"significant announcement regarding Cobo Center"

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February-20-19, 09:28 AM
Malcove Magnesia

"significant announcement regarding Cobo Center"

Here's a tease on ClickOnDetroit this morning:

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...ter-in-detroit

My guess is they're going to announce the arena is being torn down to make more convention hall space.

Anyone else want to make any guesses in the 90 minutes before the news conference?
February-20-19, 09:37 AM
EGrant

They just renovated the arena portion, so that would be a pretty big announcement indeed!

I think it'll be new naming rights. DTE Events Center or something.
February-20-19, 09:59 AM
hybridy

guess:

they're setting a final demolition date for joe louis area. cobo will expand in that direction and there will be some mid rise hotel/apartment/office component as part of a 'future phase' as demand dictates.

so no news other than JLA is going away
February-20-19, 10:10 AM
EGrant

^Ah that's more likely. Good call.
February-20-19, 10:20 AM
stinkytofu

Naming rights are my guess. I'll go with Chemical Bank being involved...
February-20-19, 10:24 AM
Hypestyles

I'd guess the name change- that issue went quiet shortly after it was first announced that it was being looked at.. but we'll see..
February-20-19, 10:28 AM
Maof

Hotel. They have five years to build or the property goes back to the city.
February-20-19, 10:31 AM
stinkytofu

Does seem weird that Whitmer would be there if it is corporate naming rights...unless maybe Pure Michigan/MEDC is involved in the new name?
February-20-19, 10:37 AM
stinkytofu

Or Aretha...or Dingell involved? John Dingell Convention Center presented by Chemical Bank?

I'm way too intrigued by this and we'll know the answer in half an hour haha.
February-20-19, 10:42 AM
Worldsgreatest

it's gonna be something lame like a name change, calling it now.
February-20-19, 10:44 AM
stinkytofu

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldsgreatest

it's gonna be something lame like a name change, calling it now.

That wouldn't be remotely "lame". It's been needed for decades.
February-20-19, 11:06 AM
stinkytofu

Chemical/TCF it is! If their merger is approved it'll be named "TCF Center".

Good move. 22 year deal at $1.5 million per. More financial stability and getting Cobo's name off the front. Win/win.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/bankin...ts-cobo-center
February-20-19, 11:17 AM
EGrant

Freep is reporting it will be the Chemical Bank Center if the merger does not go through.
February-20-19, 11:19 AM
Worldsgreatest

lmfao I knew it. I fucking knew it was gonna be TCF. this bank is taking over this damn town.
February-20-19, 11:23 AM
401don

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldsgreatest

lmfao I knew it. I fucking knew it was gonna be TCF. this bank is taking over this damn town.

and this investment in the city is a problem why?
February-20-19, 11:33 AM
stinkytofu

Quote:

Originally Posted by 401don

and this investment in the city is a problem why?

Yeah, not really sure why he's so upset about this...
February-20-19, 11:38 AM
Worldsgreatest

I'm not upset, I just knew it.
February-20-19, 01:09 PM
O3H

Five facts about Albert Cobo, the segregationist
who served as Detroit's mayor from 1950-57:

1.) He ran on a platform of "Negro removal,"
a pledge to force black people out of white neighborhoods.

2.) Cobo supported the construction of highways
to decimate the city's most prominent black neighborhoods.

3.) Cobo denied federal funding for black housing projects.

4.) He disbanded the city's Civil Rights Commission.

5.) He dismantled the city's public housing program and forged a close alliance with anti-civil rights activists and white neighborhood associations.
February-20-19, 01:28 PM
Maof

Quote:

Originally Posted by O3H

Five facts about Albert Cobo, the segregationist
who served as Detroit's mayor from 1950-57:

1.) He ran on a platform of "Negro removal,"
a pledge to force black people out of white neighborhoods.

2.) Cobo supported the construction of highways
to decimate the city's most prominent black neighborhoods.

3.) Cobo denied federal funding for black housing projects.

4.) He disbanded the city's Civil Rights Commission.

5.) He dismantled the city's public housing program and forged a close alliance with anti-civil rights activists and white neighborhood associations.

First thing to go will be his bust.
February-20-19, 01:59 PM
casscorridor

Quote:

Originally Posted by O3H

Five facts about Albert Cobo, the segregationist
who served as Detroit's mayor from 1950-57:

1.) He ran on a platform of "Negro removal,"
a pledge to force black people out of white neighborhoods.

2.) Cobo supported the construction of highways
to decimate the city's most prominent black neighborhoods.

3.) Cobo denied federal funding for black housing projects.

4.) He disbanded the city's Civil Rights Commission.

5.) He dismantled the city's public housing program and forged a close alliance with anti-civil rights activists and white neighborhood associations.

Yeah, there should be no place in Detroit for honoring such an awful person. I can't believe it's taken this long to rename!
February-20-19, 02:09 PM
Atticus

Quote:

Originally Posted by casscorridor

Yeah, there should be no place in Detroit for honoring such an awful person. I can't believe it's taken this long to rename!

