PRESS RELEASE from Democratic National
Convention Committee
May
15, 2008
100 DAYS OUT: DNCC ENTERS HOME STRETCH IN PREPARATION FOR 2008
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
Convention
Organizers Declare Readiness to Turn Focus from Planning to Execution
in Lead-Up to Historic Four-Day Event, Capturing the Global Spotlight
DENVER - With Saturday
marking just one hundred days to go until the
eyes of the world turn toward Denver and the 2008 Democratic National
Convention, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC)
announced today that its plans remain on track or ahead of schedule for
a truly historic event that promises to be an engaging celebration of
the strength of the Democratic party, the diversity we embrace, the
values we share and our vision for America. The Committee is entering
the final preparatory stages and is now increasing focus on the
executional and programmatic elements of the Convention.
"The organizational foundation has been laid, the operational
framework has been built and it's now time to turn great plans into an
even greater reality," said Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the DNCC. "It's
evident that our early start is now paying dividends as we enter this
final stage of preparation. While there remains a significant amount of
work to do in the next 100 days, I'm more confident than ever that when
the gavel drops on August 25, we'll be ready to make history."
Consistent with planning cycles for previous Conventions, the final
100 days brings an increased focus on the official Convention schedule
and program, ranging from delegate events and caucus meetings that take
place each day to the themes, speakers and entertainment for each
session at the Pepsi Center. Work on these elements continues to move
forward.
"When our nominee takes the stage in August, it will be the
culmination of a process that has engaged and inspired more than 35
million Americans and captured the attention of the world," Daughtry
added. "Political conventions have determined the course of our
nation's history. And in a few months, Denver will become part of this
rich tradition."
Across all major operational areas, from logistics and
transportation to construction and preparation for the media, the DNCC
today provided an update on its key accomplishments and its overall
readiness for the four-day event in August.
The DNCC is ready to kick off construction activities on July 7,
when it has full access to the Pepsi Center. However, renovation plans
to convert the Pepsi Center from sports arena to Convention hall are
already underway.
- Design plans for the Convention
hall are underway.
Alvarado-Turner-HOK, an association of three local companies with
experience in large-scale projects and events, including the 1996
Democratic National Convention, was awarded the construction management
contract and is making preparations to begin renovations once access is
granted.
- Audio, lighting and scenic
designs are complete and initial designs
for the podium and stage have been drawn up. Once we have a nominee,
our production team is ready to put the nominee's stamp on the look and
feel of the Convention hall.
- More than 675,000 square feet of
space has been allocated. Inside
the Pepsi Center facility - from backstage to suites to team locker
rooms - space has been allocated for a specific purpose to support
Convention operations.
- Nearly 200,000 square feet of
media space has been allocated.
Initial plans are complete for the media pavilions located outside the
Pepsi Center that will provide workspace for many of the nearly 15,000
members of the media expected to attend the Convention.
- Space has been allocated for more than
100 production trucks, media workspace trailers and broadcast
transmission vehicles.
The DNCC has secured hotel rooms and meeting space for Convention
guests - delegates, Democratic National Committee (DNC) and campaign
staff, elected officials, allied groups and members of the media.
- 17,000 hotel rooms in the Denver
metro area are reserved: More
than 90% of the hotel rooms have been assigned for Convention guests,
and the Hyatt Regency Denver, a union hotel, was selected as the DNCC's
official headquarters hotel.
- Meeting space reserved at 100+
hotels and the Colorado Convention
Center: All available meeting space at each official Convention
hotel
and the Colorado Convention Center, which will serve as an extension of
the DNCC's Convention headquarters, is reserved for Convention-related
use (delegation breakfasts, caucus meetings and training sessions).
- 80% of all delegation hotels
are within walking distance of the
Convention hall or accessible by public transportation, and bus
transportation will be provided for the remaining hotels.
The DNCC has developed an ADA-accessible, safe, secure and efficient
transportation system for delegates, media, dignitaries and other
Convention guests in partnership with the City of Denver, the Denver
Regional Transportation District (RTD) and the Denver Police Department:
- 250 buses planned for daily
transport between official
Convention hotels and the Pepsi Center: Denver-based Event
Transportation Associates, Inc. (ETA) will plan and manage a bus
shuttle system to operate continuously between all official Convention
hotels and the Pepsi Center.
