Cobo Center Transformation Moves Forward

Detroit 2020 got a close-up look at what’s going on inside the old Cobo Arena.

The signature space at the new Cobo Center will be a three-story, glass atrium, linking the main floor with a new entrance along the Detroit River. It’s scheduled to be completed in time for the North American International Auto show in January.

Inside what used to be Cobo Arena, you can see the floor for the grand ballroom.

“There will be a 40,000 square foot room with views up the riverwalk and across out to the river, and we’ll also have exterior terrace space–so it’s space like no one has ever seen in downtown Detroit, and it’ll put us from a competitive standpoint much farther ahead when competing with other cities for business in the future,” said Thom Connors, General Manager of Cobo Center.

The ballroom will be completed in the middle of next year. Below it will be 25,000 square feet of meeting rooms.

And the outside?  It promises to be eye-popping.

“We’re gonna have a 160 foot by 40 foot video display board facing Jefferson, which is going to create a dynamic change in the cityscape, giving it a Times Square look,” Connors told Detroit 2020.

Cobo ‘s General Manager Thom Connors says the whole project is about one-third complete, adding that a lot of what’s been done are things you can’t see.  He says and that all of the changes are already paying off.

“Our summer business alone this past quarter was up 2 1/2 times over the prior year. We’ve also seen the return of corporate business…we’ve had some significant clients this year,” said Connors.

And when it’s all finished, Connors believes Cobo will be back in the game competitively.

“I like to say the transformation of Cobo Center is just a reflection of the transformation of downtown Detroit and the comeback of a great American city which is the punchline or lead line of our advertising campaign,” Connors said.

Click here to see the entire video of the Cobo renovation and expansion plan.