The International-Exposition Center is about to become a redevelopment project....

 

 

10 minutes ago, KJP said:

The International-Exposition Center is about to become a redevelopment project....

 

 

 

So cool! So fun! What a great place to meet someone!

This deal looks pretty solid too, with a number of big events returning in 2022 like Auto, Home & Garden, Boat, RV, and Holiday shows. 'Plus new uses for unused portions, and ideas for undeveloped land surrounding the IX.

I was looking forward to some of these coming back downtown, but the incredible strength of our humongous IX Center as a venue is clear.

Edited September 1, 20213 yr by ExPatClevGuy

Great news because it definitely is a large complex that allows us to compete for these major shows but I definitely loved the idea of having these shows that draw tens to hundreds of thousands of people each year. Definitely would’ve contributed to the momentum Downtown.

Also promising: IRG promises further expansion on vacant portions of the property.

2 hours ago, ExPatClevGuy said:

This deal looks pretty solid too, with a number of big events returning in 2022 like Auto, Home & Garden, Boat, RV, and Holiday shows. 'Plus new uses for unused portions, and ideas for undeveloped land surrounding the IX.

I was looking forward to some of these coming back downtown, but the incredible strength of our humongous IX Center as a venue is clear.

 

Why Cleveland does not have a huge home and garden expo downtown with all that empty space on the malls is confounding to me. 

Home and garden shows are almost always in the winter, in Cleveland in late-winter, just as gardeners are getty antsy to get back outside.

The Botanical Garden used to have a garden/flower show in the spring.  I'm not sure if they still do.

Auto show returning to IX Center in 2022:

 

https://www.wkyc.com/article/life/automotive/auto-show/cleveland-auto-show-returns-ix-center-2022/95-1be751cd-d427-472a-a6fb-6c47e5bc1fa8

Yeah its bad news for downtown.  I’m old enough to remember the auto shows being at the old convention center - and the excitement that it brought to the city was really cool…another reason for south suburban kids like me and my friends to head downtown. 

 

Can’t think of another city (in Midwest at least) where the downtown center has its main competition from a bigger convention center in that same metro’s suburbs like in NEO.  

^ yeah, true it was nice, but i still like the idea of the big shows like boat, auto, rv, etc. at the i-x and regular business conferences downtown. it’s a remarkable and almost unbelievable amenity for cleveland to have these two very different facilities and this kind of flexibility for conventions. it’s really something to build on and promote.

2 hours ago, BigMacky said:

Yeah its bad news for downtown.  I’m old enough to remember the auto shows being at the old convention center - and the excitement that it brought to the city was really cool…another reason for south suburban kids like me and my friends to head downtown. 

 

Can’t think of another city (in Midwest at least) where the downtown center has its main competition from a bigger convention center in that same metro’s suburbs like in NEO.  

Well to be fair, the IX center is still Cleveland city proper. But I get what you're saying. This region has so much suburban poaching of businesses and events from the city center it's mindboggling, I don't know if anywhere else in the country has such a suburbanized mentality as does northeast Ohio

Has IX center historically poached events from downtown? I can't imagine the old convention center ever had monster truck shows or indoor amusement parks.

My question is, why has it taken until now for someone to consider developing all the vacant land around there? Why hasn't the city of Cleveland, who owns it all, explored that option?

^ i dk for sure, but i had thought it had something to do with someday reconfiguring or expanding the airport? 

^Mayor White wanted to tear down the IX Center to build a new runway, but that plan was scrapped a long time ago.  More recently, it was though the land might be needed for airport expansion. But based on the new master that was just completed earlier this year, it doesn't look like that will be the case.

It's going to be interesting that about up to 75% of the 2.2 MILLION Sq Ft of the IX CENTER will be used for warehousing ect. 

Right now Gojo Industries is leasing 700,000 sq ft for warehousing.  And they are also offering up to One Million sq ft for warehousing ect.

And that leaves just 400,000 - 500,000 sq ft for trade and consumer shows.  But it also has 7,000+ parking spaces and the various shows will really help the local hotels in that area too.

 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cleveland-i-x-center-poised-for-revival-with-irg-team-301367356.html

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/industrial-realty-group-will-reopen-redevelop-clevelands-i-x-center

Edited September 2, 20213 yr by Larry1962
Typos and more details and links.

