Walt Watkins, the chairman of the taskforce and the chiefdevelopment officer for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, says totalcosts of a new facility are just too great. A new facility isexpected to cost more than $1 billion. Expansion could be done forbetween $400 million and $650 million, Watkins says.

The mayor had been pushing for a new facility to be built, buttold reporters he will abide by the recommendation of the TAG. CoboCenter has more than 2 million sf of exhibit space, but only about700,000 sf in its largest exhibit area. For several years, thecenter's largest show, the North American International Auto Show,has seen its exhibitors build two- and three-story displays,allowing the automakers to use on the order of 1.1 million sf inthat space.

For several years, the Detroit Area Auto Dealers have made knowntheir desire to have a larger space for the show. Insiders say LosAngeles and Chicago have made overtures in the past trying to lurethe premier North American auto show away from Detroit.