Business

Auto Show Is Chance to Join 'The Cheering Section' for a Reborn Detroit

January 04, 2015, 12:02 PM by  Alan Stamm

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Daniel Fullan, a senior at Utica's Center for Science and Industry, won the $1,000 top prize in an annual student poster contest. 

The Detroit Auto Show, always a big deal for the industry, the city and Michigan at the start of each year, gains added symbolism now.

Consider it a coming-out party for America's biggest municipal bankruptcy survivor -- a kind of debutante ball with gears instead of gowns. more chrome than chiffon and tailgates rather than tuxedoes (after the Jan. 16 charity preview, that is).

"The only place we can go now is up, and people really want to be part of the cheering section for the city," show executive director Rod Alberts of Bloomfield Hills tells Dustin Walsh of Crain's.

Alberts said strong consumer demand coupled with Detroit’s exit from bankruptcy Dec. 11 is an aligning of the stars for a successful show.

“I had calls on bankruptcy last year; we had to convince people from out of town it wouldn’t affect the show,” Alberts said.

The business writer also quotes investment adviser David Sowerby, a local portfolio manager for Loomis, Sayles & Company:

"The industry is stronger because of the near-death experience” of the recent recession and city bankruptcy, Sowerby said. “Bankruptcy absolutely moves the needle to the plus side. It may have a marginal effect on economic impact, but it has piqued interest.”

Hoopla begins next Saturday, Jan. 10, with a kickoff event at MGM Grand Detroit featuring Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin and other swanky brands. Tickets are $1,000 each.

That's followed by Jan. 12-13 media previews at Cobo and industry insider Jan. 14-15.

The public run is Jan. 17-25. Tickets are $13 for adults and $7 for seniors and children ages 7-12; children under 6 are free. See more details here.


Read more:  Crain's Detroit Business


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