CLEVELAND (June 25, 2014) – Following a successful and engaging presentation of its bid to host the DNC’s 2016 National Convention, Cleveland received word today that along with five other cities, it will be receiving site visits from the DNC site selection committee.
Monday, June 23, members of the local Host Committee – made up of an impressive mix of leaders from the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Greater Cleveland Partnership, Destination Cleveland, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, the Ohio Democratic Party and the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party – traveled to D.C. to formally present Cleveland’s bid in person to the DNC site selection committee.
Today the DNC announced that six cities – Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Birmingham, Phoenix, Columbus and Cleveland – will all be receiving formal site visits to look at the city’s infrastructure, hotel package, event venues and transportation options.
“Ohio has two great cities in the process, thus further illustrating the importance of Ohio in the Presidential Elections,” said Chris Redfern, Chairman, Ohio Democratic Party.
“The road to the White House runs through Greater Cleveland. Two years ago Cuyahoga County delivered the second largest Democratic margin of victory for a county in a battleground state,” said Stuart Garson, Chairman, Democratic Party of Cuyahoga County. “We expect to play the same critical role in 2016 and we look forward to hosting the Democratic National Convention, as we nominate the next Democratic President of the United States.”
“We look forward to showing the DNC site selection committee the $16.7 billion worth of public and private investment that has taken place in Cleveland and the region over the past few years,” said Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of the City of Cleveland. “Our city is ready to step back into the spotlight as a premiere destination for visitors and conventions and I can’t think of a better testament to that than hosting a national convention in 2016.”
“Cleveland’s private sector has been a catalyst and major driver in the transformation of our great city over the past few years,” said Joe Roman, President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Partnership. “The leaders in the private sector look forward to working side by side with our public leaders to raise the funds necessary to host a successful national convention in 2016.”
Hosting the DNC could mean a significant economic impact for Cleveland. The 2012 DNC in Charlotte had an economic impact estimated at $164 million.
“The more than 35,000 attendees including delegates, national and international media and other tourists would dine in our restaurants, enjoy our local entertainment options, explore our arts and culture, take our public transportation and
stay in our hotels,” said Ed FitzGerald, Cuyahoga County Executive. “Further, during the 2012 DNC, Charlotte area hotels ran at 93% occupancy and there were 1,200 related parties, receptions and events in and around downtown.”
Cleveland is the only city in Ohio with a light rail mass public transit system and an internationally-renowned bus rapid transit system. The city’s hotel scene continues to expand offering 22,000 hotel rooms regionally.
“By 2016, the city will have 19 hotels Downtown offering nearly 5,000 rooms within a 15-minute walk of Quicken Loans Arena and the FirstMerit Convention Center of Cleveland,” said David Gilbert, President and CEO, Destination Cleveland. “This gives DNC convention delegates and media alike a very compact footprint for holding the convention and would cut down on transit times. It would also allow attendees easy access to our many restaurants, arts and cultural institutions and entertainment venues in and around the city.”
The DNC has said it will visit all six cities sometime between early July and early September. An exact date of when they will travel to Cleveland is unknown at this time.
Scott Peacock, Director of Communications
216.875.6628 office; 614.551.7981
speacock@destinationcle.org