2020 NAIAS out; venue to serve as hospital site
Plans to convert the TCF Center in downtown Detroit into a huge medical site in response to the coronavirus have forced the cancellation of this year’s auto show, officials said Sunday.
Construction at TCF Center, formerly known as Cobo Center, to transition much of the building into a 900-bed temporary hospital will begin after contracts are wrapped up in 24 to 36 hours, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said.
“By mobilizing quickly to construct a large alternate care facility in Detroit, we can help save lives,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
Michigan, especially Detroit and surrounding communities, has been one of the hardest hit states. It had 4,650 cases of the coronavirus by Saturday and 111 deaths.
Henry Ford Health System said it had 507 patients at five hospitals by Sunday morning, including 244 at its flagship hospital in
Detroit.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
The Army Corps said it has visited 15 places in Michigan as possible medical sites.
This year was to have marked the first time the North American International Auto Show was to have moved from January to June, with the addition of numerous outdoor vehicle displays.
Event organizers said all tickets for the 2020 NAIAS show, including tickets for the Public Show, Industry Preview and Charity Preview will be fully refunded.
“Although we are disappointed, there is nothing more important to us than the health, safety and wellbeing of the citizens of Detroit and Michigan, and we will do what we can to support our community’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak,” NAIAS Executive Director Rod Alberts said in a statement.
Alberts said with more than 100 convention centers and facilities around the country being considered to potentially serve as temporary hospitals, “it became clear to us that TFC Center would be an inevitable option to serve as a care facility to satisfy our community’s urgent health needs.”
NAIAS will hold its next annual show in June 2021, according to event Chairman Doug North. He said there are plans in the works to conduct fundraising later this year to benefit the children’s charities that were designated as beneficiaries of the 2020 Charity Preview event.
The Charity Preview typically attracts 10,000 attendees to the $400-perperson event which brought in more than $4 million in 2019. Among those in attendance for last year’s celebration were Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, now-Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor and Warren Mayor Jim Fouts.
Since its start in 1976, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, which puts on the auto show and organizes the Charity Preview, has raised more than $117 million for local charities.
“We will be ready to unleash this energy and enthusiasm when June 2021 rolls around to produce the absolute best show and experience ever,” North said in a statement.
Charity Preview ticket holders will be given the option of a refund, or the opportunity to donate the proceeds of their refund to one of the nine designated beneficiaries. The NAIAS ticket office will be in contact with all ticket holders.
The NAIAS sponsorship team will also reach out to sponsors directly to answer questions regarding refunds and their contracts. The 2021 show dates are:
• Motor Bella: June 11-14
• The Gallery: June 14
• Press Preview: June 1516
• AutoMobil-D Powered by Planet M: June 15-17
• Industry Preview: June 16-17
• Charity Preview: June 18
• Public Show: June 19-26