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1 Washington Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48226
313-877-8777
fax 313-877-8577
general-heading
The following rules and conditions provided are standard to all contracts and shall apply to any use of Cobo Center, herein referred to as the Building and/or Owner. Please review and discuss the information in this section with all vendors and suppliers assisting you with your event. Contact our sales division with any questions.

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Rules & Conditions

  1. All charges and accounts payable to the Building or its contractors and concessionaires must be paid in full upon presentation of invoice unless the Building or its contractors or concessionaires specifically authorize other arrangements for payment.
  2. The Owner has the right to require the permittee to furnish a sufficient number of ushers, ticket takers, private guards, doorkeepers or other employees to properly govern the conduct of all persons in attendance at functions conducted by the permittee and to safeguard the Building's property. Such attendants shall for all purposes be the agents of the permittee.
  3. At least one hour before the announced starting time of any function a responsible representative of the permittee must be present and must remain until the function has ended and all patrons have left the premises.
  4. The permittee will be held responsible for damages incurred by reason of actions of his patrons or employees. Any accidents, unlawful acts or violations of these Rules and Conditions must be reported immediately to Building management.
  5. Any printed materials left after a function's conclusion will not be saved.
  6. The Building does not assume responsibility for deliveries or loss of goods, merchandise or other articles of value. The Building is not responsible for the loss or theft of any property of the permittee or permittee's attendees. All redeemable containers shall be removed from the premises before vacating. Abandoned containers will be confiscated without right of restitution.
  7. For convention and trade show rental permits executed more than two years in advance of the first move-in day, a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is due on the date indicated on the permit. An additional deposit of 20 percent of the minimum rental is due two years prior to the first move-in day.
    Convention and trade show rental permits executed less than two years in advance of the first move-in day require a non-refundable deposit of 20 percent of the minimum rental due on the date indicated on the permit.
    In both cases, the balance of the minimum rental is due 30 days prior to the first move-in day.
    In the event of multiple hall bookings where one or more of the halls is cancelled less than two years in advance, a proportionate amount of the 20 percent deposit will be forfeited.
    Rental deposits for other events are one-third of the minimum anticipated rental upon execution of the rental permit. The balance of the minimum rental is due 10 business days prior to the first move-in day.
  8. NOTE: Personal checks will not be accepted as payment within 30 days of the first move-in day.
    First-time events, event sponsors with inadequate references or event sponsors with a record of slow payment, etc., may be required at Owner's option to remit up to 100 percent of the anticipated rental and related expenses upon execution of the rental permit. Rental deposits other than those noted above shall be refundable upon request by permittee provided written notice of cancellation has been given to Owner as follows:
    • Deposits for events booked within periods stated below are not refundable.
    • At least 30 days' notice, in writing, is required to cancel any scheduled use of meeting rooms.
    • At least 60 days' notice in writing is required in order to cancel any scheduled use of the Riverview Ballroom (W1-51 & 52) and Ambassador Dining Room (W2-60).
    • At least two years' notice, in writing, is required to cancel any scheduled use of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Detroit and Michigan Halls, Cobo Arena and Joe Louis Arena.
  9. All food and beverage services must be provided by the Building's exclusive caterer. Food and beverages shall not be sold for consumption on the premises except by concessionaires designated by the Building. Food and beverage products may be sold to patrons for consumption not on the premises, subject to special approval of the Building. Individual exhibitors participating in trade or association shows may be permitted to distribute their product samples on a complimentary basis to their patrons, subject to the approval of the Building.

    Food and beverage concession areas in exhibit halls must be accessible, open and operating during public shows unless prior approval to close them is granted by the Building. For public shows a certain percentage of the floor must be allocated to concession areas. Please see the permit for specifics.
  10. Check rooms shall be operated only by concessionaires designated by the Building.
  11. The permittee will be required to comply at their own expense with all applicable federal and state laws; municipal ordinances; and health, safety and fire ordinances. In particular, attention is called to the legal requirements below. These items are paraphrased and do not serve to relieve permittees of their obligation to inform themselves of the pertinent statutes' full content.
  12. Except as otherwise provided by special rulings from the Detroit Fire Marshal, regulations of the Detroit Fire Department will prevail as follows:
    • The area in front of all buildings and all exits must be maintained free of parking or storage.
    • All exits must be maintained readily accessible at all times.
    • All aisle ways to exits shall be maintained free and clear at all times, and shall not be blocked at any time by tables, chairs, benches or other obstructions.
    • All draperies, backdrops, bunting and other decorations must be flame-proofed. All paper and other flimsy materials used for decorative purposes, including flame-proofed paper, are prohibited. The use of a heavy cardboard shall be permitted in limited amounts.
    • Cut trees, branches and shrubs are prohibited unless maintained in soil in a natural state.
    • The use of liquefied petroleum gases shall not be permitted unless approved by the Fire Marshal.
    • All vehicles and combustion-operated machinery being exhibited shall contain a maximum amount of gasoline (approximately two gallons maximum) and shall further be equipped with locking gas caps. After the vehicle/machinery is placed in its display position, batteries shall be disconnected, gas caps locked and the keys to same retained in either the show management or Building management office.
    • The use of open flame or the storage and handling of flammable liquids, chemicals or harmful hazardous substances is prohibited, unless approved by the Fire Marshal or applicable agency.
    • Combustible crates and packing boxes must be removed after the setup period to a proper storage area.
    • Additional fire extinguishing equipment as determined by the Fire Marshal must be located throughout the area occupied by the permittee at the permittee's expense.
    • All fire extinguishing equipment must be unobstructed and accessible at all times.

