Jump to content

Huntington Place

Coordinates: 42°19′34″N 83°2′49″W / 42.32611°N 83.04694°W / 42.32611; -83.04694
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Cobo Center)
Huntington Place
Huntington Place in 2022
Map
Former namesCobo Hall (1960–2010)[2]
Cobo Center (2010–2019)[2]
TCF Center (2019–2021)[2]
Address1 Washington Boulevard
LocationDetroit, Michigan
Coordinates42°19′34″N 83°2′49″W / 42.32611°N 83.04694°W / 42.32611; -83.04694
Public transit Convention Center
OwnerDetroit Regional Convention Facility Authority
OperatorASM Global
TypeConvention center
Construction
Opened1960; 64 years ago (1960)[2]
Renovated1989,[3] 2015[3]
Expanded2015[3]
ArchitectGiffels & Rossetti[1]
Website
Official website

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 ASM 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

[edit]

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.[4] 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.[5][6]

It is served by the Detroit People Mover with its own station.[7] 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.[8][9] The facility is located along the Detroit International Riverfront, and within walking distance of several downtown hotels.[10]

History

[edit]
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][4]

Joe Louis Arena, named after boxer and former heavyweight champion Joe Louis, was built adjacent to the facility.[11] It served as the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League from 1979 until its closure in 2017 when they moved to Little Caesars Arena. Demolition of the arena began in 2019.[12]

In 2009, Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. vetoed the Detroit City Council's resolution against the expansion of the facility.[13][14] 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.[15]

In October 2010, the DRCFA awarded a management contract to SMG,[16] which merged with AEG Facilities to form ASM Global in 2019.[17] It extended the contract for three years in September 2013 and again in June 2017.[16][18] 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.[5][6]

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.[19][20][21][22] 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.[21]

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 (acquired by TCF Financial Corporation in 2019), which took effect on July 1, 2018; the following month, Chemical announced that it would relocate its headquarters to downtown Detroit. The deal was not publicly announced until February 20, 2019; the parties agreed to delay the official announcement until Chemical finalized its merger with TCF Financial Corporation.[23] A new name for Cobo Center was not formally announced at this time, as the bank wanted to wait until after the completion of the merger. 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.[23][24][25] The merger between Chemical and TCF Financial Corporation was completed on August 1, 2019.[26] Cobo Center was officially renamed TCF Center on August 27, 2019.[21]

On December 13, 2020, Huntington Bancshares announced the acquisition of TCF.[27] The merger was completed in June 2021,[28] and on December 9, 2021, TCF Center was renamed Huntington Place.[29][30]

Notable events

[edit]
Ford Motor Company exhibit at the 2019 North American International Auto Show

In 1961, the show car event Detroit Autorama moved to the facility, and has been held there ever since.[31]

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.[32] Since 1976, the Charity Preview has raised an average of $2.4 million yearly for southeastern Michigan children's charities.[33] After the Charity Preview party, the NAIAS is open to the public for ten days, drawing, on average, 735,000 attendees.[16][34] The show was originally held in January, but was to move to June beginning in 2020.[35] On March 29, 2020, it was announced that the 2020 NAIAS had been cancelled due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.[36] The 2021 NAIAS was also cancelled and replaced by a downsized outdoor event in Pontiac, Michigan.[37][38]

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.[39][40]

The anime convention Youmacon has been held annually at Huntington Place since 2012.[41]

Cobo Arena

[edit]
Cobo Arena
Map
Capacity12,000
Construction
Built1960
Closed2010
Demolished2010–2015
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][42] 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.[43][44][45][46]

Cobo also hosted rock concerts, by such artists as Van Halen, The Doors, J. Geils Band, Jefferson Starship, Queen, Black Sabbath, Journey, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Iron Maiden (twice in 1982), David Bowie, Ted Nugent, Prince, The Tragically Hip, The Who, Judy Garland, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Parliament-Funkadelic, Duran Duran, the Cure, Phish, Sex Pistols, Madonna, Anthrax, Exodus and Helloween.[47][48][49] Bob Seger recorded all of Live Bullet and part of Nine Tonight at Cobo Arena.[50][51] Yes recorded two songs at Cobo Arena for their Yesshows album, released in 1980. Kiss recorded most of live album Alive! and video Animalize Live Uncensored at the arena and it is featured in their video for "Modern Day Delilah".[47]

