For some industry veterans, opening day for many of these event facilities might feel like yesterday. Let’s take a trip down memory lane for a look back on the opening days of these Detroit landmarks.
Belle Isle Casino: May 1908
Michigan Central Station (now Ford Motor Co.): Jan. 4, 1914
Detroit Athletic Club: April 15, 1915
Orchestra Hall: Oct. 23, 1919
Detroit Opera House: Jan. 12, 1922
Detroit Yacht Club: 1923
The Westin Book Cadillac: Dec. 8, 1924
The Filmore Detroit (State Theatre): Oct. 29, 1925
Detroit Masonic Temple: Nov. 25, 1926
Detroit Institute of Arts: Oct. 7, 1927
The Fisher (Theatre) Building: Sept. 1, 1928
Fox Theatre: Sept. 21, 1928
McGregor Memorial Conference Center (WSU): May 18, 1958
Cobo Center: Aug. 15, 1960
Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown: July 24, 1965
Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center: April 15, 1977
Joe Louis Arena: Dec. 12, 1979
MGM Grand Detroit: July 29, 1999
MotorCity Casino Hotel: Dec. 14, 1999
Comerica Park: April 11, 2000
Greektown Casino: Nov. 10, 2000
Ford Field: Aug. 24, 2002
One great source for the history and old photos of these legendary facilities that planners could use for event promotions or communications is HistoricDetroit.org
