addressed the causal demands of 's auto sector, enabling accommodations for expansive displays and events that bolstered local economic activity. From its inception, Cobo Hall demonstrated empirical viability by hosting the Detroit Auto Show starting in , which relocated there to leverage the facility's capacity for vehicle exhibitions and drew significant attendance, solidifying the center's role in the city's convention ecosystem. The first major event was the 43rd Auto Industry Dinner on October 17, , underscoring its immediate utility for industry gatherings.

Operations and Expansions Through the 20th Century

The Cobo Hall complex initiated operations in 1960, rapidly establishing itself as a hub for major conventions, trade shows, and public events in , with the integrated Cobo Arena enabling diversification into sports and concerts. The arena, accommodating 12,000 spectators, hosted the NBA's as its primary tenant from the 1961–62 season through 1978, contributing to the facility's early revenue streams from ticket sales and ancillary spending amid the city's automotive boom. This attachment expanded the overall footprint, supporting year-round utilization and integrating the venue into Detroit's urban fabric as a counterweight to emerging suburban competition for events. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, as grappled with , population loss following the 1967 riots, and shifts in the auto sector, Cobo Hall pursued incremental upgrades to its infrastructure, including renovations documented in the mid-1980s to enhance electrical systems and space configurations for modern exhibitions. These adaptations addressed aging components and aimed to retain business against newer regional venues, with public funding reflecting a strategic emphasis on as an economic stabilizer despite municipal fiscal strains. efforts focused on reconfiguring exhibit halls to accommodate larger displays, underscoring causal links between sustained and preserved in a declining urban core. The decade culminated in a transformative 1989 expansion, executed at a cost of $225 million, which nearly doubled exhibition space to 700,000 square feet and elevated the total complex to 2.4 million square feet, positioning it as the nation's third-largest convention facility at the time. This project involved extensive structural additions, including new halls and improved utilities, to meet demands from flagship events like the —relocated permanently to Cobo in 1965—which by the late 1980s drew international media and exhibitors, bolstering attendance and hotel revenues even as citywide economic indicators waned. Such expansions demonstrated returns on public capital through verifiable event continuity, mitigating broader urban disinvestment effects by anchoring visitor-driven economic activity in the .

Renamings, Modernization, and Recent Projects (2000–Present)

In 2011, the Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) initiated a $279 million of the facility, which included the internal demolition of Cobo Arena to repurpose the space for expanded exhibit halls and a new 40,000-square-foot Grand Riverview Ballroom. The project, completed in 2015, added connectivity to the Riverfront via a three-story atrium and modernized the east-facing façade with media wall technology, increasing total exhibit space to over 723,000 square feet. The venue underwent two significant rebrandings in the late 2010s and early tied to corporate sponsorships. In 2019, it became TCF Center under a deal with TCF Bank. Following Huntington Bank's acquisition of TCF Financial Corp. in June 2021, the facility was renamed Huntington Place on December 9, 2021, with the sponsorship agreement extending through 2041. The DRCFA announced a $550 million expansion in the late to further enhance competitiveness, incorporating public-private partnerships for additional infrastructure like a connected . On August 7, 2025, the board approved a $125 million initial phase, adding 20,000 square feet of space, extending connectivity along Second Avenue, and including a skybridge link to a new , with construction mobilization slated to begin shortly thereafter. These upgrades correlated with increased utilization; in fiscal year 2024, Huntington Place hosted 134 events, attracting over 399,000 attendees and generating more than $300 million in direct economic impact for the region.

Operations and Management

Governing Authority and Operators

The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA), established by Public Act 554 of 2008 and assuming ownership in December 2009, governs Huntington Place following the transfer from the City of amid the latter's escalating fiscal distress, which threatened venue solvency through mismanagement and shortfalls. This state-enabled shifted control to a regional entity to enhance operational efficiency, secure stable funding, and mitigate risks tied to municipal finances, as 's deficits exceeded $300 million by 2013. ASM Global serves as the day-to-day operator under a management contract awarded in 2010 and extended in May 2024 for five additional years, selected for its specialized expertise in convention center management across , including revenue optimization and facility maintenance. The DRCFA's five-member board of directors comprises appointees representing the state governor (one member), mayor (one), and county executives of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties (one each), facilitating collaborative decision-making on budgets, expansions, and contracts while prioritizing regional economic interests over parochial city control. Operations are funded through state appropriations from the Convention Facility Development Fund, event ticket and space rental revenues, and sponsorship deals, such as the naming rights agreement originally valued at $33 million over 22 years with TCF Bank (acquired by Huntington Bank in 2021, extending the Huntington Place branding through at least 2041). The authority maintains transparency via publicly available annual reports, with the FY2025 operating budget projecting revenue growth and operational profitability driven by post-renovation event bookings.

