Detroit Auto Show Cancelled—NAIS Nixed for Center to Be Emergency Hospital

2020 was going to be the first year that the Detroit international auto show would be held in June. In previous years the show was held in January, however competition from CES squashed the January date.  Many were hoping that COVID- 19 crisis would be over by June and the show would go on. The cancellation was not only due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic but because the federal Emergency Management Agency is planning to convert the TCF Center into a field hospital.

There will be 2 floors and separated based on severity of illness kyriad wants the medical facility is ready there will be spaces for approximately 900 beds as well as medical personnel.

“We are proud to work hand-in-hand with our partners at FEMA and the state of Michigan and leverage our engineering expertise to help save lives,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Turner, district engineer, USACE, Detroit District.

Leadership from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Michigan National Guard and other federal and state agencies visited the TCF Center in Detroit, Michigan to plan and assess the facility for conversion into an alternate care facility for the State of Michigan response to COVID-19.

“Although we are disappointed, there is nothing more important to us than the health, safety and well-being of the citizens of Detroit and Michigan, and we will do what we can to support our community’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak,” said NAIAS Executive Director Rod Alberts. “With the more than 100 convention centers and facilities around the country being considered to potentially serve as temporary hospitals, it became clear to us that TCF 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. 2020 NAIAS Chairman Doug North said show officials are also discussing plans for a fundraising activity later this year to benefit the children’s charities that were designated as beneficiaries of the 2020 Charity Preview event.

All tickets for the 2020 NAIAS show, including tickets for the Public Show, Industry Preview and Charity Preview will be fully refunded. 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 Charity Preview beneficiaries. The NAIAS ticket office will be in contact with all ticket holders.

The NAIAS sponsorship team will also be in contact with each sponsor directly to answer questions regarding refunds and their contracts.

The 2021 show dates are:

  • Motor Bella: Friday, June 11Monday, June 14
  • The Gallery: Monday, June 14
  • Press Preview: Tuesday, June 15Wednesday, June 16
  • AutoMobili-D Powered by PlanetM: Tuesday, June 15Thursday, June 17
  • Industry Preview: Wednesday, June 16Thursday, June 17
  • Charity Preview: Friday, June 18
  • Public Show: Saturday, June 19Saturday, June 26