DETROIT — Detroit’s convention center has been renamed TCF Center. The naming rights partnership is a 22-year deal. The center was previously known as Cobo Center. Approximately 1.5 million visitors come to the convention center annually. In 2018, the center hosted 244 events.
The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority selected and awarded naming rights to Chemical Bank, now a division of TCF Bank, earlier this year. On Aug. 1, Chemical Financial Corp. and TCF Financial Corp. closed its merger of equals becoming TCF Financial Corp. headquartered in Detroit.
Both Chemical Bank and TCF Bank brands will continue in the market until mid-2020 when Chemical Bank branches will be rebranded as TCF Bank. The combination creates a Midwest bank with $47 billion in total assets, more than 500 branches in nine states and a specialty leasing and lending business in all 50 states. The bank will soon build a landmark tower to serve as its headquarters in downtown Detroit.
The convention center opened in 1960 as Cobo Hall, named in honor of former Detroit Mayor Albert Cobo. Its largest event each year is the North American International Auto Show. The center underwent major renovations in 1989 and 2015.