The Huntington Place, which was earlier referred to as the TCF Center and prior to that the COBO Center, is the largest convention center in Detroit and one of the most historic convention centers in the USA. The center is located at the Detroit Riverfront in the heart of the city of Detroit, right opposite Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and has a total of over 700,000 square feet of event space, out of which 723,000 square feet is for exhibition hall space.
Planning a Detroit convention center trade show booth starts with knowing the venue: Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Center, then TCF Center) is downtown Detroit’s primary exhibit facility, offering 700,000+ square feet along the Detroit River. Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi hosts many additional regional events. Costs for exhibit rental Detroit MI typically scale with booth size; inline booths often start in the low five figures, with larger island rentals running well into six figures, and winter show scheduling means booking freight and hotels early is especially important here. Our 10×20 trade show booth rentals scale from compact inline spaces to full islands for Detroit shows.
This Detroit convention center trade show booth guide covers everything trade show exhibitors need to know about Huntington Place Detroit: the venue’s hall layout, specifications, Detroit logistics, exhibit design strategy for the Detroit market, hotel options, and how to exhibit effectively at one of the Midwest’s most storied convention venues.
Venue Overview: Huntington Place Detroit
If you’re researching a Detroit convention center trade show booth and keep seeing three different venue names, you’re not imagining it; it’s the same building. Detroit’s downtown riverfront convention center opened as Cobo Center, was renamed TCF Center in 2019 following a naming-rights deal, and became Huntington Place in 2022 after Huntington Bank acquired TCF Financial. If your show contract, an older blog post, or a colleague’s notes reference TCF Center exhibit rental, they’re describing the same venue known today as Huntington Place, no separate facility to research or worry about.
| Venue Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Current Name | Huntington Place (naming rights: Huntington National Bank) |
| Former Names | TCF Center, COBO Center, Cobo Hall |
| Address | 1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Total Event Space | 700,000+ sq ft |
| Exhibition Hall Space | 723,000 sq ft, one of the largest in North America |
| Meeting Rooms | 75+ meeting rooms |
| Arena | 3,800-seat arena |
| Nearest Airport | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), 18 miles |
Huntington Place Detroit Exhibit Rental: Nationwide Booth Design Specialists at purexhibits.com
Huntington Place Facility Facts
For anyone planning a Huntington Place Detroit exhibitor presence, the core numbers:
-
700,000+ square feet of flexible exhibit and meeting space.
-
Riverfront location along the Detroit River, within walking distance of downtown hotels and restaurants.
-
Multiple exhibit halls supporting everything from mid-size regional conferences to major national shows.
-
Union labor jurisdiction applies for booth construction, rigging, and installation, consistent with most major U.S. convention centers. Confirm specific requirements with your general service contractor well ahead of move-in.
Suburban Collection Showplace: Detroit’s Second Venue
-
Not every Detroit-area show happens downtown. Suburban Collection Showplace, located in Novi about 30 minutes from Huntington Place, hosts a substantial share of the region’s trade shows and consumer expos, with expansive parking and easier access for suburban attendees.
-
Any complete Detroit convention center trade show booth plan should confirm which of these two venues your specific event is actually using: booth specs, utility ordering, and labor rules can differ between them.
Huntington Place Exhibition Hall Layout
The exhibition space at Huntington Place extends to different halls and floors in the riverfront complex. The size of the facility, which amounts to 723,000 square feet of exhibition space, is one of the largest convention centers in North America. This allows the center to hold any event from product launches to the North American International Auto Show. Many exhibitors choose our 20×20 island booths for a professional footprint without the cost of buying.
-
Hall A (Upper Level): Large exhibition hall on the upper level. Ideal ceiling heights for exhibiting large equipment and automobiles. Views of the skyline and river from pre-function spaces adjacent to this hall.
-
Hall B (Lower Level): Main exhibition hall on the main floor level with access to truck docks and the tallest ceiling heights in the complex. Hosts the primary floor of the Detroit Auto Show.
