A presidential campaign event happening adjacent to the expo at Huntington Center on Friday necessitates changes and increased security.
DETROIT – Oct. 16, 2024) On Tuesday, the Detroit Free Press Marathon learned that the recently announced presidential campaign event scheduled for Friday, Oct. 18, at the Huntington Center in Detroit will necessitate adjusting plans for the annual Health & Fitness Expo.
The expo will take place from 1-7 p.m. Friday as scheduled, and hours on Saturday, Oct. 19 have been extended from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
The campaign event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Friday. Here are key details related to security protocols that will be in effect at Huntington Place on Friday only:
- The expo is moving from Hall B to Hall A for the weekend. This will create a more isolated area between the expo and the security perimeter of the campaign event on Friday. This moves the expo to the more northern portion of Huntington Center closer to Congress St.
- From noon-2 p.m. Fri., the Huntington Center’s rooftop deck will be closed.
- Once the deck reopens, there will be a security checkpoint at the bottom of the helix on Congress St. The Secret Service will check each vehicle wanting to park on the rooftop deck. Expect delays. It is recommended to avoid the rooftop deck parking on Friday.
- If attendees elect to park on the roof, they are encouraged to use Towers One or Two to reach the Huntington Center concourse. Using Tower Three will bring attendees into a security area.
- The Detroit Police Department will be on Washington Blvd. directing traffic. They will allow vehicles to pull into the Huntington Place fire lane/VIP Circle.
Potential road closures may affect travel to and from the expo around the time of the campaign event.
All security protocols are subject to change.
Unlike most races, the Detroit Free Press Marathon’s international course requires participants to attend the expo in person and present their international travel (WHTI-compliant) documents to pick up bibs for Sunday races. The Expo is expecting more than 50,000 guests on Friday and Saturday. The race’s goal is to ensure that participants can pick up their bibs with as little impact as possible.
“We appreciate all the folks who are working extra hard to make sure bib pickup runs smoothly and the expo remains a great experience for our guests. We particularly want to shout out the Huntington Place and Convention & Show Services staff, the Teamsters helping build out our expo space, my dedicated race staff and our tremendous volunteers.” said Aaron Velthoven, vice president and race director. “We’re Detroiters, and we’re going to roll up our sleeves and get the job done.”
*** NOTE: In the past week, we’ve shared releases that featured the race’s best human-interest angles and must-know info about its various events. They can be found at this LINK. We are glad to resend them if helpful.
Additionally, we will be distributing another release on Wednesday, Oct. 16, providing specific details for live coverage on the weekend’s events. ***
About the Detroit Free Press Marathon: The Detroit Free Press Marathon, presented by MSUFCU, is Michigan’s largest road race, North America’s largest international road race and a beloved tradition among runners across the world. Featuring a unique cross-border course between the United States and Canada, the event showcases the spirit of Detroit and its vibrant communities. Detroit’s race weekend will be held October 18-20, 2024. Races include the Marathon, International Half-Marathon, Motor City Half-Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K, 1-Mile Presented by Precision Garage, Kids Marathon Presented by Priority Health, and Meijer Little Detroit Dash. For the first time in its history, all off its Sunday races — including the Marathon and both half-marathons — have sold out. All for the first time, the marathon introduced an Elite Field in 2024, virtually guaranteeing a faster and more competitive race to the finish line.
For Detroit Free Press Marathon photos, go here: LINK.
A presidential campaign event happening adjacent to the expo at Huntington Center on Friday necessitates changes and increased security.
DETROIT – Oct. 16, 2024) On Tuesday, the Detroit Free Press Marathon learned that the recently announced presidential campaign event scheduled for Friday, Oct. 18, at the Huntington Center in Detroit will necessitate adjusting plans for the annual Health & Fitness Expo.
The expo will take place from 1-7 p.m. Friday as scheduled, and hours on Saturday, Oct. 19 have been extended from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
The campaign event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Friday. Here are key details related to security protocols that will be in effect at Huntington Place on Friday only:
- The expo is moving from Hall B to Hall A for the weekend. This will create a more isolated area between the expo and the security perimeter of the campaign event on Friday. This moves the expo to the more northern portion of Huntington Center closer to Congress St.
- From noon-2 p.m. Fri., the Huntington Center’s rooftop deck will be closed.
- Once the deck reopens, there will be a security checkpoint at the bottom of the helix on Congress St. The Secret Service will check each vehicle wanting to park on the rooftop deck. Expect delays. It is recommended to avoid the rooftop deck parking on Friday.
- If attendees elect to park on the roof, they are encouraged to use Towers One or Two to reach the Huntington Center concourse. Using Tower Three will bring attendees into a security area.
- The Detroit Police Department will be on Washington Blvd. directing traffic. They will allow vehicles to pull into the Huntington Place fire lane/VIP Circle.
Potential road closures may affect travel to and from the expo around the time of the campaign event.
All security protocols are subject to change.
Unlike most races, the Detroit Free Press Marathon’s international course requires participants to attend the expo in person and present their international travel (WHTI-compliant) documents to pick up bibs for Sunday races. The Expo is expecting more than 50,000 guests on Friday and Saturday. The race’s goal is to ensure that participants can pick up their bibs with as little impact as possible.
“We appreciate all the folks who are working extra hard to make sure bib pickup runs smoothly and the expo remains a great experience for our guests. We particularly want to shout out the Huntington Place and Convention & Show Services staff, the Teamsters helping build out our expo space, my dedicated race staff and our tremendous volunteers.” said Aaron Velthoven, vice president and race director. “We’re Detroiters, and we’re going to roll up our sleeves and get the job done.”
*** NOTE: In the past week, we’ve shared releases that featured the race’s best human-interest angles and must-know info about its various events. They can be found at this LINK. We are glad to resend them if helpful.
Additionally, we will be distributing another release on Wednesday, Oct. 16, providing specific details for live coverage on the weekend’s events. ***
About the Detroit Free Press Marathon: The Detroit Free Press Marathon, presented by MSUFCU, is Michigan’s largest road race, North America’s largest international road race and a beloved tradition among runners across the world. Featuring a unique cross-border course between the United States and Canada, the event showcases the spirit of Detroit and its vibrant communities. Detroit’s race weekend will be held October 18-20, 2024. Races include the Marathon, International Half-Marathon, Motor City Half-Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K, 1-Mile Presented by Precision Garage, Kids Marathon Presented by Priority Health, and Meijer Little Detroit Dash. For the first time in its history, all off its Sunday races — including the Marathon and both half-marathons — have sold out. All for the first time, the marathon introduced an Elite Field in 2024, virtually guaranteeing a faster and more competitive race to the finish line.
For Detroit Free Press Marathon photos, go here: LINK.