Economic Impact and Financial Performance

In fiscal year 2024, Huntington Place hosted 134 events that drew over 399,000 attendees, generating more than $300 million in direct and indirect economic impact for the region through spending on , dining, transportation, and retail. This impact supported thousands of jobs in , , and related sectors, with multiplier effects particularly evident in auto-related events like the , which alone projected up to $370 million in economic benefits from attendee expenditures and ancillary activities such as media coverage and supplier spending. Prior to the 2009 establishment of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA), the facility—then known as Cobo Hall—incurred chronic operating deficits under city of Detroit management, attributed to inefficient operations, underutilized space, and fiscal mismanagement amid the city's broader bankruptcy proceedings. Post-DRCFA oversight and expansions, including the $550 million modernization completed in 2021, annual economic contributions stabilized and grew; for instance, fiscal year 2023 saw 146 events with 457,000 attendees yielding $303.1 million in impact. These upgrades enhanced competitiveness against larger venues in Chicago and Las Vegas by increasing exhibit space to over 2 million square feet and enabling hybrid events, directly correlating with higher booking rates and revenue from premium tenants. Financially, Huntington Place achieved operating profits in fiscal year 2023 ($4.4 million net on $25.5 million ) but recorded a modest loss of $848,000 in audited fiscal year 2024 amid transitional costs. Projections for fiscal year 2025 indicate a return to profitability ($1.15 million net), driven by event growth and increases, though the facility continues to receive state operating subsidies—$6 million in fiscal year 2024, tapering to $5 million in fiscal year 2025—which are lower than those for many peer convention centers reliant on ongoing taxpayer support to cover shortfalls. Management under ASM Global has reduced prior deficits by $20 million through cost controls and event diversification, positioning the venue toward greater self-sustainability without the structural subsidies common in the industry. A forthcoming $125 million expansion, including a skybridge to an adjacent , is expected to further bolster by accommodating larger conventions and reducing leakage to out-of-region lodging.

Sustainability Efforts and Partnerships

Huntington Place has implemented sustainability initiatives aligned with the , a program aimed at reducing energy use, water consumption, and waste in buildings by 2030. In 2024, the venue upgraded to energy-efficient LED through a partnership with DTE Energy's sustainable program, which provided rebates for installation and contributed to a 9.63% energy reduction achieved by optimizing HVAC zoning and schedules with event operations. These measures prioritize measurable operational efficiencies, such as energy savings that lower costs, over unsubstantiated environmental claims. Engineering Director Al Vasquez, who assumed the chairmanship of the 2030 District board in February 2024 for a two-year term, leads internal efforts including waste diversion programs that divert materials from landfills during events. The venue maintains certification as Michigan's largest such facility, incorporating practices like replacing with refill stations, using compostable serveware, and sourcing to minimize transportation emissions. A supports pollinators like honeybees, aiding while insulating the building to reduce heating and cooling demands. Partnerships enhance these initiatives, notably the March 2025 extension of the contract with Live! for food and beverage services, which includes composting via My Green Michigan and promoting plant-based, locally sourced menus to cut food waste and supply chain emissions. Live! tracks metrics per event, such as reduced packaging and waste volumes, integrating with Huntington Place's broader goals of 25% energy reduction and 20% use by 2030. These collaborations emphasize verifiable outcomes, like quantified waste diversion rates, rather than aspirational rhetoric.

