The 2008 RNC Political Convention Fact Sheet
2008 convention dates: Republicans will meet Sept. 1- 4, 2008
Attending: About 30,000 people, including delegates, donors, elected officials, lobbyists, staff and media. Approximately 4,000 delegates will attend the convention.
About 15,000 members of the media will cover the convention--more media participation than any other event besides the Olympics. The massive, unparalleled amount of national and international media attention that follows a national political convention will showcase this region far into the future.
Hotel needs: Approximately 95 hotels or 17,000 - 20,000 hotel rooms throughout the Twin Cities.
Cost: Estimated at more than $50 million. The 2004 Republican Convention in New York cost $154 million. In Boston, it was $89 million for the Democrats.
Economic Impact: Hosting a national political convention is considered extremely valuable – both economically and for media visibility. Based on previous conventions, local officials believe that hosting a national political convention could result in an economic impact of $150 million or more.
Staff members from the RNC will move to Minneapolis-Saint Paul immediately after the announcement and their staff will build to approximately 500 people by the time of the convention.
There is an unlimited access period to the facilities that would begin on June 30, 2008. Construction for the convention would begin at the start of the unlimited access period.
There will be many events held in and around the host city the weekend before and after the respective conventions. The official proceedings are Monday through Thursday.
Have we ever done this before? Minnesota has only been host to one national presidential convention – in 1892, when Republicans re-nominated President Benjamin Harrison who eventually lost to Grover Cleveland.
Source: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
