Farewell TCF Center: Detroit's convention hall gets a new name

DETROIT (WWJ) --  Detroit’s convention center has undergone another name change.

The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and Huntington National Bank announced on Thursday that the TCF Center -- formerly known as Cobo Hall -- will now be called Huntington Place.

The new moniker comes following the recent merger between Huntington Bancshares Incorporated and TCF Financial Corporation, which resulted in the creation of Huntington National Bank.

“We are proud that following the TCF-Huntington merger, the name of our new combined bank now graces the walls of this civic center that means so much to the people of Detroit and all of southeast Michigan. From high school graduations to the North American International Auto Show, from speeches by sitting presidents to the annual NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, this venerable facility is part of the fabric of our community and Huntington is fortunate to now be a part of it,” said Huntington Bank chairman, Gary Torgow.

The downtown convention center completed its $279 million transformation in 2015 and has hosted some of the largest meetings and conventions in the country. It’s currently ranked the 16th largest convention center in the United States.

“Our naming rights agreement, which was a priority for the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, began with TCF Bank and continues with Huntington Bank in strengthening the Center’s financial future. We are dedicated not only to being a contributor to our region’s economic vitality, but also to creating jobs and enhancing the attraction of our destination to visitors,” said Lisa Canada, Chair, DRCFA. “Both of our organizations have a deep commitment to the communities we serve.”

The center near the Detroit Riverfront was built by the city of Detroit in 1960, and named after former mayor Albert Cobo. His name was removed in 2019 amid allegations that his policies had negatively impacted Detroit’s black community in the 1960s.

Chemical Bank had initially bought the naming rights to the convention center -- a $33 million, 22-year deal -- before merging with TCF, which inherited the rights before eventually combining with Huntington.

The waterfront center brings an estimated 1.5 million visitors a year from across the globe.

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