Quicken Loans Gives Sneak Peak At Parade Float "What If?"

DETROIT (WWJ) - Quicken Loans unveiled its float at Campus Martius Monday in advance of its debut in America's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The float, called "What If?" runs 60 feet and is 17 feet tall; featuring a larger than life tree house, where a child can imagine the next great idea.

Quicken Loan's CEO Dan Gilbert spoke with WWJ's Pat Sweeting about his company's participation in the parade.

Gilbert said the company's presence in the annual event is a natural.

"It's what cities are about connectivity and collaboration and place and having as many people out in the street for fun, cool events, and taking everyone's spirit to a new level," said Gilbert.

He said he loved seeing all the retail shopping that was going on along Woodward Avenue before and after the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Campus Martius on Friday.

Gilbert says their move to downtown Detroit has spurred similar moves by other companies.

He said in addition to the 60 companies he has brought to Detroit and he expects more to be making their way to the downtown area for business ... " the young creative people in this generation are going to want to be downtown, urban cores."

The parade begins at 9:05 a.m. Thursday. Find more information at the Parade Company.