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Cobo Center GM: Renovations Will Be Completed For NAIAS

DETROIT (WWJ) - The 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit will open its doors to the public in just a couple of weeks. Despite construction in front of, on and inside, the show venue will be ready reports WWJ's Mike Campbell.

Cobo Center Executive Vice President and General Manager Thom Connors says when completed there will be a new northeast entrance at the corner of Washington and Congress, a new clean look to the front of the building and two giant format video boards according to Connors.

But it's all construction and detours in front of the city's convention center right now.

Cobo (2) MCampbell
Cobo (1) MCampbell
Cobo (3) MCampbell

Connors says it'll all be gone by showtime -- even if in parts it may not look "done," like over the main entrance, where the Joe Louis statue stands.

Washington Boulevard, in front of the city's convention venue, now ends in a circle drop-off and large outdoor area that will be Cobo Plaza.

"It's a couple acres and it bends back around on a terrace back around to the ballroom and the riverside of the building and we'll do outdoor events, extensions of the events going on inside we'll have cafe seating out there from time to time because it's right outside our new food court and City View Lounge ... and then there will be special events for the community, no doubt we have a lot of interest in doing that come spring and the good weather," says Conners.

Connors says to make Cobo Plaza, a section of Washington Boulevard that curved down around the old arena to connect with Atwater Street is gone; the portion below Jefferson Avenue-grade is now a loading dock.

Still to be built for this year's show? The WWJ Newsradio 950 Auto Show studio, which will be just to the right of Joe Louis through the main doors. Be sure to stop by and say hi.

Next week both east and west Jefferson will be open for traffic says Connors.

The North American International Auto Show runs January 17 - 25.

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