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    City of Detroit's lack of communication hurts Detroit Fanfare

    By L. Vincent Poupard | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Mon, Sep 26, 2011
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
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    COMMENTARY | The city of Detroit really dropped the ball this past weekend, and chances are good that it impacted traffic at the 2011 Detroit Fanfare. The first comic book convention to be held in the city proper since 1975 was directly impacted by the lack of communication that Detroit has become known for over the years. As a former political/business consultant, I had to shake my head.

    On September 24, 2011, Detroit Fanfare opened the doors of Cobo Hall for thousands of comic book fans. Many of those fans had issues getting to the convention due to the 23rd Annual Midnight Bike Tour of Detroit. While I do not blame the University of Detroit for the confusion around Cobo as bicyclists went past, I do blame the city of Detroit for not communicating anything about the event.

    Dennis Barger, the promoter for Detroit Fanfare, was in constant contact with the Detroit Visitors Bureau. He informed me that they did not have any information about the event. It was his understanding that there would not be any event in Detroit that would directly impact traffic to his event on Saturday until the crowds came in the evening for the Tigers game. He was concerned about how many comic book fans turned around and went home when they could not get to the event.

    Claude Molinari is the assistant general manager of Cobo Center and is responsible for the operations of Cobo. He explained to me that he had not gotten any word that there was going to be any reason to close off the roads around Cobo. He stated, "If roads are going to close around here, I am supposed to know about it." He explained that he was going to find out where the communication went wrong.

    Previous to Detroit Fanfare, I contacted Detroit City Hall to see if there were any events in the area that might impact the flow of traffic. After being transferred from one person to the next, I was told by a woman who would not give her name that there would be nothing to affect traffic. I was promptly hung up on.

    Even the official website of the People Mover did not list the bike tour on their site for upcoming events. In the past, any event that might make travel around Detroit difficult has been listed on the People Mover's website. For obvious reasons, People Mover management wants people to be informed whenever using the system would be better than driving or walking.

    Obviously, the Detroit Police Department knew about this event. Obviously, hundreds of people with bikes knew about this event. Why was it not communicated through the channels that the city of Detroit is supposed to use to get the word out to their businesses?

    Emails sent to numerous officials in the city of Detroit were not immediately responded to as of the time of this writing. I am sure that everyone involved in next year's Detroit Fanfare will try to take as many steps as possible to ensure that all events in the area are known. If you attended the event this year, know that it was not Cobo or Detroit Fanfare that dropped the ball on this one.

     

    6 comments

    • A Yahoo! User  •  7 mths ago
      I attended the Fanfare at Cobo, and was in and out within two hours. Not enough vendors, concrete floors and too much empty space amounted to a less than satisfying experience. But I live not far from the downtown area so its proximity was one thing in its favor. I've only just learned of the bike tour problem, and it's an utter shame that something like this had to impact the success of the show. I'm glad that these shows are focused on comics as opposed to general pop culture, but I still have to wonder if the Fanfare promoters will be able to surmount these impediments in the future. Let's hope the third time's the charm.
    • damocles2099
      damocles2099  •  7 mths ago
      I'd argue as a fan? That fanfare was very well promoted. But I have no interest in going downtown to Detroit typically at all. It's really not a city so much as it's about a square mile of sporting arenas bordered by the highway. I work in the vents game. Part of my job invoilves working with people in the city on all levels and it's really not ready to hold any events. There's really not the infrastructure Either in hotels or eateries, nor is there interest on the part of the city as exemplified by this bike thing. How did no one know about this?this is typical of the corrupt inept people of detroit, who really are more like the politicians satired in the robocop films than even they realize. again the city of Detroit has sent a very clear message to its suburban neighbors who subsidize its existence. That message? Stay out of our town but continue to send us money.
    • Hector
      Hector  •  8 mths ago
      DON'T DO FANFARE IN DETROIT NEXT YEAR!!! I was a vendor at that show and it was horrible, Even on Sunday where kids have free admission, I hardly saw kids at the show. Imagine little Timmy asking mom or dad to drive him to Detroit, what would be their answer, a resounding NO!!! In consideration to next years show, Detroit has a negative stigma, why not do it in Macomb county or even Oakland!
    • Tank Riggins
      Tank Riggins  •  8 mths ago
      It seems typical of Detroit. Then again, you can't polish a turd.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  8 mths ago
      We all know why Detroit is now a cesspool!
    • Anonymous
      Anonymous  •  7 mths ago
      Give Detroit another chance. It's a fun place to go to an event. People who say otherwise have not been recently. I agree that the city government has many ignorant, angry, and rude employees, but how else will Detroit change unless people take a stand against the city government? Also, Detroit Fanfare was not well advertised. I didn't hear of it until Bruce Campbell tweeted about it.
     Post a comment
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