-
Hall C and D: Extra exhibition halls to make up the entire floor plan for city-wide events. Hall C and D have connections to the main halls via enclosed concourses.
-
Arena: Arena seating up to 3,800 seats that can be utilized for general sessions, keynote sessions, and entertainment sessions during conventions.
-
Detroit Riverfront Terrace: Access to the Detroit River and its beautiful views of Windsor, Canada from the Detroit Riverfront Terrace of Huntington Place gives a great outdoor venue for hosting receptions.
International: Detroit’s close proximity to Windsor, Ontario makes Detroit conventions have an international element by default – great positioning for reaching into the Canadian market.
Design Your Detroit Huntington Place Exhibit: Nationwide Exhibit Rental at purexhibits.com
Exhibit Design Strategy for Detroit Trade Shows
The attendees at Detroit’s trade shows consist of a mix of manufacturing, automotive, engineering, technology, and healthcare, which is due to the industrial legacy of Detroit as well as the economic diversification of the city.
Respect Detroit’s Manufacturing Precision Culture
The history of Detroit as an automotive city will give you a culture where everything is precise, high quality, and functional. When you design an exhibit that has been well-constructed and appears to be precise, you are in harmony with the professionals in Detroit. Do not create an impression that you have saved costs on your exhibit. In Detroit more than any other market, your exhibit speaks about your product. For a fully branded build, our Custom Trade Show Booth Rentals deliver a custom look tailored to your brand.
Lead with Engineering and Innovation Credentials
The key professional audience for Detroit comprises engineers, manufacturing managers, people from the automotive industry, and people who buy technology for industrial applications. Technical performance and innovation capabilities are what matter when it comes to the assessment of the product by the audience. Thus, booth graphics and messaging have to focus on technical performance and innovation capabilities.
Size Your Exhibit for Huntington Place’s Scale
Huntington Place’s 723,000 sq ft of exhibition space is one of the largest in North America. In a venue this large, small exhibits can be difficult to find and visually underwhelming. Overhead hanging signs with strong brand identity and large-format graphics with high color contrast to the hall’s neutral backdrop are essential investments for any booth 20×20 or larger at a major Huntington Place event. You can see comparable projects in our trade show booth case studies from past builds.
Review our trade show display rental guide for exhibit configurations designed for large-format industrial convention halls like Huntington Place, where tall structures, heavy equipment integration, and overhead visibility are key design priorities.
Detroit Convention Center Logistics
Huntington Place’s downtown riverfront location, union labor environment, and large-scale freight infrastructure require planning for exhibitors.
-
Official contractor: Events at Huntington Place will employ several GSCs. Freeman operates several large events. See your event’s exhibitor manual for information about the official contractor and deadlines.
-
Advance warehouse: Shipping exhibit materials to the advance warehouse needs to be done ahead of time. Details about the advance warehouse and advance deadlines will depend on the event. Look them up in your exhibitor manual.
-
Union labor: Michigan is an organized labor state in terms of several convention services. The Teamsters union provides drayage services; other unions provide electrical, rigging, and carpentry services for convention exhibits. Details about specific union labor requirements can be found in your exhibitor manual.
-
Electrical: Order through the official contractor. Plan on paying $300–$2,000 depending on the size of your booth and its power needs. Electrical service infrastructure in Detroit is strong and well-developed.
-
Drayage: Drayage costs at Huntington Place are average. Anticipate paying 25–40% of your exhibit costs for trade show exhibits.
-
Loading docks: The facility has excellent loading dock capabilities for transporting large automotive and industrial exhibits. Check the dock assignment through the official GSC.