Easy decision to rename the place.

The fact that they are getting millions of dollars in naming revenue as well is icing on the cake.
February-20-19, 02:18 PM
Ray1936

For what it's worth, his racial animosity was simply reflective of the Detroit population at the time. Fortunately, we've come a long ways.
February-20-19, 02:35 PM
aj3647

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray1936

For what it's worth, his racial animosity was simply reflective of the Detroit population at the time. Fortunately, we've come a long ways.

What a lame defense of the indefensible. It was every bit as wrong then as it is today. There were plenty of people in the 1950's who fought segregation and supported civil rights even though it wasn't popular among the white majority to do so, and if they could do it, anyone could. Those who didn't simply made the conscious choice to be racists.
February-20-19, 02:39 PM
O3H

An awesome article explaining how Detroit's decline started with Cobo.

It is an IN DEPTH very, very long article involving a LOT of reading !!!

https://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...-and/77152028/

https://media.freep.com/how-detroit-...ion-static.gif
February-20-19, 03:32 PM
Scottathew

Quote:

Originally Posted by O3H

Five facts about Albert Cobo, the segregationist
who served as Detroit's mayor from 1950-57:...

Thanks for the information. I've lived in the Detroit area all my life and was not aware.
February-21-19, 12:24 AM
Wesley Mouch

Quote:

Originally Posted by aj3647

What a lame defense of the indefensible. It was every bit as wrong then as it is today. ...snip...

In 2060, I wonder how today's self-righteous will be judged.
February-21-19, 09:38 AM
gnome

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

In 2060, I wonder how today's self-righteous will be judged.

Who knows, but what we do know is that thinly veiled excuses for racial intolerance will still be heinous and that those who perpetuate racial hatred will be considered assholes.

Just like today.

And yesterday.

And decades ago.

The assholery doesn’t change but the language does.

Oh, another thing that changes a little is when bullies pretend their feelings are hurt and lash out their tiny fists against self-righteousness.
February-21-19, 11:54 AM
pjbear05

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnome

Who knows, but what we do know is that thinly veiled excuses for racial intolerance will still be heinous and that those who perpetuate racial hatred will be considered assholes.

Just like today.

And yesterday.

And decades ago.

The assholery doesn’t change but the language does.

Oh, another thing that changes a little is when bullies pretend their feelings are hurt and lash out their tiny fists against self-righteousness.

"Same as it ever was."
February-22-19, 06:49 AM
Danny

Albert Cobo's name should not be in the convention center. His name should be erased from all city owned properties.
February-22-19, 12:25 PM
CrashDummy

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjbear05

"Same as it ever was."

"Same as it ever was."
February-22-19, 03:52 PM
poobert

Good but too bad it is a corporate name. Barf.

I always reflect on how only a handful of ballparks had corporate names 25 years ago. Now all but a handful don't.

I can't say life is better now than then, since we've globalized and corporatized and monetized literally everything, but whatever. I digress.

Despite the dude being bad...like City Airport...like the Sears Tower...it will always be Cobo.
February-22-19, 04:19 PM
Ray1936

Quote:

Originally Posted by poobert

Despite the dude being bad...like City Airport...like the Sears Tower...it will always be Cobo.

Poobert speaks wisely. Until they tore it down and beyond, I always called it Briggs Stadium. But I'm old so I'm allowed. :)
February-22-19, 04:24 PM
Meddle

Quote:

Originally Posted by poobert

Good but too bad it is a corporate name. Barf.

I always reflect on how only a handful of ballparks had corporate names 25 years ago. Now all but a handful don't.

I can't say life is better now than then, since we've globalized and corporatized and monetized literally everything, but whatever. I digress.

Not a fan of that evil trend at all.
February-23-19, 12:31 PM
Burnsie

So this is a 22 year deal...I'll bet the TCF name won't be still around in even 10 years. I guess the organizations with money to spend on naming rights inevitably are corporations. Wouldn't it be nice, though, if a corporation pays the same amount of money, but then tells the city/governmental authority that the choice of name will be left to the city? Then it would be a nice philanthropical donation, instead of just advertising. One can dream.
February-23-19, 02:42 PM
401don

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnsie

So this is a 22 year deal...I'll bet the TCF name won't be still around in even 10 years. I guess the organizations with money to spend on naming rights inevitably are corporations. Wouldn't it be nice, though, if a corporation pays the same amount of money, but then tells the city/governmental authority that the choice of name will be left to the city? Then it would be a nice philanthropical donation, instead of just advertising. One can dream.

This whole trend to initials, from car names to banks and other corporations is really annoying. I don't know why they think there's commercial value in it. I'm picturing a Mad Men episode where they need a name that reflects the value and integrity of a brand and the boss says "Screw it. Let's just call it TCF and go get a drink."

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