Hoedown moved to Comerica Park Parking Lot

**downtownguy** · March-12-12, 11:55 AM

I had heard this about a month ago from someone who inquired about vendor space. The reason he was given was uncertainty over the availability of Hart Plaza due to the city's financial situation. According to them, the city was going to shut down Hart Plaza to all events in 2012. But I just checked the Movement page and they have everything going on as usual at Hart Plaza. The Jazz Festival hasn't updated their website. I'm surprised this didn't get out until now since they were telling prospective sponsors and vendors this at least a month ago. Now, if only our great daily papers would bother to get the rest of the story.

**trotwood** · March-12-12, 12:11 PM

Imo,moving the Hoedown to Comerica Park's grounds blows!

http://www.clickondetroit.com/entert...m/-/index.html

**poobert** · March-12-12, 12:29 PM

I loathe modern country music and don't really mingle with that crowd, either, but I respect the long standing the hoedown has in our city and at Hart Plaza, and it is certainly good to have a bunch of people come downtown and have fun.

If you've ever been to an event in that god-awful parking lot, it isn't fun. Especially in the summer - no shade and no place to sit. It's a fucking parking lot!

Only in Metro Detroit do you move a festival from a public plaza to a parking lot. You know when you visit other cities, especially in the summer time, there are usually public festivals, often street festivals, to go to for free.

The suburbs AND the city have really become soulless, unattractive places. You have two lifetyle choices here: ghetto or completely corporatized [[I also refer you back to the Hall Road thread). Which fresh hell would you like?

**ghettopalmetto** · March-12-12, 12:32 PM

Hart Plaza may not be for sale, but Mike Ilitch sure is!

**Islandman** · March-12-12, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by poobert

The suburbs AND the city have really become soulless, unattractive places. You have two lifetyle choices here: ghetto or completely corporatized [[I also refer you back to the Hall Road thread). Which fresh hell would you like?

Thank you.

**Zacha341** · March-12-12, 12:45 PM

Hmmm, Hart Plaza days numbered? I guess the African World festival [[the next largest festival at Hart Plaza) is going to be moved next - that's been talked about before, though that event has usually been fairly problem free.

I've been to Comerica parking lot for Cancer walks and the like but I'd not want to do a festival there! These events [[to me) are about the river front which is suppose to be developing not shrinking? And who is this BUYER for Hart Plaza?

**downtownguy** · March-12-12, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by poobert

I loathe modern country music and don't really mingle with that crowd, either, but I respect the long standing the hoedown has in our city and at Hart Plaza, and it is certainly good to have a bunch of people come downtown and have fun.

I agree.

I presume the Hoedown set-up is like other big musical festivals at Hart Plaza? At Hart Plaza, you had several stages for music located relatively close to one another. However, the music didn't spill over much from one stage to another due to different levels, landscaping and built-in barriers. How on earth will they do this in a parking lot?

**gthomas** · March-12-12, 01:42 PM

Quote: "According to them, the city was going to shut down Hart Plaza to all events in 2012."

So, will Hart Plaza be closed for re-development or something? Who owns it, and how long will it be shut-down? Or is this an assumption?

**middetres** · March-12-12, 12:42 PM

The city of Detroit doesn't have the 2012 schedule for Hart Plaza on its website, but both Movement and Motor City Pride are scheduled to return to Hart Plaza this year. I'm sure the Jazz Festival will be back as well.

I'm thinking the Hoedown changed their event dates for better weather. May can still be cold, rainy and generally unpredictable as far as the weather is concerned.

The fencing put up for Movement is left up for Motor City Pride. I don't see why it couldn't be left up one week longer, so that the Hoedown could stay at Hart Plaza, but still become a pay event.

Movement has become a much better event since they started charging...better sound, lighting, artists, etc...

But Warped Tour has been produced successfully at Comerica Park for the past several years. So either location can work.

The important thing to remember is that the event will continue to bring 1000s of people downtown on a weekend that doesn't have any Tiger games or other large events happening.

**trotwood** · March-12-12, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by middetres

The city of Detroit doesn't have the 2012 schedule for Hart Plaza on its website, but both Movement and Motor City Pride are scheduled to return to Hart Plaza this year. I'm sure the Jazz Festival will be back as well.

I'm thinking the Hoedown changed their event dates for better weather. May can still be cold, rainy and generally unpredictable as far as the weather is concerned.

The fencing put up for Movement is left up for Motor City Pride. I don't see why it couldn't be left up one week longer, so that the Hoedown could stay at Hart Plaza, but still become a pay event.

Movement has become a much better event since they started charging...better sound, lighting, artists, etc...

But Warped Tour has been produced successfully at Comerica Park for the past several years. So either location can work.

The important thing to remember is that the event will continue to bring 1000s of people downtown on a weekend that doesn't have any Tiger games or other large events happening.

Just a point of clarification the Hoedown is in June this year. At least that's what I saw on this afternoon's newcast.

**Zacha341** · March-12-12, 01:16 PM

Yeah it's cold or rainy what difference does a parking lot make? You're still wet, raining and standing. Ick. Oh and let's not forget the joy of the parking lots who will JACK up their prices during the event!