The Michigan State Fair is an annual event originally held from 1849 to 2009 in Detroit , the state's largest city. In 2009 the governor declined to fund it because of other priorities.
24-915: Because agriculture still has a major place in the Michigan economy, in 2011 supporters organized the Great Lakes Agricultural Fair, a 501 C (3) organization, in order to continue the event. Since 2013 it has been organized by the private Michigan State Fair LLC and held in the Suburban Collection Showplace in the Metro Detroit suburb of Novi . The first official Michigan State Fair was held in 1849 in Detroit , Michigan . The first state fair had been held on October 1, 1839 in Ann Arbor, Michigan . It
48-692: A 501 C (3) organization, in 2011 to ensure such events continued. The Great Lakes State Fair took place August 31 through September 3, 2012, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in the Detroit suburb of Novi . In 2013, Fifth Third Bank became the name sponsor, so the event was called the Fifth Third Bank Michigan State Fair , again held in Novi at the Suburban Collection Showplace. Organizing
72-574: A local attorney, to develop the proposed center. In lieu of constructing a new facility, Bowman instead opted to lease a vacant warehouse near the I-96 interchange at Novi Road. Constructed in 1966 as a factory for the Adell Corporation, a manufacturer of automobile door guards, the warehouse was closed when its owner, Franklin Adell, moved the company to Texas in the 1980s. Adell initially leased
96-577: A site for the fair. They formed the State Fair Land Company, which acquired 135 acres (0.55 km ) between 7½ and 8 Mile roads, east of Woodward Avenue . Having no interest in running the fair, Hudson sold the land to the Michigan State Agricultural Society for one dollar on April 18, 1905. The Agricultural Society accepted the land and purchased an additional 32 acres (130,000 m ), extending
120-405: A station for the proposed commuter rail service. As the agricultural industry is Michigan's second leading economic industry, many people were disturbed by the failure of the state to support a state fair. They organized Great Lakes Agricultural Fair, a 501 C (3) organization, in 2011 to ensure such events continued. The Great Lakes State Fair took place August 31 through September 3, 2012, at
144-471: A two-floor expansion opened at the Showplace's west end, with additional event space. Currently, the center has 340,000 square feet (32,000 m ) of exhibition and convention space. To accommodate the state fair's anticipated growth, Bowman made several land purchases since 2012, totaling 43-acre (17 ha) of space, including a plot of land across Grand River Avenue and a 30-acre (12 ha) lot to
168-673: Is the second-largest convention center in Metro Detroit (after Huntington Place ). It is best known as the current location of the Michigan State Fair . In the late 1980s, Irvin Yackness, the president of the Home Builders Association of Southeast Michigan, proposed the construction of a convention center in Detroit's suburbs to host the organization's expositions. He approahced Blair Bowman,
192-538: The COVID-19 pandemic . On August 31, 2024, a teen was killed, and a second was injured, when shot in a parking lot outside the fair. Police say the attack is related to an argument that had been occurring during the week. Suburban Collection Showplace The Suburban Collection Showplace is a convention center in Novi, Michigan . Located off Interstate 96 , about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Detroit , it
216-581: The Metro Detroit suburb of Novi . The first official Michigan State Fair was held in 1849 in Detroit , Michigan . The first state fair had been held on October 1, 1839 in Ann Arbor, Michigan . It was moved to Detroit in 1849. Subsequent Michigan state fairs were held in other cities until 1905, when it received what was its permanent home for decades at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit. In 1904, Joseph L. Hudson , together with three of his associates, organized to acquire
240-411: The Suburban Collection Showplace in the Detroit suburb of Novi . In 2013, Fifth Third Bank became the name sponsor, so the event was called the Fifth Third Bank Michigan State Fair , again held in Novi at the Suburban Collection Showplace. Organizing the fair was taken over by Michigan State Fair LLC. Seven years later, a virtual fair was held as live shows & other events were cancelled due to
264-692: The Expo Center to a new facility, to be built 1 1/2 miles to the west. The new, $ 18 million facility opened in August 2005 as the Rock Financial Showplace , under a naming rights deal with Quicken Loans , which, at the time, used its former name, Rock Financial, for its Detroit-area operations. The company later expressed more interest in using the Quicken Loans name, which was nationally known, instead of Rock Financial, which
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#1732786805712288-556: The Hockeytown State Fair Coliseum, was a 5,600-seat multi-purpose arena located on the fairgrounds. In 1899 a one-mile track was constructed at the fairgrounds and originally used for Thoroughbred flat racing and Standardbred harness racing. In the mid-20th century, two NASCAR races were held on this track. Tommy Thompson won the 1951 event and Tim Flock won in 1952 . On October 30, 2009, Governor Jennifer Granholm vetoed legislation to provide funding to