Request a Free Huntington Place Detroit Exhibit Design Consultation at purexhibits.com
Hotels Near Huntington Place Detroit
| Hotel | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center | 0.3 miles | Largest hotel in Michigan, Renaissance Center landmark |
| Westin Book Cadillac Detroit | 0.4 miles | Historic luxury hotel, popular convention property |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Detroit Downtown | 0.2 miles | Mid-price, walkable to Huntington Place |
| Courtyard Detroit Downtown | 0.3 miles | Convention-friendly, proximity |
| The Shinola Hotel | 0.5 miles | Boutique luxury, Detroit design-forward |
Using trade show booth rental benefits for Detroit shows means no Michigan warehouse overhead between shows. Pure Exhibits stores and maintains your exhibit between events, delivering it to Huntington Place ready for installation each time you exhibit.
Apply the how to lower trade show expenses methodology to exhibits at Huntington Place – booking of all services, shipping to the advance warehouse, and renting rather than purchasing will be the three most effective methods for reducing costs in trade shows in Detroit.
Investigate trade show exhibit rentals to find out how our national exhibit rental program assists exhibitors at Huntington Place as well as other Midwest convention centers.
What a Detroit Trade Show Booth Actually Costs
| Booth size | Typical full-service rental cost |
|---|---|
| 10×10 inline | Low five figures |
| 10×20 inline | Mid five figures |
| 20×20 island/peninsula | High five figures to low six figures |
| 30×30+ island | Low-to-mid six figures |
Conclusion
A real Detroit convention center trade show booth plan starts with knowing exactly which venue you’re dealing with: Huntington Place downtown or Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, and building your budget, logistics, and messaging around Detroit’s genuinely distinct automotive and advanced-manufacturing audience. Whether your show contract still says Cobo Center, TCF Center, or Huntington Place, the fundamentals stay the same: book winter logistics early, confirm union labor requirements upfront, and design a booth that speaks the language of Detroit’s industry base.
Pure Exhibits builds and manages booths for exhibitors across Detroit’s Huntington Place and Novi show circuit, with logistics planned around the region’s winter freight realities from the start. Talk to Pure Exhibits about your next Detroit trade show booth.
Let’s Build Something Extraordinary
Share your event details and we’ll craft a custom booth solution designed to captivate your audience and maximize your ROI.
Detroit Convention Center Trade Show Booth: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Huntington Place and where is it located?
Huntington Place (formerly TCF Center, and before that, COBO Center / Cobo Hall) is Detroit’s primary large-scale convention and trade show venue. It is located at 1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226, on the Detroit Riverfront in downtown Detroit, directly across the Detroit River from Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Why has Detroit’s convention center been renamed multiple times?
The venue was originally named Cobo Hall (after Detroit Mayor Albert Cobo) when it opened in 1960. It was later known as COBO Center. In 2019, it was renamed TCF Center after a naming rights agreement with TCF Bank. Following TCF Bank’s merger with Huntington National Bank, the venue was renamed Huntington Place in 2022. The current official name is Huntington Place. Our 30×30 trade show exhibit rentals cover every footprint from inline to island.
How large is Huntington Place Detroit?
Huntington Place offers approximately 723,000 square feet of exhibition hall space, one of the largest in North America, plus a 3,800-seat arena, 75+ meeting rooms, and extensive pre-function and outdoor riverfront space. The total complex exceeds 700,000 square feet of event space.
What major events are held at Huntington Place?
Huntington Place is best known as the home of the North American International Auto Show (Detroit Auto Show), one of the world’s most prominent automotive events. The venue also hosts a wide range of other events including manufacturing and automation industry shows, healthcare conferences, technology events, engineering conventions, association annual meetings, consumer shows, and major sporting events.
How far is Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Huntington Place?
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is approximately 18 miles southwest of Huntington Place, typically 25–40 minutes by rideshare ($35–$60) depending on traffic. The SMART suburban bus system provides limited service between DTW and downtown Detroit. Most convention attendees and exhibitors use rideshare from DTW. Parking at Huntington Place is available at nearby garages.
What union labor requirements apply at Huntington Place?
Michigan’s convention labor environment uses unions for many venue services. Teamsters handle drayage; IATSE and other unions cover rigging, electrical, and exhibit construction at major events. Detroit’s union environment is generally moderate compared to the strictest union markets, but specific rules vary by event and GSC. Review the labor jurisdiction rules in your event’s exhibitor manual carefully.