10 hours ago, LibertyBlvd said:

^Mayor White wanted to tear down the IX Center to build a new runway, but that plan was scrapped a long time ago.  More recently, it was though the land might be needed for airport expansion. But based on the new master that was just completed earlier this year, it doesn't look like that will be the case.

So we essentially gave away NASA Glenn to Brook Park, for nothing. What a genius. 

4 hours ago, AsDustinFoxWouldSay said:

So we essentially gave away NASA Glenn to Brook Park, for nothing. What a genius. 

 

Cleveland Schools were not carved out in this land swap. It's small in the large scheme of things but the school still receives these tax dollars.

Edited September 2, 20213 yr by GISguy

6 hours ago, AsDustinFoxWouldSay said:

So we essentially gave away NASA Glenn to Brook Park, for nothing. What a genius. 

Maybe someone got some alpacas out of the deal

10 hours ago, Larry1962 said:

It's going to be interesting that about up to 75% of the 2.2 MILLION Sq Ft of the IX CENTER will be used for warehousing ect. 

Right now Gojo Industries is leasing 700,000 sq ft for warehousing.  And they are also offering up to One Million sq ft for warehousing ect.

And that leaves just 400,000 - 500,000 sq ft for trade and consumer shows.  But it also has 7,000+ parking spaces and the various shows will really help the local hotels in that area too.

The Gojo lease is for 2 years.  They may not need that much space once the pandemic is over.

On 9/1/2021 at 4:08 PM, TBideon said:

Has IX center historically poached events from downtown? I can't imagine the old convention center ever had monster truck shows or indoor amusement parks.

That is a great question…I vividly remember the first time the Auto Show was poached…I want to say it was in 1986.  As a car fan I was appreciative of the layout of the IX Center but the area around it was (and still might be) boring and desolate.   The auto show downtown was really an event.   Seemed less so at the IX Center.  I also remember Outdoor Shows and Home and Garden Shows in the city…and those were obviously poached.  Most of the truck stuff seemed to go to the Coliseum back in the day.  

Looks like this thread is worth dusting off? This seems like potentially huge news:

Mystery Fortune 100 company wants I-X Center for 250 jobs

My initial understanding based on the reading suggests the building would be closed for conventions? This could be a huge boon for the Huntington Convention Center if true... absolutely curious what company it is!

cleveland

I-X Center may close again as ‘Fortune 100’ company eyes...

The I-X Center may permanently close now that a “Fortune 100” company wants the building.

List of Fortune 100 companies I think would fit the demographics for a warehouse-type building next to an airfield. Ultimately though who the heck knows what company would jump at a building the size of the I-X Center lol

• Ford (17)

• Tesla (40)

• FedEx (46)

• Boeing (52)

• Lockheed Martin (57)

• Delta (70)

• United (83)

• American (86)

Edited June 2Jun 2 by Geowizical

27 minutes ago, Geowizical said:

Looks like this thread is worth dusting off? This seems like potentially huge news:

Mystery Fortune 100 company wants I-X Center for 250 jobs

My initial understanding based on the reading suggests the building would be closed for conventions? This could be a huge boon for the Huntington Convention Center if true... absolutely curious what company it is!

cleveland

I-X Center may close again as ‘Fortune 100’ company eyes...

The I-X Center may permanently close now that a “Fortune 100” company wants the building.

List of Fortune 100 companies I think would fit the demographics for a warehouse-type building next to an airfield. Ultimately though who the heck knows what company would jump at a building the size of the I-X Center lol

• Ford (17)

• Tesla (40)

• FedEx (46)

• Boeing (52)

• Lockheed Martin (57)

• Delta (70)

• United (83)

• American (86)

Well considering there was just an article about Brookpark and Ford this week.

4 minutes ago, KFM44107 said:

Well considering there was just an article about Brookpark and Ford this week.

Could very well be, but the I-X Center is in Cleveland, not Brook Park.

3 minutes ago, Geowizical said:

Could very well be, but the I-X Center is in Cleveland, not Brook Park.

Oh yes you're right, you're right. I always forget that. Can't believe we traded NASA for that.

And we don’t think it could be Amazon

I’m sure this has been discussed before is there any show that wouldn’t work in the Huntington convention center.