312-600: The Michigan State Fair. Attendance had peaked at 1.2 million in 1966. In 2009 fair attendance had declined to 217,000 visitors. The state fair was not held in the following two years. On April 9, 2012, Governor Rick Snyder signed Senate Bill 515 and House Bill 4803, which would authorize the transfer of the fairgrounds land to the Land Bank Fast Track Authority, which would oversee the land for future development, including plans for
336-648: The building to Mohawk Liqueur, which used it to bottle Kahlúa for sale across the Midwest. When Mohawk moved out, Adell agreed to lease the building to Bowman. Following extensive renovations, the Novi Expo Center opened in the space in March 1992. In 1994, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America subleased a space in the Expo Center to open a museum. In 2000, Bowman announced plans to relocate
360-466: The fair, Hudson sold the land to the Michigan State Agricultural Society for one dollar on April 18, 1905. The Agricultural Society accepted the land and purchased an additional 32 acres (130,000 m), extending the fairgrounds to 167 acres (0.68 km). Throughout the following years, additional land was purchased and sold. The present size of the fairgrounds in Detroit is 164 acres (0.66 km). Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum , also known as
384-496: The fairgrounds to 167 acres (0.68 km ). Throughout the following years, additional land was purchased and sold. The present size of the fairgrounds in Detroit is 164 acres (0.66 km ). Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum , also known as the Hockeytown State Fair Coliseum, was a 5,600-seat multi-purpose arena located on the fairgrounds. In 1899 a one-mile track was constructed at the fairgrounds and originally used for Thoroughbred flat racing and Standardbred harness racing. In
408-438: The location for Motor City Comic Con since 2011 due to the large space available for many VIPs, merchants, and other vendors and artists, making it a popular place for many cosplayers and other guests to see their favorite stars, artists, and get merchandise otherwise unavailable through stores and via online. Michigan State Fair The Michigan State Fair is an annual event originally held from 1849 to 2009 in Detroit ,
432-526: The mid-20th century, two NASCAR races were held on this track. Tommy Thompson won the 1951 event and Tim Flock won in 1952 . On October 30, 2009, Governor Jennifer Granholm vetoed legislation to provide funding to the Michigan State Fair. Attendance had peaked at 1.2 million in 1966. In 2009 fair attendance had declined to 217,000 visitors. The state fair was not held in the following two years. On April 9, 2012, Governor Rick Snyder signed Senate Bill 515 and House Bill 4803, which would authorize
456-411: The state's largest city. In 2009 the governor declined to fund it because of other priorities. Because agriculture still has a major place in the Michigan economy, in 2011 supporters organized the Great Lakes Agricultural Fair, a 501 C (3) organization, in order to continue the event. Since 2013 it has been organized by the private Michigan State Fair LLC and held in the Suburban Collection Showplace in
480-407: The transfer of the fairgrounds land to the Land Bank Fast Track Authority, which would oversee the land for future development, including plans for a station for the proposed commuter rail service. As the agricultural industry is Michigan's second leading economic industry, many people were disturbed by the failure of the state to support a state fair. They organized Great Lakes Agricultural Fair,
504-510: The west. In 2009, the Showplace hosted Ring of Honor 's "Aries vs. Richards" which featured Austin Aries and Davey Richards as the main event along with many other soon-to-be-famous wrestlers including The Briscoes , Colt Cabana , El Generico , Kevin Steen , The Young Bucks , and Kenny Omega . Since 2012, the Showplace is the home of the revived Michigan State Fair . It has also been
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#1732786805712528-483: Was moved to Detroit in 1849. Subsequent Michigan state fairs were held in other cities until 1905, when it received what was its permanent home for decades at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit. In 1904, Joseph L. Hudson , together with three of his associates, organized to acquire a site for the fair. They formed the State Fair Land Company, which acquired 135 acres (0.55 km) between 7½ and 8 Mile roads, east of Woodward Avenue . Having no interest in running
552-681: Was only well-known around Metro Detroit. Bowman instead terminated the original naming deal, and resold the naming rights to the Suburban Collection, a local automobile dealership group, in 2010. Following the new Showplace's opening, a portion of the original Expo Center was still used by the Motorsports Hall of Fame, until the Hall's collections relocated in 2009 to the Detroit Science Center . The building
576-519: Was then completely vacant, and remained so until its demolition in June 2012. The land, still owned by the Adell family, would eventually be redeveloped into the Adell Center, a mixed-use complex including hotels, retail, and restaurants. In 2013, a six-floor Hyatt Place hotel was constructed at the east end of the Showplace, along with a new ballroom and additional meeting space. Later, in 2019,
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