What is the Huntington Place Riverfront location?
Huntington Place sits directly on the Detroit Riverfront; the international border between the United States and Canada, with Windsor, Ontario directly across the river. The venue’s riverfront location provides a distinctive outdoor event environment for evening receptions and networking events with views of the river and the Windsor skyline. The Detroit Riverwalk runs adjacent to the venue.
What is the Detroit Auto Show and how does it relate to Huntington Place?
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), commonly called the Detroit Auto Show, is one of the world’s most prominent automotive industry events, held annually at Huntington Place (formerly COBO). The show attracts global media, automotive executives, and car enthusiasts from around the world. The Detroit Auto Show’s size and prestige established Huntington Place as a major North American convention venue and shapes the venue’s infrastructure, particularly its exceptional heavy-load floor capacity and large dock access for bringing in vehicles and automotive equipment.
What are the ceiling heights at Huntington Place exhibition halls?
Ceiling heights at Huntington Place vary by hall and level. The lower-level halls (particularly Hall B, used for the Auto Show’s main display floor) feature ceiling heights sufficient for large vehicle displays, elevated platforms, and overhead signage. The upper-level halls have ceiling heights in the 30–40 foot range for most areas. Confirm specific ceiling clearances for your planned booth location with the official GSC.
What exhibit types perform best at Huntington Place Detroit?
Given Huntington Place’s industrial and automotive heritage, exhibits that demonstrate technical precision and engineering quality perform extremely well. Strong visual identity with bold brand graphics, clear product performance messaging, and well-executed physical exhibit construction all signal quality to the Detroit professional audience. For automotive and manufacturing shows, large equipment displays, live demonstrations, and interactive product simulations are the highest-engagement exhibit formats.
What restaurants and entertainment are near Huntington Place?
Detroit’s downtown has experienced a significant revival in recent years. Campus Martius Park (0.5 miles north) is the center of downtown Detroit’s dining and entertainment scene. The District Detroit entertainment complex adjacent to Little Caesars Arena offers restaurants and bars. Greektown (0.8 miles east) has numerous restaurants. The RiverTown District along the Riverfront has been developing new dining and entertainment options. Detroit’s Eastern Market is 1.5 miles northeast; a landmark public market.
Is Detroit a good trade show city?
Detroit’s trade show value has grown significantly as the city has undergone urban renewal. For automotive, manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, and technology events, Detroit’s central Midwest location, strong local industry base, extensive hotel inventory, and significantly lower costs than coastal convention cities make it a compelling choice. Detroit’s creative revival, the Detroit Institute of Arts, a thriving food and music scene, and significant business investment have improved the overall convention experience.
What parking is available at Huntington Place?
Multiple parking garages are available within 2–3 blocks of Huntington Place in downtown Detroit. Detroit’s downtown parking is generally less expensive and more accessible than other major US convention cities. Rideshare is available, but Detroit’s urban geography (much of the metropolitan area is suburban and car-dependent) means rideshare availability can be lower than in denser convention cities. The People Mover elevated rail connects to the Huntington Place station.
What is the Detroit People Mover?
The Detroit People Mover is an automated elevated rail loop that connects 13 stations in downtown Detroit, including a station adjacent to Huntington Place (Cobo Center station). The 2.9-mile loop connects the convention center to major downtown hotels, casinos, and the Renaissance Center. It is a convenient transit option for short hops between the convention center and nearby hotels or dining.
Who can help me rent a trade show exhibit for Huntington Place Detroit?
Pure Exhibits provides nationwide exhibit rental and custom booth design for events at Huntington Place and other Midwest convention venues. We provide custom exhibit design, professional graphics, and complete logistics coordination for Detroit-area shows. Contact us 8–12 weeks before your Detroit event for a design consultation and a custom rental quote. On a tight timeline, our last-minute trade show booth rentals can turn a booth around fast.
