Posted on 05/02/2002 7:18:44 AM PDT by PhiKapMom
Cities Pitch A Grand Old Party
By KEITH EPSTEIN
kepstein@tampatrib.com
May 2, 2002
WASHINGTON - Imagine:
The Ice Palace, festooned in red, white and blue, balloons and politicos everywhere.
Cruise ships, tying up near The Florida Aquarium, disgorging delegates and partisan partygoers.
Tropicana Field, exploding in a frenzy of Republican spectacle.
The entire Bay area catching the attention of a nation and world, and perhaps a pretty penny or two. Now imagine the cost: $40 million to $65 million, $12 million of it from local governments and taxpayers.
Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, Hillsborough County Commissioner Chris Hart and a cast of 19 others on Wednesday launched the Bay area's bid to host the 2004 Republican National Convention, pumping hands and attempting to persuade the GOP with a PowerPoint presentation on the area's assets, from more than 20,000 hotel rooms to the Ice Palace, as suitable for conventioneers as for fans of Britney Spears, they said.
During a closed-door meeting at a Washington hotel, Republican leaders cautioned the Bay area delegation - including aviation and transportation officials, executives and local politicians - the convention has a financial and logistical impact equivalent to hosting two Super Bowls.
``They said don't underestimate the cost or intensity of this,'' Hart said.
He predicted city and county governments - preparing and building for the event as well as providing police for beefed up security work - would have to cover $12 million of a tab that could eventually reach $65 million.
Greco estimated the total cost at $40 million.
Banking On Credit
``Most will have to come from corporate contributions,'' Greco said, adding that the GOP site selection committee seemed satisfied with most of the answers to its questions.
``The financial aspect is the most important thing now,'' he added. ``To identify where the money is coming from.''
To be seriously considered, the GOP requires communities to come up with a letter of credit from a financial institution covering the entire outlay. Tampa leaders said conversations would begin immediately with local banks.
Hart estimated the potential windfall from increased business and national attention at between $225 million to $300 million.
Tampa's entry in the race for the convention is almost certain to set off a local debate on costs and potential benefits, similar to discussions surrounding the arrival or departure of professional sports franchises, the 2012 Olympics, and the building of stadiums and convention centers.
Communities often shoulder a large share of the risk and, many say, reap a significant reward from additional development and commerce.
A Yearlong Process
Finalists, perhaps up to six, will not be chosen until summer, and a decision is not expected before January.
Although the Republican Party has asked 24 cities to make bids, only 10 have responded and others have rejected the invitation.
Houston, for example, pulled out in April because of limited resources already strained by commitments to redevelop downtown, build a light-rail system, and expand a convention center and two airports.
Philadelphia, which hosted the previous Republican National Convention, decided against bidding for the Democratic National Convention because, city leaders said, they expected less of a return on such an investment.
During the meeting, Bill Harris, a senior adviser to the Republicans' site selection committee, repeatedly mentioned that many communities underestimate the intensity of the local impact from hosting a convention.
The representatives from the Bay area were undeterred and are convinced that assistance from people such as Dick Beard, chairman of R.A. Beard & Co., who also attended the meeting, would generate sufficient private contributions to pay for the event.
Stephanie Fernandez, regional manager for Tampa Electric Co., said Wednesday's meeting gave representatives from the Bay area ``an opportunity to showcase what we're all about.''
``It went very well. Our ability to handle it was demonstrated,'' said Greco, a Democrat who backed George W. Bush in the last presidential election.
Ellen Williams, the site selection committee's chairwoman, emerged from the meeting and praised the group for making ``a great presentation.'' Tampa-St. Petersburg is ``a wonderful area.''
Then she added playfully, ``We'll see.''
Reporter Keith Epstein can be reached at (202) 662-7673.
Imagine the DemocRATS at the direction of DNC and the clintons are going to fight any public funding for this 2004 Convention to be held in Florida and especially in Tampa (Hillsborough County) whose residents put President Bush over the top in Florida!
Please take a moment and let RNC know that you would like to see the 2004 Convention in Florida -- let's get Florida's early support this time for the Presidential election!
Contact RNC:
Go Tampa!
Thanks!
Why should taxpayers fund the national conventions of either party?
As far as "people moving there," Orlando has the same problem with Vegas in that it tends to attract many people attracted to the "service" industry whose dream it is to work in or near a theme park. In other words, the type of sheeple who are attracted to Orlando are not my kind of people.
Again, in Florida, I would choose Tampa. Having the Convention in South Miami Beach at the Convention Center would just freak out the delegates from Alabama and Utah. I can just see all the local Transsexuals protesting the convention.
Most of the money is spent cleaning up trash: deflated baloons and empty booze bottles.
The orange groves are mostly history. But I swear you can't go anywhere in Orlando, even downtown, and not be less than two miles from a cow!
Down where I live in Doral, which is just west of Miami International Airport, we still have cattle, including a group of steers around the antenna for the US Army Southern Command. Sadly, the largest cattle pasture was paved over last year for the gargantuan Dolphin Mall. Amazing as it seem you can still find cattle throughout Western Dade and Broward counties although they are typically hemmed in by development on all sides now.
That part cracked me up. The Dems are so in touch with the American people, I just figured their conventions would be HUGE! :-D
Seriously, I don't like the idea of holding it in Florida. That way every single media story on the convention can begin with "As President George W. Bush returns to the scene of the stolen 2000 election..." No thanks.
Hasn't New York City explored or put in a bid? I think that's a much better place. Helping out an economy that will still be recovering, working with a well established Pubbie governor and [gag] mayor, and hopefully closing the NY polls gap even further. Taking advantage of the supposed progress made with NY Jewish constituents. Just MHO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.