Rock FinancialSM to be Naming Sponsor for New Conference, Convention & Exhibition Center in Novi
The Rock Financial ShowplaceSM Opens in August
Novi, MI – June 1, 2005 - Rock FinancialSM, Michigan's largest mortgage company, has announced it will be the naming sponsor of the new Conference, Convention & Exhibition Center under construction in Novi, Michigan. The venue will be named the Rock Financial ShowplaceSM.
“We are very pleased to have reached a partnership with Rock Financial,” said Blair Bowman, President of the Novi Expo Center and Managing Member of TBON, LLC, developer of the Rock Financial Showplace. “Rock Financial is a tremendous company with a strong focus on community involvement and great client service. We have already developed a number of client-friendly programs in conjunction with Rock Financial and we look forward to expanding our progressive and long-term relationship.”
“Rock Financial is delighted to partner with TBON on this first-class venue for Metro Detroit. The Rock Financial Showplace will attract more than 1.5 million visitors each year and make a significant contribution to the Southeast Michigan economy,” said David Hall, Senior Vice President, Rock Financial. “This family-friendly event center will have it all: ample parking, state-of-the-art technology, and the ability to host a wide variety of events ranging from enormous home improvement shows to intimate wedding receptions. Visitors will be wowed by the quality and size of this facility, which could fit more than eight football fields inside, including five in the main exhibition space alone. The Rock Financial Showplace is destined to become the region's premier event and exhibition center.”
Scheduled to open August 26, 2005, the Rock Financial Showplace will be the largest privately owned Conference, Convention and Exhibition Center in Michigan. This $18 million dollar facility is expected to create 200 full-time jobs and generate $250,000,000 in economic impact during its first year of operation. Phase II plans include a hotel and 500 additional parking spaces.
Features of the Rock Financial Showplace include:
- 320,000 total square feet including 214,000 square feet of Exhibition space
- Full service food operations including the ability to serve 2,000 in a sit-down Banquet setting
- 40,000 square feet of Meeting space including 30,000 net square feet of Banquet space and nine additional meeting rooms
- 2,500 parking spaces and streamlined vehicle access
- Expected to draw over 1,500,000 visitors annually from over 225 events including 70 major events per year
- Two major atrium style entrances
- 25,000 square feet of pre-function space
State-of-the-art technology has been designed to accommodate all users of the Rock Financial Showplace, from large public exhibitions to small business meetings, including audio visual, public address, video messaging, data distribution and internet connectivity (both wired and wireless). Xerox developed technology is being used in the Conference area that updates information and images wirelessly and displays that information on a flat panel. The panels are not video screens, but rather referred to as “electronic paper”.
Cleveland based Sports Facilities Marketing Group (SFMG) brokered the naming rights agreement.
About Rock Financial. Rock Financial, a Quicken Loans Company, is one of Michigan's largest retail mortgage lenders. Quicken Loans® is the nation's largest online retail mortgage lender. Together, under the Rock Financial and Quicken Loans brands the company comprises the nation's 17th largest retail lender, closing nearly $12 billion in home loans in calendar year 2004. The company, which was founded in 1985, has more than 2,700 team members and was named to FORTUNE Magazine's list of the “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” in 2005. For more information about the company visit http://www.rockfinancial.com.
About TBON, LLC. TBON, LLC is a Michigan Limited Liability Company owned and managed by Blair M. Bowman which was formed to assemble property, develop and construct the Rock Financial Showplace, a new state-of-the-art Exposition, Convention and Conference Center in Novi, Michigan. Blair Bowman building on his experience gained by owning and operating the existing Novi Expo Center determined to set about constructing on a private basis a new facility to better service the convention, exposition and conference marketplace in Southwest Michigan.
