Photo courtesy Mike Dec/4president.org

July 17, 2006-Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak announce the cities' efforts to attract the 2008 Democratic National Convention will focus on the Xcel Center and the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced today that Minneapolis-Saint Paul has focused its bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention in response to recent decisions by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to hold major convention events at the Saint Paul Xcel Center and Minneapolis Convention Center.

If Minnesota is to host the convention, the DNC has decided to use the Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center for the large evening convention events and would use the Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis Hilton Hotel, and Minneapolis downtown office spaces for the convention headquarters and grassroots organizing center of activity.

As a result of these decisions, the mayors will focus their bid to host the Democratic Convention around these venues to create a multi-venue, inter-city convention that creates an energizing grassroots experience for DNC delegates:
 

·        Use the state-of-the-art Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center to present the highest quality evening convention program.

·        Use the Minneapolis Convention Center to create an energizing grassroots experience for DNC delegates and Minnesota residents to hold organizing meetings and constituent seminars.

·        Use the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel, Marquette Hotel and nearby office spaces as the headquarters for the convention.

·        Use several public and cultural amenities throughout downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul to accommodate events, parties, and meetings for convention delegates and guests.

·        Use 95 hotels in Bloomington, Minneapolis, and Saint Paul to house the 17,000 of convention delegates, donors, and staff expected to attend.

“It’s clear that the Xcel Center is the best mass meeting venue for the convention’s evening events,” Mayor Rybak said. “Even more importantly, our ability to get this far in the convention process is ‘Exhibit A’ of the new spirit of cooperation between Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Working together, I am confident that we can put on the most successful grassroots convention ever.”

“By focusing our bid around these venues in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, we can create a real multi-venue, inter-city, grassroots convention that energizes Democrats like never before,” Mayor Coleman said. “We are combining the strengths of this region to put on a show that will showcase this region for years to come.”

A Gigantic Economic Boost

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.  It’s estimated that the average convention delegate will spend approximately $1,500 in Minnesota attending the convention.

Beyond hard dollars, one cannot put a dollar figure on the immeasurable value that can come from the spotlight of a national political convention.  The massive, unparalleled amount of national and international media attention that follows a national political convention will showcase this region far into the future.

Energy and momentum is thriving as more local leaders become engaged in the effort to garner a national convention.  Already, thousand of dollars of in-kind gifts have been donated by local businesses, organizations, and individuals to promote Minneapolis and Saint Paul as a convention location.  An official Host Committee of over sixty business and political leaders has been organized to lead the effort through an eventual convention.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul is one of three cites – along with New York and Denver – in the running for the Democratic convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is also in the running for the Republican National Convention and a team from the Republican National Committee will make a site visit to Minneapolis and Saint Paul August 13-15.