Macomb Community College’s 101,000-square-foot Athletics and Expo Center in Warren has reopened after a 14-month renovation. The renovation cost was $15.9 million.
The facility on the college’s South Campus hosts more than 55 events and 100,000 visitors annually, and serves as the home for the Monarchs, Macomb’s nine intercollegiate teams with more than 100 student athletes.
“We are excited to welcome back the community and our student athletes to Macomb’s Athletics and Expo Center,” says Lori Gonko, president of Macomb Community College. “Since 1999, this facility has been home to our Monarchs while serving as a large-scale convening space that brings people together to learn, to celebrate, and to enrich their lives.”
The athletics center features the most dramatic visual upgrades, from fully integrating into the environment the Monarch’s mascot logo, which was introduced in July 2024, to modernizing the facilities to support the needs of the college’s teams and student athletes.
The updates include a reimagined weight room, enhanced gym space, and an expansion from one set of locker rooms for men and women to separate locker rooms for home and visiting teams, a referee locker room, and an improved trainer’s room. A new HVAC system was installed, as well.
“This renovation is a huge, necessary upgrade to best serve Macomb’s student athletes, our students, coaches, visiting opponents and spectators,” says Bryan Rizzo, director of Macomb Community College Athletics. “We are excited about the new facilities and believe they will provide a great experience for everyone.”
Macomb’s nine athletic teams are men’s baseball, women’s softball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s track and field.
The Monarchs compete in the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association in Division II, Region XII, as members of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association.
“The Athletics and Expo Center is a tremendous asset here in our backyard in Macomb County,” says Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, who is a Macomb Community College alumnus. “What an incredible job on the renovation’s details and efficiencies made to upgrade this facility.”
The renovated expo center offers more than 61,000-square-foot of unobstructed floor space, and seating for more than 4,000 people.
Other updates include improved amenities, including better visitor flow in common areas and expanded restroom capacity, along with additional meeting space.
The facility hosts the college’s two annual commencement ceremonies, and is rented to support large-scale events in the community, including high school commencements, conferences and trade shows, job fairs, hobby shows, and athletic competitions.
For the project, Integrated Design Solutions served as the architect and Barton Malow was the construction manager.
Macomb Community College provides learning experiences to nearly 38,000 students annually. Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in the number of associate degrees awarded by community colleges, and is one of the largest grantors of associate degrees in Michigan.
The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities.
For more information, visit macomb.edu.
