History
Cobo Arena was built in 1960 as part of the riverfront Cobo convention complex designed by Giffels & Rossetti. The Detroit Pistons played there from 1961 to 1978, and the WHA's Michigan Stags briefly used it in 1974. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke there on June 23, 1963, and Nancy Kerrigan was attacked in one of its corridors in January 1994.
The arena closed in 2010 during a major renovation of the convention center, completed in 2015, which turned the space into the Grand Riverview Ballroom, an atrium and meeting rooms. The complex is now called Huntington Place.
Why it matters: Home of the Detroit Pistons for 17 seasons before their move to the Pontiac Silverdome.
Timeline
- 1960Arena built[1]
Cobo Arena was built in 1960 with the Cobo convention complex.
- June 23, 1963King's Detroit speech[1]
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered an early version of his "I Have a Dream" speech at Cobo Arena.
- January 1994Kerrigan attack[1]
Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked in a corridor of Cobo Arena.
- 2010Closed for renovation[1]
The arena closed as part of a convention-center renovation completed in 2015.
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
|---|---|
| Current use | Grand Riverview Ballroom, atrium, meeting rooms and terrace of the Huntington Place convention center[1] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Teams & events
| Detroit Pistons | NBA · 1961–1978 |
|---|---|
| Michigan Stags | WHA · 1974 |
| Detroit Titans | NCAA · tenant |
| Detroit Loves | World TeamTennis · 1974 · tenant |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Cobo Hall |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Washington Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan |
| Venue type | Arena |
| Sports | Basketball, Hockey, Tennis |
| Level | NBA, WHA, NCAA |
| Opened | 1960[1] |
| Last used for sports | 2010[1] |
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
| Original capacity | 12,000[1] |
| Capacity notes | Seating for 12,000. |
| Architect | Giffels & Rossetti (Louis Rossetti, chief architect)[1] |
| Construction cost | $56 million for the convention facility and its attached arena[1] |
| Owner / operator | Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority |
| Closure | Converted into convention meeting and ballroom space during the 2010-2015 renovation of the Cobo Center. |
Documented details
Sources
- Huntington Place, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: architect, capacity, closed, construction cost, coordinates, current land use, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.