On August 4 and 5, 1980, Journey recorded most of their live album Captured at Cobo Arena.[52]

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."[53] It also hosted Skate America in 1995.[54]

WWE and WCW also hosted numerous house shows and tapings in the arena during the 1990s, but WWE would return in 2006 for the premiere of the 2006 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event.

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.[47][55][56]

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",[57] 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.[58][59]

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.[60][61]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Duggan, Daniel (May 1, 2011). "Rossetti redux: Preserving the Cobo legacy, undoing the past". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "About Us". Huntington Place. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Media Kit". Huntington Place. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Cobo Center Brochure" (PDF). TCF Center. 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-03-30. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Gallagher, John (January 2, 2015). "Cobo Center gets ready to show off". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Welch, Sherri (February 12, 2017). "Groups laud improved Detroit convention experience, but there's room to grow". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on June 8, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  7. ^ "Cobo Center". Detroit People Mover. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "Parking". Huntington Place. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  9. ^ "Getting Here". Huntington Place. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  10. ^ "Hotel Information". Huntington Place. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  11. ^ Aguilar, Louis (March 11, 2018). "Life after the Joe: Big changes proposed for site". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  12. ^ Ramirez, Charles E. (June 17, 2019). "Demo crews begin removing Joe Louis Arena's exterior panels". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  13. ^ Kaffer, Nancy (March 4, 2009). "Mayor vetoes council's rejection of Cobo Center plan". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  14. ^ "Issues - Cobo Center Expansion, 2008-2009". Deep Blue. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  15. ^ Gallagher, John (May 4, 2012). "Cobo's rebirth delivers business: $299-million renovation attracts events, shows regional cooperation". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  16. ^ a b c "2013 North American International Auto Show is a hit with car fans". WXYZ.com. January 27, 2013. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  17. ^ Schneider, Marc (October 1, 2019). "AEG Facilities & SMG Finalize Merger to Form ASM Global". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  18. ^ Welch, Sherri (September 27, 2013). "Authority extends SMG's management contract of Cobo for 3 more years". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  19. ^ Ferret, Christine; Hunter, George (October 10, 2017). "Detroit Mayor Cobo's legacy remains divisive". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  20. ^ Austin, Dan (August 29, 2014). "Meet the 5 worst mayors in Detroit history". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  21. ^ a b c Noble, Breana (August 27, 2019). "It's official: Cobo's new name is TCF Center". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  22. ^ Livengood, Chad (August 25, 2017). "Duggan pushes to strip Cobo name from convention center". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  23. ^ a b Livengood, Chad (February 20, 2019). "Chemical Bank buys naming rights to Cobo Center". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  24. ^ Noble, Breana (February 20, 2019). "Chemical Bank to pay $33M to rename Cobo Center". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  25. ^ Livengood, Chad (August 22, 2019). "TCF Bank set to replace Cobo Center name next week". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  26. ^ Livengood, Chad (August 1, 2019). "TCF, Chemical Bank finish merger with eye out for buying more banks". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  27. ^ Kelly, Dane (December 13, 2020). "TCF Center to be renamed again after TCF, Huntington banks announce merger". ClickOnDetroit.com. Graham Media Group. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  28. ^ Manes, Nick (June 9, 2021). "Huntington Bank completes acquisition of TCF". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  29. ^ Ramirez, Charles E. (December 9, 2021). "Detroit's TCF Center changes name to Huntington Place". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  30. ^ Roberts, Adrienne (December 9, 2021). "TCF Center in Detroit changes name to Huntington Place". Detroit Free Press.
  31. ^ Larivee, Bob (2015). Hot Rod Detroit. Oxford, Michigan: DP Publishing. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-0-692-30899-8.