Notable Events and Achievements

Major Trade Shows and Conventions

![2018 North American International Auto Show](./assets/2018_North_American_International_Auto_Show_(27382553118) Huntington Place hosts several prominent recurring trade shows and conventions, with a strong emphasis on automotive and manufacturing events tied to Detroit's industrial heritage. The (previously the ), held annually at the venue since 1965, remains the largest such event, historically attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and serving as a key driver of regional through vehicle unveilings and industry announcements from major automakers like Ford, , and . Pre-pandemic attendance peaked at figures such as 774,179 in 2019, though the 2025 edition drew 275,000 amid schedule shifts and market changes. The Progressive Detroit Boat Show, another longstanding annual event, occupied Huntington Place from February 1 to 8, 2025, displaying boats, marine accessories, and related seminars before relocating in 2026. Consumer and niche conventions, including —an , gaming, and gathering that drew 25,000 attendees in 2022—further diversify the calendar, appealing to specialized audiences. Michigan Comic Con also utilizes the facility for panels, exhibits, and celebrity appearances. Post-2020, the venue has supported event recovery through adapted formats and enhanced facilities from prior renovations, facilitating bookings for industry expos and contributing to over one million annual visitors overall. This positions Huntington Place as a hub for manufacturing-focused gatherings, with the auto show exemplifying its economic draw via direct links to automotive production and sales cycles.

Performances, Sports, and Awards

Cobo Arena, integrated into the Huntington Place complex until its demolition in 2015, hosted the of the from 1961 to 1978, drawing significant crowds for professional games. The venue also served as the home ice for the Michigan Stags of the during their single 1974–75 season, accommodating hockey matches and related athletic events. Additionally, it hosted the Men's Indoor Championships annually from 1965 to 1981, establishing it as a key site for collegiate sports competitions. The arena was a prominent stage for musical performances, including multiple concerts by , such as shows on December 3, 1972, and May 28, 1974, which attracted thousands of fans and highlighted its role in history. Other notable acts, like recording parts of their 1976 "Alive!" album during a there, underscored Cobo's legacy in live . Following the arena's replacement with expanded exhibit halls and the Grand Ballroom, Huntington Place has shifted toward hosting cultural conventions with performative elements, such as the annual and gaming event featuring contests and voice actor panels from October 27–30, 2025. Traditional large-scale concerts and sports have diminished, with the venue prioritizing adaptable spaces for diverse gatherings over fixed athletic or performance setups. In 2023, Huntington Place earned five major industry awards recognizing operational excellence, including the ROSE Award for Behind the Scenes contributions to hospitality. Independent surveys ranked it first in attendee satisfaction for highest overall experience among North American convention centers exceeding 500,000 square feet, outperforming peers based on feedback from thousands of participants. This data-driven acclaim, coupled with ASM Global's contract extension through 2024 and beyond, reflects sustained high performance in guest and organizer metrics.

Cobo Arena

Construction and Usage

Cobo Arena was constructed adjacent to the newly opened Cobo Hall, forming an integrated complex in designed to accommodate large-scale events. The arena, engineered by the architectural firm Giffels & Rossetti, featured a steel-beam structure and was completed in with an opening in 1961, boasting a of 12,000. This design complemented the adjacent exhibition hall, enabling shared infrastructure while providing a dedicated space for spectator sports and performances. From its inception, Cobo Arena served as the primary home venue for the of the , hosting the team from the 1961–62 season through the 1977–78 season. The Pistons' games drew significant crowds, underscoring the arena's role in urban professional before the franchise relocated to the in 1978 amid owner concerns over downtown safety and family accessibility. Beyond basketball, the venue occasionally accommodated hockey exhibitions, though it lacked a long-term NHL tenant. Post-Pistons, Cobo Arena diversified into a major venue, hosting prominent rock acts throughout the and that solidified its status as a regional nexus. Performances by leading bands drew large audiences, capitalizing on the arena's central location and acoustics suited for amplified . By the 1980s and 1990s, event programming expanded to include awards shows and varied spectacles, yet overall utilization waned as sports franchises prioritized modern, purpose-built facilities outside the city core, driven by demands for improved amenities and suburban accessibility. This shift reflected causal factors like and competition from newer venues, reducing the arena's reliance on sports while highlighting its adaptability to demands.