- 400 motorpool vehicles provided
by General Motors: As Official
Vehicle Provider, General Motors will provide up to 400 vehicles for a
motorpool to transport U.S. House and Senate Leadership, DNC and DNCC
officials, and state party chairs.
- 100% of buses and motorpool vehicles
are flex fuel, hybrids or run on biofuel.
The DNCC has engaged a broad spectrum of federal, state and local
elected officials; national and local party leaders and allied
organizations on their participation in the Democratic National
Convention.
- Briefed and secured input from
many national, regional and
local elected officials on Convention planning - including
Governors,
Mayors, U.S. Senators and Representatives, the Denver City Council, and
constituency organizations in Colorado.
- Met with more than 80 national
allied organizations regarding
participation at the Convention. These groups include unions,
community
organizations, non-profit and voter education organizations, and
advocacy and constituent groups.
- More than 300 foreign dignitaries
have been invited to attend the Convention by the National Democratic
Institute (NDI).
Building on the unprecedented interest in the 2008 Democratic
primary, the DNCC has continued to reach out and engage residents in
Denver and the entire Rocky Mountain West in the Convention experience.
- 21,000 volunteers have stepped
forward to help ensure a
successful Convention, a testament to the energy and enthusiasm
both
locally and throughout Colorado communities.
- More than 750 people have
attended "Convention Conversations"
community forums in Denver, Pueblo, Boulder and Lakewood,
Colorado; as
well as Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. The forums are designed to
provide opportunities for direct communication with top Convention
organizers.
- Nearly 1,200 Colorado middle and
high school students submitted
entries for the Convention "Write to Lead" youth essay contest.
Two
Presidential Winners will be invited to attend the event while
fifty-four finalists will serve as ambassadors to state and territorial
delegations.
- Readership on DemCovention.com
is up 40% since January, another signal of the building interest
in the Convention.
The DNCC has set out to "bring down the walls" of the Pepsi Center
and make the 2008 Democratic National Convention as inclusive and
interactive as possible.
- A DemConvention State Blogger
Corps has been selected and will
be credentialed in August to sit on the Convention floor with
their
state or territorial delegations. This 'front row' access will allow
bloggers to provide even more localized coverage to their readers back
home.
- Live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of
the Convention will be provided in
HD at DemConvention.com. Through Official Provider Microsoft's
Silverlight platform for interactive Web applications and HD video, and
the Level 3 Communications network, the DNCC will bring live video
coverage of the highest quality to a worldwide audience on
DemConvention.com.
- Convention 101, a series of web
pages at DemConvention.com, was
launched as the definitive source on all things Convention, detailing
the rules and mechanics governing the Democratic Party's nomination
process.
The DNCC is bringing to life its commitment to making this year's
Convention the most environmentally-sustainable event of its kind:
- Plans are in place for a
resource recovery system that will
divert a minimum of 85% of waste at Convention facilities from
the
landfill to a single-stream recycling center and composting facility.
- 900 "Green Team" volunteers
from the Host Committee volunteer pool
will be on hand during Convention week to assist with our comprehensive
recycling, composting and waste minimization program.
The DNCC has worked with more than 50 Colorado-based businesses and
entrepreneurs who are providing a variety of services to ensure a
successful, world-class Convention:
- Key contracts have been awarded
to local companies, including
construction, transportation, printing, catering and event services,
along with more than 100 Denver metro area hotels.
- Credentials design theme
selected. A Denver-based graphic designer
was chosen to design the 2008 credentials for Convention attendees,
including delegates, media and other guests. The credentials will
include images that reflects Denver's history and diversity.
- Local businesses are connecting
to Convention business
opportunities via an online database established through the
Denver
Host Committee - nearly 2100 vendors have signed up.
The Democratic National Convention, held from August 25-28, 2008, is
expected to pump an estimated $160 million into the Denver area's
economy and draw up to 50,000 visitors to the region.