The Michigan State Fairgrounds & Expo Center was a fairground and exhibition complex located in Detroit, Michigan. In 1904, a large plot of land at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Eight Mile Road was purchased by a committee which included Joseph L. Hudson, the founder of the Hudson's department store chain. The plot of land was sold to the Michigan State Agricultural Society for 1 dollar. The complex contains several facilities including a bandshell which has hosted many concerts, a 1-mile dirt race track used for racing, and a 5,600-seat arena called the State Fairgrounds Coliseum and sometimes is referred to as the Hockeytown Coliseum which was used for many sports teams including Wayne State University's hockey team and Royal Oak-Shrine Catholic High School's hockey team. The Dairy Cattle Barn and Agriculture Building are also used for various events as well.
The complex was home to the Michigan State Fair from 1905 to 2009 when the State Fair was put on hiatus for 4 years until returning with private funding in 2013 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in nearby Novi, Michigan, the North American International Auto Show on various occasions until 1960, Detroit Autorama from 1954 to 1960, along with other various events. In 2009, Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm vetoed legislation to provide funding for the Michigan State Fair, ultimately leading to the closure of the Michigan State Fairgrounds. In 2020, the Michigan State Fairgrounds were sold to the tech and e-commerce company Amazon, whom had plans to build a distribution center on the site. The Fairgrounds were demolished in 2022 with the Dairy Cattle Barn being converted into the new State Fairgrounds transit center and bandshell being moved to nearby Palmer Park.
Events[]
- NWA Detroit - September 29, 1950
- NWA Detroit - May 31, 1960
- NWA Detroit - June 21, 1960
- NWA Detroit - November 29, 1960
- NWA Detroit - July 5, 1960
- Big Time Wrestling Detroit - November 26, 1971
- Big Time Wrestling Detroit - October 28, 1972
- Big Time Wrestling Detroit - December 16, 1978
- Big Time Wrestling Detroit - January 27, 1979
- Big Time Wrestling Detroit - February 10, 1979
- Big Time Wrestling Detroit - March 31, 1979
- WWF House Show - August 28, 1985
- WWF House Show - August 25, 1986
- ECW House Show - January 23, 1999
- ECW Hardcore TV - February 5, 1999
- ECW House Show - May 22, 1999
- ECW Hardcore TV - May 28, 1999
- ECW Hardcore TV - June 4, 1999
- ROH Showdown in Motown - November 4, 2005
- ROH Dragon Gate Challenge - March 30, 2006
- ROH Throwdown - June 23, 2006
- ROH Motor City Madness - October 7, 2006
- ROH All-Star Extravaganza III - March 30, 2007
- ROH Supercard of Honor II - March 31, 2007
- ROH Motor City Madness 2007 - September 14, 2007
- ROH Tag Wars 2008 - April 18, 2008
- ROH New Horizons - September 26, 2008
- ROH Motor City Madness 2009 - January 30, 2009
- ROH Violent Tendencies - June 26, 2009
