Just a few short years ago Detroit was in serious danger of losing its North American International Auto Show, but the Detroit Auto Dealers Association has inked a multi-year contract to keep the annual show within the confines of Cobo Center.
Although DADA has confirmed the multi-year deal with the NAIAS, the group is keeping the details of the contract a secret. A full breakdown of the deal – including financial terms and length of the contract – will be revealed later today at a press conference.
Detroit was in jeopardy of losing the NAIAS around the turn of the decade as Cobo Center had fallen into a state of disrepair and didn’t offer adequate space to host an international show. Show organizers considered several different options, including moving the show to nearby Oakland County or even selling the naming rights to another major U.S. Auto show.
However, the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority took over control of Cobo in 2009 and began a $221 million renovation of the facility. The project will add about 150,000 square feet of new show space to Cobo’s current footprint of 700,000 square feet. The project is expected to be completed in 2013.
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1.’Auto show agrees…’ view