Demolition and Replacement

The Cobo Arena, operational since as an attached component of the Cobo Center, underwent demolition between 2011 and 2015 to facilitate a comprehensive modernization project addressing the facility's outdated infrastructure and insufficient contiguous exhibit space. This phase was integral to a $279 million initiated in September 2010 and substantially completed by 2015, which repurposed the arena's footprint—previously dedicated to sports and concerts—into expanded convention amenities, including a 40,000-square-foot glass-enclosed and event space, alongside a new three-story atrium with riverfront views. The work eliminated structural limitations that had constrained larger trade shows, such as the , by integrating the site into broader exhibit hall expansions totaling approximately 166,000 square feet of new space. No dedicated replacement arena was constructed, reflecting a strategic pivot toward prioritizing convention and capacity over multi-purpose venues, given Detroit's evolving event landscape and the economic underperformance of the aging , which had hosted its last major in 2009. The conversion yielded a more versatile facility, with the former arena site contributing to enhanced flexibility for banquets and hybrid events, supported by ancillary improvements like enclosed loading docks and additional parking. Post-renovation data indicated improved utilization, as the expanded layout attracted sustained bookings for major conventions, underscoring the project's role in bolstering the center's competitiveness against regional rivals. This transformation entailed clear trade-offs: the permanent loss of a mid-sized indoor capable of seating over 10,000, which had supported local hockey and , was weighed against long-term gains in revenue-generating exhibit space amid Detroit's post-industrial efforts. While short-term disruptions included phased closures affecting adjacent operations, the net outcome prioritized causal economic drivers—such as accommodating larger, higher-value events—over preserving legacy sports infrastructure, with empirical evidence from subsequent booking increases validating the shift despite initial opportunity costs for entertainment programming.

Controversies and Challenges

Structural and Safety Issues

In July 2025, Huntington Place canceled a Association event scheduled for November, citing concerns about structural integrity in areas affected by ongoing expansion work. Venue officials, however, stated that no structural issues posed a to attendees or prevented other scheduled events from proceeding, with inspections affirming the facility's overall integrity. The decision was specific to the rodeo's requirements, such as potential heavy loads from and equipment in renovated expansion zones, and resulted in no injuries, evacuations, or facility-wide closures. Prior to major renovations in the , the facility—then known as Center—experienced deferred maintenance linked to the City of 's financial distress, including annual operating losses exceeding $20 million under municipal ownership during the lead-up to the city's 2013 filing. These challenges encompassed outdated mechanical, electrical, and structural systems strained by aging built in the and , which the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) addressed through a $279 million overhaul completed around 2015 to restore load-bearing capacity and compliance with modern building codes. Following the 2025 rodeo incident, the DRCFA implemented targeted assessments and remedial measures in expansion areas, prioritizing causal reinforcements to underlying beams and supports without halting broader operations. This included oversight of the Second Avenue extension project, where a ceremonial beam-signing on August 13, 2025, marked installation of upgraded structural elements designed to enhance connectivity and load distribution between the and adjacent riverfront developments. Such interventions reflect ongoing DRCFA protocols for proactive structural monitoring, informed by reviews rather than reactive overhauls.

Funding and Operational Criticisms

Huntington Place, operated by the publicly funded Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA), has faced criticism for its reliance on state subsidies and debt financing, which detractors argue yield questionable returns amid competition from private venues. Prior to financial reforms, the facility received annual operating subsidies exceeding $15 million from state sources, including a 1.25% food and beverage dedicated to convention operations, prompting concerns over taxpayer burdens and in perpetuating inefficient public infrastructure. The 2009 expansion and renovation, capped at $279 million under state legislation, was financed via bonds backed by these revenues, while subsequent projects, including a $550 million initiative incorporating an adjacent hotel, have added to debt service obligations detailed in annual budgets. Critics, such as the Mackinac Center, contend that such investments underperform relative to unsubsidized private competitors like the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan's second-largest venue, which operates without equivalent public support and captures events through market-driven efficiencies. Empirical analyses of U.S. convention centers broadly indicate chronic operational losses, with indirect economic multipliers often overstated in feasibility studies, raising doubts about the causal link between public funding and net regional gains. Operational critiques have centered on pre-COVID financial shortfalls and transitions, with the facility posting losses attributed to declining event bookings and changes before the 2015 engagement of private operator ASM Global. Annual budgets reveal ongoing debt service demands, projected to rise post-bond issuances, even as ASM's oversight yielded revenue growth—such as a 350% increase from 2009 levels by 2017—yet still necessitated subsidies to cover deficits. In 2022, the venue's use for counting in elections drew operational scrutiny over procedural delays and security lapses, including challenger ejections and heightened tensions, though these were tied more to electoral processes than inherent facility shortcomings. Debates on versus public control highlight viewpoints favoring full market handover to curb subsidies, citing examples where private reduces costs without sacrificing viability, contrasted against Huntington Place's hybrid model, which has correlated with post-ASM profitability trends and a $303.1 million economic impact in FY 2023. However, public advocates maintain that state involvement ensures broader accessibility and event capture unattainable under pure , with data showing stabilized operations under ASM despite historical challenges.

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