I believe the auto show could still work as they almost did it one year. Boat show would have to be reduced in the short term, long term if they moved it to the summer and we have a land bridge that could be an amazing experience. RV show I would image would also have to be reduced

6 minutes ago, BoomerangCleRes said:

I’m sure this has been discussed before is there any show that wouldn’t work in the Huntington convention center.

I believe the auto show could still work as they almost did it one year. Boat show would have to be reduced in the short term, long term if they moved it to the summer and we have a land bridge that could be an amazing experience. RV show I would image would also have to be reduced

Having been behind the scenes I think access/egress for the floor allows for a full blown semi to drive into there. So I don't think that would be an issue.

Edited June 2Jun 2 by KFM44107

28 minutes ago, BoomerangCleRes said:

And we don’t think it could be Amazon

Maybe! It's interesting because the I-X Center is roughly 5-10x larger than most of the Amazon distribution centers nearby, but only barely 1.5x larger than the one in Warrensville Heights

Edited June 2Jun 2 by Geowizical

Here's the legistation:

https://cityofcleveland.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7023485&GUID=5779351C-904E-4E6C-ADE9-D0D2E315C896&G=2EB18EF1-2C21-4D1D-85C9-B38100AB8FFD

And here's a link to a June 2025 slide deck:

https://cityofcleveland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14255659&GUID=1DB61C2E-BD5A-4498-8E27-1056CDE92882&G=2EB18EF1-2C21-4D1D-85C9-B38100AB8FFD

Edited June 2Jun 2 by Geowizical

1 hour ago, KFM44107 said:

Oh yes you're right, you're right. I always forget that. Can't believe we traded NASA for that.

Maybe if Ford wants the building, we can work out another trade as part of a 3-team package working with HSG that involves them paying to demo the old stadium, and the city/county throws in the roadway enhancements needed for the brookpark dome, and Cleveland gets NASA back

Throw down an astroturf field, get some high school bleachers and there’s ya Brownsdome.

Seriously though, this could be a good thing, though I can’t help but feel that the Haslams are somewhere in the mix here.

A huge building, fortune 100 company, and relatively small number of employees could be a datacenter. Though the number of jobs is on the high side.

2 hours ago, Geowizical said:

Looks like this thread is worth dusting off? This seems like potentially huge news:

Mystery Fortune 100 company wants I-X Center for 250 jobs

My initial understanding based on the reading suggests the building would be closed for conventions? This could be a huge boon for the Huntington Convention Center if true... absolutely curious what company it is!

cleveland

I-X Center may close again as ‘Fortune 100’ company eyes...

The I-X Center may permanently close now that a “Fortune 100” company wants the building.

List of Fortune 100 companies I think would fit the demographics for a warehouse-type building next to an airfield. Ultimately though who the heck knows what company would jump at a building the size of the I-X Center lol

• Ford (17)

• Tesla (40)

• FedEx (46)

• Boeing (52)

• Lockheed Martin (57)

• Delta (70)

• United (83)

• American (86)

Don't tease me with a good time, I did a little dance in my chair! Shifting conventions BACK downtown is always going to be a plus, but I have a question; since the renovation of Public Auditorium, is it strictly open for basketball only or can it serve as an annex for the convention center as well? Maybe additional space for a showroom floor.

Edited June 2Jun 2 by MyPhoneDead

2 hours ago, Geowizical said:

Looks like this thread is worth dusting off? This seems like potentially huge news:

Mystery Fortune 100 company wants I-X Center for 250 jobs

My initial understanding based on the reading suggests the building would be closed for conventions? This could be a huge boon for the Huntington Convention Center if true... absolutely curious what company it is!

cleveland

I-X Center may close again as ‘Fortune 100’ company eyes...

The I-X Center may permanently close now that a “Fortune 100” company wants the building.

List of Fortune 100 companies I think would fit the demographics for a warehouse-type building next to an airfield. Ultimately though who the heck knows what company would jump at a building the size of the I-X Center lol

• Ford (17)

• Tesla (40)

• FedEx (46)

• Boeing (52)

• Lockheed Martin (57)

• Delta (70)

• United (83)

• American (86)

@KJP we need a story!