  13. The permittee shall furnish all services required to conduct his business in the building. Labor necessary to perform these services must be obtained, as applicable, from unions having jurisdiction.
    • The Building has not granted exclusive concessions for drayage, booth equipment rentals or furnishing of materials and service ordinarily handled by general decorators and contractors.
    • Official decorators/contractors engaged by the permittee shall be allowed to provide and/or erect booths, booth identification signs, drapes, furniture, carpeting and similar items ordinarily handled by such contractors with their own labor forces, provided that proper approvals have been obtained from local unions having jurisdiction over the employment of the various trade classifications involved therein.
    • The permittee shall be allowed to employ drayage contractors of their own choosing to receive, warehouse and deliver exhibit material to or from the trucks and/or designated locations within specific building areas.
    • The Building retains exclusive electrical, food service and janitorial contractors, and it is mandatory that the permittee and permittee's exhibitors and/or attendees obtain the services of these contractors exclusively as required in conducting your/their business in the Building.

  14. Labor required by individual exhibitors for the purpose of erecting and dismantling exhibits shall be obtained from the local unions having jurisdiction unless otherwise authorized by the official labor service contractor engaged by the permittee.
  15. All exhibit and exhibit hall electrical installations, connections and disconnections must be obtained through the Building's exclusive electrical contractor.
  16. Convention contractors other than those that have been specifically selected or designated by the permittee shall be strictly prohibited from soliciting business on the premises. However, such contractors shall not be prohibited from making deliveries of materials or services otherwise legitimately ordered.
  17. EXPOSITIONS AND EXHIBITS
    In addition to the foregoing, all users of Cobo Center will be required to abide by the following:
    • Copies of all instructions to exhibitors, including exhibitor's manuals, must be furnished to Building management.
    • The permittee, contractor and exhibitors shall not ship or deliver material to the Building before the first move-in day.
    • Detailed floor plans must be presented to the Building for approval 60 days in advance of the first move-in day. The floor plans will be presented to the Fire Marshal by the Building for approval. The exhibits will also be subject to field inspection for compliance.
    • All aisle ways throughout exhibit areas shall be approved on plan or layouts, and a minimum aisle width of 10 feet shall be provided on all layouts.
    • Sand, gravel, dirt and top soil may not be brought into the building without the Building's prior approval.
  18. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
    The permittee shall assume all risk of operation except as outlined below and shall indemnify the Owner for any loss or damage to any person or property caused by any act of the permittee. It is understood that the permittee shall purchase all workmen's compensation and general liability insurance coverage to insure the Building against claims for damage to the Building's property and for personal injuries, including death, which may arise from the use of the premises by the permittee.
    Insurance is required for any rental of, or use of, Cobo Center. A duplicate copy of all insurance policies or certificates of insurance must be furnished to the Owner with the premiums paid 10 days before the start of any operations by the permittee. All policies shall contain an endorsement providing for furnishing the Owner 10 days' written notice of termination of insurance for any cause. The permittee shall provide insurance as follows:
    • The permittee agrees not to assign or sublet this permit or any portion thereof to any other person or organization. The Permittee agrees not to assign or sublet meeting rooms to commercial firms or organizations for hospitality rooms demonstrations, sales meetings or any other purposes. Commercial firms and organizations are required to make an independent rental arrangement with the Building.
    • General liability (per 1986ISO policy changes), bodily injury and property damage combined: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate.
    • If the truck marshaling yard is to be used, the same is to be included specifically on insurance certificate.
    • The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority shall be named as additionally insured on the policy and insurance certificate.
    • The permittee shall indemnify and save harmless the Owner, including the Owner's property, from and against all claims, actions and damages arising during the period of the permittee's use and occupancy.
    • Cobo Center reserves the right to require that the permittee provide additional insurance if deemed advisable due to special circumstances.
  19. The Owner strongly encourages the permittee to provide at its own expense emergency medical care during its events. The emergency medical care provider must be licensed by the State of Michigan and its personal equipment must meet all State of Michigan standards and requirements.
  20. In the event of misconduct of any employee or agent of the permittee, such employee or agent shall be removed from the building at the Owner's written request.
  21. Workmen's compensation insurance as required by the laws of the State of Michigan.
  22. The permittee agrees to conform to the Rules and Conditions and applicable guidelines of the Building. All Rules and Conditions are supplemental to any written permit and made a part thereof.
  23. Upon termination of this permit, or its cancellation, the permittee shall remove from the premises all of its property and equipment and that of its exhibitors and vendors. In the event that the permittee fails to vacate the premises the Owner may, at its discretion, remove from the premises, at the permitee's expense, all goods and property remaining on the Building's property. Owner shall not be liable for any damages or loss of such goods or other property that have been removed.
