Detroit's wait is finally over as a life-size bronze statue of the iconic RoboCop has been unveiled in Eastern Market. The monumental piece, which took nearly 15 years to materialize, was first proposed by a Twitter user back in 2011 and has since become a symbol of Detroit's determination to reclaim its place on the map.
The journey began when someone with the Twitter handle @MT tweeted that Philadelphia should have a statue of Rocky Balboa, stating that RoboCop would give Rocky a run for his money. The tweet was met with skepticism by then-Mayor Dave Bing, who responded by saying there were no plans to erect a statue of the cyborg law enforcement officer. However, this only fueled the fire, and in 2011, a fan named Brandon Walley launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $60,000.
The project, led by George Gikas of Venus Bronze Works, was backed by supporters including Pete Hottelet and Omni Consumer Products, who contributed $25,000 to the project. The statue's design features a plaque with a QR code linking to more information about the project on easternmarket.org/robo-cop-statue.
On Wednesday, RoboCop finally stood tall outside 3434 Russell St., leaving passersby in awe. A local mailman was overheard exclaiming, "Oh man, the RoboCop statue! They finally got it up! Oh, this is dope." The unveiling marks a significant milestone for Detroit, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years.
As the city looks to rebuild and revitalize its economy, the RoboCop statue serves as a symbol of resilience and determination. While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Detroit's attractions, this iconic figure is sure to bring in visitors and locals alike, cementing the city's reputation as a hub for creativity and innovation.
For those who missed out on the excitement, the RoboCop statue can be found at 3434 Russell St. The city is offering more information about the project online.
The journey began when someone with the Twitter handle @MT tweeted that Philadelphia should have a statue of Rocky Balboa, stating that RoboCop would give Rocky a run for his money. The tweet was met with skepticism by then-Mayor Dave Bing, who responded by saying there were no plans to erect a statue of the cyborg law enforcement officer. However, this only fueled the fire, and in 2011, a fan named Brandon Walley launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $60,000.
The project, led by George Gikas of Venus Bronze Works, was backed by supporters including Pete Hottelet and Omni Consumer Products, who contributed $25,000 to the project. The statue's design features a plaque with a QR code linking to more information about the project on easternmarket.org/robo-cop-statue.
On Wednesday, RoboCop finally stood tall outside 3434 Russell St., leaving passersby in awe. A local mailman was overheard exclaiming, "Oh man, the RoboCop statue! They finally got it up! Oh, this is dope." The unveiling marks a significant milestone for Detroit, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years.
As the city looks to rebuild and revitalize its economy, the RoboCop statue serves as a symbol of resilience and determination. While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Detroit's attractions, this iconic figure is sure to bring in visitors and locals alike, cementing the city's reputation as a hub for creativity and innovation.
For those who missed out on the excitement, the RoboCop statue can be found at 3434 Russell St. The city is offering more information about the project online.
this is so epic! I mean, come on, Detroit needs some serious cool factor and that's exactly what this statue brings 
it's like, who wouldn't wanna see a life-size bronze RoboCop standing tall in Eastern Market? I'm all for reviving the city's economy and making it more tourist-friendly – this is the perfect way to do it 
And 15 years of planning just goes to show how dedicated the fans were to making this happen 
Brandon Walley's crowdfunding campaign was genius! $60k might seem like a lot, but it shows that people are willing to invest in something they love 
I'm actually kinda stoked to see what other amazing projects Venus Bronze Works has up their sleeve 
can't wait to see people taking pics in front of it & maybe even some cosplay 
. When people come together to support a cause, amazing things can happen 
. Detroit has faced its share of challenges, but this project shows that with passion and community, you can overcome anything 
.