Edited June 2Jun 2 by MyPhoneDead

1 hour ago, Geowizical said:

Maybe! It's interesting because the I-X Center is roughly 5-10x larger than most of the Amazon distribution centers nearby, but only barely 1.5x larger than the one in Warrensville Heights

As in an Amazon Warehouse? If so please god no.

19 minutes ago, MyPhoneDead said:

As in an Amazon Warehouse? If so please god no.

Hear hear

Edited June 2Jun 2 by Geowizical

Could be an Amazon data center but Amazon already has a large one serving serving the eastern US (us-east-2) in Columbus east-1 is in Virginia so hard to image another one in Ohio.

So if it’s a data center that likely leaves Microsoft (google could be a possibility as well) which they have 3 in Virginia serving the eastern US and gov so could be argued a spot in the Midwest could work. Only hiccup here is that they’re already planning a data center in Columbus

The high average salary would lean this way, but that would be strangely high amount people for a data center as others notes. If it does end up being a fulfillment center then it’s gotta be pretty high tech

^ Could be an availability (backup) zone for one of the Columbus datacenters.

Don’t they keep AZs super close like within 30mins of each other

Reminds me of progressive connecting it’s Colorado Springs offices to Cleveland’s by installing their own dedicated fiber to one another…

Edited June 2Jun 2 by BoomerangCleRes

If true the best part of this two part equation is closing the center to conventions and moving everything back downtown. Even if some of the largest are forced to downsize with a little creative planning l think the downtown center can make them an enjoyable experience. And certainly having all conventions downtown will bring more life and street traffic back to downtown where they belong.

The second part to the equation is substituting the I-X center for an employment center of some kind. I250 jobs is not huge but maybe they will grow in number or maybe a future business will take over the space and really increase the job numbers, after all, it's a very large footprint.

At any rate, if it happens it will be great news for the area.

I think air transport companies should be candidates for mystery Fortune 100 developer. Fedex, UPS, American, Delta, and United are all F100 companies. On the old masterplan wasn't the land area west of I-X and close to runway 6R-24L reserved for air freight?

UPS, for one, might well like something better than what they have now.

Wow reading that article, Cleveland got a raw deal and Brook Park eats well. Polensek is worried about Haslam stealing the events once the I-X Center closes but I don't view that as an option. I feel like Huntington Convention Center is the natural option.

3 hours ago, Dougal said:

UPS, for one, might well like something better than what they have now.

Not sure about UPS they recently announced a massive downsizing looking to cut 20,000 jobs and 60 plus facilities. It would be surprising if they are involved and spending money on new facilities of that size.

Edited June 3Jun 3 by 646empire

23 minutes ago, MyPhoneDead said:

Wow reading that article, Cleveland got a raw deal and Brook Park eats well. Polensek is worried about Haslam stealing the events once the I-X Center closes but I don't view that as an option. I feel like Huntington Convention Center is the natural option.

Also, the field/floor area between the stands of an NFL stadium can’t be more than 75-80k square feet.

I-X Center one step closer to being repurposed — what it would mean for events

A new lease was approved at tonite's city council meeting.

https://fox8.com/news/i-x-center-one-step-closer-to-being-repurposed-what-it-would-mean-for-events/

7 hours ago, MyPhoneDead said:

As in an Amazon Warehouse? If so please god no.

I don't think Cleveland would give up th IX Center for an Amazon Warehouse. This is likely going to be something better. We shall see.

12 hours ago, MyPhoneDead said:

Wow reading that article, Cleveland got a raw deal and Brook Park eats well. Polensek is worried about Haslam stealing the events once the I-X Center closes but I don't view that as an option. I feel like Huntington Convention Center is the natural option.

Reading that article and knowing the other idiotic deals made with Brook Park makes me sick to my stomach.

18 hours ago, BoomerangCleRes said:

Could be an Amazon data center but Amazon already has a large one serving serving the eastern US (us-east-2) in Columbus east-1 is in Virginia so hard to image another one in Ohio.

So if it’s a data center that likely leaves Microsoft (google could be a possibility as well) which they have 3 in Virginia serving the eastern US and gov so could be argued a spot in the Midwest could work. Only hiccup here is that they’re already planning a data center in Columbus

The high average salary would lean this way, but that would be strangely high amount people for a data center as others notes. If it does end up being a fulfillment center then it’s gotta be pretty high tech

Data Centers don't employ 200 people.