  24. The Owner may terminate any assignment of space to the permittee if, in the Owner's judgment, the occupancy is detrimental to the Owner's best interests. The Owner shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to the permittee by reason of any such termination.
  25. It is understood that the parties will look to their insurance coverage to recover any consequential damages arising out of any breach by the Owner; therefore, recovery is limited to the repayment of the fee paid by the permittee for rent.
  26. It is agreed that the premises may be inspected at any time by authorized representatives of the Owner or any law enforcement agencies. The permittee agrees to cure immediately any violation of the law made known to him by the Owner or a law enforcement officer.
  27. The permittee hereby waives all claims for compensation for any loss sustained by reason of any lawful interference by any public agency or official in the exercise of this permit. Any such interference shall not relieve the permittee from any legal obligations.
  28. The permittee shall not make any alterations in the premises without the Owner's written approval. The premises shall be accepted by the permittee as is and the cost of any rearrangement of existing equipment and fixtures and returning to the original arrangement shall be the permitee's responsibility.
  29. The permittee shall not conduct any operations except those herein described. The permittee agrees not to interfere with any other permittee of theOwner.
  30. The permittee acknowledges that the Owner has not made nor caused to be made any representations in connection with this permit except as herein stated; and in particular, has not made representations dealing with such matters as anticipated revenue to the permittee or related issues. The permittee acknowledges that it has accepted this permit as the result solely of its own business judgment and not as a result of any representations made by the Owner, its agents or employees, except as herein stated.
  31. The permittee shall not advertise any of its activities in the Building in any manner objectionable to the Owner. Amounts and contents of the permittee's display of advertising material and directional signage in the Building must be approved by the Owner.
  32. Permittee agrees not to discriminate in its use of the premises among law-abiding members of the public.
  33. No decorations or signage shall be placed in or on the building walls and ceilings by nails, tacks, screws, wire or adhesive tape without approval of the Owner.
  34. The custodian of the building, watchmen, maintenance crew and Owner's management staff shall have free access at all times to all space occupied by the permittee.
  35. If the time of the Owner's employees is required by the permittee in the exercise of this permit, other than as specified herein, it shall be paid for by the permittee at rates then in effect.
  36. The Owner shall not be responsible for payment of any taxes, royalties or fees incurred by the permittee.
  37. Should the premises or any part thereof be destroyed or injured by fire, wind, strike, riot, or other act of God beyond the control of the Owner, during the time for which the use of said premises is granted, the Owner may, in the exercise of its discretion, terminate the permit. In that event, the Owner shall return to the permittee any payments that have been made for the interrupted period. The permittee expressly waives any claim for damage or compensation should the permit be terminated. The Owner shall in no way be liable for any personal property or damage, inconvenience or annoyance to the permittee arising from such unforeseen events.
  38. The permittee agrees to turn the premises back to the Owner in the same condition as when it first occupied same, natural wear and tear excepted. The permittee agrees to be responsible for the repairs or cost of repairs for damages caused by the permittee or its agents.
  39. It is understood between the parties that the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, its member and agents are acting in a representative capacity and not for their own benefit, and that the permittee shall not have any claim against them collectively or individually in any event whatsoever.
  40. All notices and orders given to the permittee may be served by first-class mail to the permittee at the address set forth in this agreement or by hand-delivering a copy to the permittee or its authorized representative.
  41. ll rights and remedies of the Owner shall be cumulative and none shall exclude any other right or remedy allowed by law.
  42. There are no agreements not expressly covered in this agreement.
  43. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
    It is the Building's responsibility to ensure that it is in compliance with all the requirements outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and any state or local regulations which supersede ADA, such as, but not limited to, wheel chair ramps, elevator standards, door-width standards and restroom accessibility. Permittee shall be responsible for non-permanent accessibility requirements, such as, but not limited to, auxiliary aide for the visually impaired, hearing impaired and mobility impaired, and meeting-room seating requirements.
  44. The Building agrees to fully indemnify and hold the permittee harmless from any claims, losses and attorney fees resulting from noncompliance with the ADA by the facility as described above.
  45. The permittee agrees to fully indemnify and hold the Building harmless from any claims, losses and attorney fees resulting from noncompliance with the ADA by the permittee as described above.
  46. Should any questions arise as to the interpretation of these Rules and Conditions, the decision of the Building or its designated representative shall be final in every respect.
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