Public says goodbye to Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum as demolition nears

It's hosted state fairs, circuses, boxing matches and music legends from Marvin Gaye to Nirvana.

But soon the historic Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum will be razed to make way for a new $18.6 million transit center, which is expected to be completed later this year.

On Thursday, Detroit City Councilmember Angela Calloway hosted a farewell vigil to honor the history and memories associated with the nearly 100-year-old structure.

"Once I found out what was going on, I did my best to stop it," Calloway said. "The mayor said no. He said it was costing too much to maintain it. But we could have used this facility; we could have repurposed it.

"I’ve been coming here since I was a little girl," she said. "Over 40 years of memories. It’s just heartbreaking.” 

The vigil took place at the east end of the Meijer parking lot, with the partially deconstructed coliseum looming in the background. Attendees held signs and stood together as they shared their memories of state fairs and sporting events.

"I used to ice skate here, I was a figure skater," said Peggy McCatty of Troy. "Then, of course, I would come here for the circus, and the state fair, and it was a big part of my growing up.”

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Frank Hammer of Detroit's Green Acres neighborhood was happy that the dairy barn next to the coliseum is being saved.

"It is not going to be demolished," Hammer noted, "which was the original plan."