Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority

Larry Alexander talks with WJR's Paul W. Smith about renewed interest in Metro Detroit by national meeting planners. "It's a great time for convention business in Detroit"

Check out the new photo album of the Cobo Center Grand Riverview Ballroom and Atrium. Each photo is explained with a caption.

Photos shot Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013. Captions accompany each photo.

Did you know ... that if the Grand Riverview Ballroom were water-tight, it would hold 1.9 million gallons of water. That's enough to fill the pool of Shamu Stadium at Sea World/San Diego -- THREE TIMES.

or

That the twin stage lifts in the ballroom can each lift the weight of a fully fueled FA/18 jet fighter like those flown by the Blue Angels?

If you like fun facts like that, there's a page full of them over at http://www.drcfa.org/news/detail/grand-riverview-ballroom-fun-facts

Cobo Center is expected to generate nearly 20 percent more operating cash over the next two years while absorbing a $2 million reduction in the subsidy it receives from state taxpayers. That's one highlight of the budgets adopted for the next two fiscal years by the DRCFA. More at http://www.drcfa.org/news/detail/cobo-authority-adopts-budgets-for-next-two-fiscal-years

The Cobo Authority announced that its financial performance through 10 months of its fiscal year virtually assures it will finish in the black. Details available at www.drcfa.org.

Opening of the new ballroom and atrium went well on Sept. 7. About 300 people attended. Nice write-up in the Detroit Free Press on Sunday, Sept. 15. Nice photo gallery, too. See http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013309150038

Just two days from the grand opening event. Here are some photos of what things look like today. The clutter on the floor of the ballroom is boxes of audio/visual equipment being installed by a team from Freeman A/V.

Grand opening on Saturday of the Grand Riverview Ballroom and Atrium. Will post fresh pictures taken today. It's amazing!

We are eagerly awaiting the opening of the new Grand Riverview Ballroom on Sept. 7, and others are, too.

WXYZ-TV's Detroit 20/20 series posted two photos of the ballroom interior that were taken just last Friday afternoon by a Cobo representative. http://detroit2020.com/2013/08/20/inside-the-new-cobo-grand-ballroom/

The news website Deadline Detroit highlighted Channel 7's ballroom preview on its business news page: http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/6112/preview_of_cobo_s_new_ballroom_no_longer_a_1960_showplace #.UhUF-9KTi6M

One of the two new photos shows the ballroom's nearly finished ceiling with lighting that alternates colors. The other photo shows details of a corner, sans fabric running along the bottom and wood trim higher up. It's virtually impossible to capture the grandeur of the ballroom in a still photo without losing the scale and detail.

The Detroit Metro Visitors and Convention Bureau sent out a news release assuring current and prospective customers that Cobo Center is separate from the city's financial problems and will not be affected in any way by Detroit's bankruptcy filing. Please see:

Meetings are Safe and Thriving in Detroit - VisitDetroit.com Gotta thing for cars, culture, gaming, music or sports? Detroit has your back with loads of thrilling events and mainstay attractions that cover every category.

The DRCFA announced that it's $1.1 million in the black through eight months of its fiscal year, when a $1.5 million loss for the full year was expected. Please see:

Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority :: Cobo Authority finances remain solid and... The Authority is comprised of five board members appointed to represent the respective interests of the state of Michigan, the city of Detroit, and Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. The Authority has been widely heralded as southeastern Michigan's first major step towards true regional cooperation...