  32. ^ Kovanis, Georgea (January 18, 2013). "2013 Detroit auto show charity preview: Want to get in on the glitz and glamour? It's not too late". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  33. ^ "Sheryl Crow to play at Detroit auto show preview". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. November 14, 2013. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  34. ^ Wayland, Michael (January 28, 2013). "Detroit auto show attendance highest in nearly 10 years". MLive. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  35. ^ Noble, Breana (June 23, 2019). "Cobo struggles to find winter replacements for auto show". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  36. ^ Wayland, Michael (2020-03-29). "2020 Detroit auto show canceled after venue chosen for coronavirus field hospital". CNBC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  37. ^ Clarke, Kayla (September 21, 2020). "North American International Auto Show moves reimagined show to Sept. 28 through Oct. 9, 2021". WDIV Local 4. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  38. ^ Ewing, Steven (January 11, 2021). "2021 Detroit Auto Show canceled, replaced by outdoor Motor Bella event". CNET. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  39. ^ "Mayweather stops Burton in 9". Tampa Bay Times. October 22, 2000. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  40. ^ Wainwright, Anson (July 14, 2020). "Floyd Mayweather: Just how good was the former pound-for-pound king?". The Ring. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  41. ^ Graham, Adam (February 5, 2020). "What's your con? Astronomicon kicks off crowded calendar of Metro Detroit fan fests". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  42. ^ McFadin, Daniel (February 21, 2014). "A half-century of memories". NCAA.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  43. ^ "Detroit Loves sign No. 1 pick, Casals". The Times Herald. November 7, 1973. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  44. ^ O'Connor, Larry (May 8, 2019). "Finnerty family sees soccer legacy remain in safe hands". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  45. ^ Northrop, Milt (June 1, 1995). "RHI TAKES SMALL STEP BACK ROLLER HOCKEY LEAGUE SHRINKS BY FIVE TEAMS". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  46. ^ Stone, Mike; Regner, Art (2008). The Great Book of Detroit Sports Lists. Running Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0786741717.
  47. ^ a b c Woods, Ashley C. (April 6, 2012). "End of an era: Looking back at Cobo Arena's storied history". MLive. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  48. ^ "Prince plays Detroit: 30+ years of concert reviews". Detroit Free Press. April 22, 2016. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  49. ^ "Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI, USA Concert Setlists". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  50. ^ Graff, Gary (November 19, 2018). "Remembering Bob Seger's key tours before his final road trip". The Oakland Press. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  51. ^ Flynn, Donielle (December 11, 2022). "Live Bullet – The Story Behind The Album". WCSX.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  52. ^ Guy, Bobby (November 18, 2021). "Classic Michigan Concerts: Journey Live at Cobo Hall 1980". WRKR. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  53. ^ Guttersohn, Robert (May 8, 2013). "Local man preserves Detroit wrestling through photographs". Royal Oak Review. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  54. ^ Hersh, Philip (October 28, 1995). "Bobek, Bonaly Fall Short Of Mark". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  55. ^ "Address at the Freedom Rally in Cobo Hall". The King Institute. Archived from the original on August 30, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  56. ^ Whitaker, Morgan (June 21, 2013). "MLK's first 'I have a dream' speech". MSNBC. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  57. ^ Deitsch, Richard (February 21, 2014). "Kerrigan opens up about 'the whack heard 'round the world'". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  58. ^ Brennan, Christine (January 3, 2014). "Tonya, Nancy reflect on The Whack heard 'round the world". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  59. ^ Swift, E. M. (February 14, 1994). "Anatomy of a Plot". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  60. ^ Gallagher, John (May 30, 2015). "Latest Cobo upgrade will be an eye-popper". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  61. ^ Williams, AJ (September 11, 2013). "Cobo Center Unveils Grand Riverview Ballroom And Atrium". Michigan Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
[edit]
Preceded by Home of the Detroit Pistons
1961–1978 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ultimate Fighting Championship venue
UFC 9 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Huntington_Place&oldid=1247004005"