venues
Main photo: cobo center; Where to sleep photo: Joe Vaughn
Conventional Wisdom
Cobo Center
Boasting 722,500 square feet, the Cobo Center along Detroit's revitalized riverfront first opened more than 50 years ago. Over the years, it's gone through considerable renovations and expansions, the most recent of which came in 2015 with a $279 million price tag. The center features five exhibit halls ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 square feet, with four of those halls able to combine to offer 623,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space. Cobo Center is perhaps most well-known for hosting the National American International Auto Show, which attracts more than 35,000 visitors daily.
The U.S. Port of Entry and Detroit-Windsor tunnel is two blocks from the venue.
Cobo Center has an in-house broadcast studio with video editing equipment, facilitywide fiber network, and satellite uplink.
CenterPlate is the venue's exclusive caterer.
Green initiatives include composting and reducing energy use.
The venue features free public Wi-Fi and 10GB internet. Private Wi-Fi networks can be ordered through the facility's in-house tech team.
Glitter and confetti are prohibited without show management's written approval.
Candles may be used if they are covered or in a base with water.
The center prohibits outside alcohol to be brought in without written permission. Corkage fees apply.
Popcorn, coffee carts, bar service, etc. must be purchased via the in-house food and beverage department.
Cobo Center does not allow the distribution of adhesive decals or stickers.
Crate storage is prohibited without getting written approval from venue management.
WHERE TO SLEEP
There are 40,000 hotel rooms in the Detroit metropolitan area. The Detroit Foundation Hotel, situated across the street from the Cobo Center complex, offers a four-star, boutique experience. The nearby Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center is located on the Detroit People Mover route, the city's above-ground rail system.
There are 40,000 hotel rooms in the Detroit metropolitan area. The Detroit Foundation Hotel, situated across the street from the Cobo Center complex, offers a four-star, boutique experience. The nearby Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center is located on the Detroit People Mover route, the city's above-ground rail system.
WHAT TO EAT
Cobo Center features a handful of restaurants, including a lobby coffee and wine bar, as well as Go Natural for healthy options and the Made in Detroit Food Court for locally sourced fare. Outside the center, Detroit's food scene is exploding – no matter what your cuisine or atmosphere preference is, Motown has something for you.
Cobo Center features a handful of restaurants, including a lobby coffee and wine bar, as well as Go Natural for healthy options and the Made in Detroit Food Court for locally sourced fare. Outside the center, Detroit's food scene is exploding – no matter what your cuisine or atmosphere preference is, Motown has something for you.
HOW TO GET THERE
Cobo Center is located in downtown Detroit about 30 minutes from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Visitors can use the Skoot airport shuttle service (www.rideskoot.com) from the airport to get to downtown hotels for $23. Taxi rides to the convention center will run about $80, while Uber and Lyft fares average $37. The center has 2,000 parking spaces in its rooftop lot and nearby Cobo Center Congress Street Garage.
Cobo Center is located in downtown Detroit about 30 minutes from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Visitors can use the Skoot airport shuttle service (www.rideskoot.com) from the airport to get to downtown hotels for $23. Taxi rides to the convention center will run about $80, while Uber and Lyft fares average $37. The center has 2,000 parking spaces in its rooftop lot and nearby Cobo Center Congress Street Garage.
The U.S. Port of Entry and Detroit-Windsor tunnel is two blocks from the venue.
Cobo Center has an in-house broadcast studio with video editing equipment, facilitywide fiber network, and satellite uplink.
CenterPlate is the venue's exclusive caterer.
Green initiatives include composting and reducing energy use.
The venue features free public Wi-Fi and 10GB internet. Private Wi-Fi networks can be ordered through the facility's in-house tech team.
Glitter and confetti are prohibited without show management's written approval.
Candles may be used if they are covered or in a base with water.
The center prohibits outside alcohol to be brought in without written permission. Corkage fees apply.
Popcorn, coffee carts, bar service, etc. must be purchased via the in-house food and beverage department.
Cobo Center does not allow the distribution of adhesive decals or stickers.
Crate storage is prohibited without getting written approval from venue management.
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