DETROIT, MI — Huntington Place is pleased to announce the appointment of Cody Disbennet as its new Director of Operations, bringing extensive event operations and venue management experience to Detroit’s premier convention center. In his new role, Disbennet will oversee a large operations team responsible for the environmental and production services of events throughout Huntington Place’s 2.5 million-square-foot facility. His responsibilities will also include supporting the venue’s ongoing sustainability initiatives and helping Huntington Place maintain its LEED Gold certification through thoughtful operational practices and continued collaboration across departments.
“As our venue continues to grow and evolve, strong operational leadership is essential to our success. We are pleased to welcome Cody as our new Director of Operations, whose expertise and fresh perspective will help us drive efficiency, strengthen our team, and continue delivering world-class experiences for every event and guest,” said Becky Bixby, executive director, Venue Operations at Huntington Place.
Disbennet brings more than a decade of experience in large-scale event and venue operations to Huntington Place. Most recently, he served for four-and-a-half years as assistant general manager of Ballpark Operations at Goodyear Ballpark and Development Complex, the Arizona ballpark that serves as a Spring Training home for the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds. In that role, he gained significant experience overseeing complex venue operations and event execution in a high-volume environment.
Before Arizona, Disbennet served as Event Logistics & Operations Manager for the Houston Texans and Promotions & Game Day Operations Coordinator for the New Orleans Pelicans, further building his expertise in professional sports, event operations, and large-scale guest experiences. Now, Disbennet is making another big move – trading Arizona for Michigan and bringing along their two dogs as they begin their next chapter in the Motor City.
“I’m incredibly excited to join Huntington Place and become part of the Detroit community,” said Disbennet. “Huntington Place is an impressive facility with an incredible team, and I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to the building, learning from the people who know it best and helping support the continued growth of both Huntington Place and the City of Detroit.”
As Huntington Place continues to welcome an increasing number of conventions, meetings, events, and visitors to Detroit, Disbennet will play an important role in ensuring the facility is prepared to deliver exceptional experiences from the moment an event moves in until the final piece is moved out. He officially joins Huntington Place as the venue continues its commitment to operational excellence, sustainability, and delivering exceptional hospitality for the millions of visitors who come through its doors.
With 723,000 square feet of flexible exhibit space, the Detroit convention center boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and the largest ballroom in Michigan, at 40,000 square feet. It is a LEED Gold-certified venue and has received numerous industry awards for excellence, including the 2020 USGBC Leadership Award for Building Performance, making it the only convention center in the award’s history to receive it. It is the 16th largest convention center in the United States.
About Legends Global
Legends Global is the premier partner to the world’s greatest live events, venues, and brands. It delivers a fully integrated solution of premium services, including feasibility & consulting, owner’s rep, sales, partnerships, venue management, hospitality, merchandise, and content & booking. Through our white-label approach, we keep our partners front and center while leveraging our global network: over 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually.