Trump’s rally at Huntington Place causes shift in Detroit fitness expo plans

DETROIT — A recently scheduled presidential campaign event is affecting plans for a local media company’s health exhibit set for later this week.

The Detroit Free Press Marathon’s annual Health & Fitness Expo, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 18, at Huntington Place in Detroit, will modify its layout as former President Donald Trump holds an evening rally at the venue.

The expo will take place as scheduled from 1 to 7 p.m. on Friday, with Trump’s campaign rally set to begin at 7 p.m., coinciding with the expo’s end time.

On Saturday, Oct. 19, the expo’s hours have been extended from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“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,” vice president and race director Aaron Velthoven said. “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. We’re Detroiters, and we’re going to roll up our sleeves and get the job done.”

Event Security and Logistics for Friday

The Detroit Free Press Marathon has shared important security protocols for Friday at Huntington Place, which are subject to change:

– The expo will move from Hall B to Hall A, creating more separation from the security perimeter of the campaign event. The new location is closer to Congress Street on the north side of Huntington Place.

– From noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, Huntington Place’s rooftop deck will be closed.

– After the deck reopens, a security checkpoint will be set up at the base of the helix on Congress Street, where Secret Service agents will check vehicles. Delays are expected, and avoiding rooftop deck parking on Friday is recommended.

– Those parking on the rooftop deck are encouraged to use Towers One or Two to access the Huntington Place concourse. Tower Three will lead to a secure area.

– Detroit Police will be stationed on Washington Boulevard to direct traffic. They will allow vehicles to pull into Huntington Place’s fire lane and VIP circle.

– Road closures around the venue may impact travel to and from the expo near the time of the campaign rally.

The expo is expected to attract more than 50,000 attendees between Friday and Saturday.