Republicans Open Bids On 2008 Convention Site

Republicans Open Bids On 2008 Convention Site

WASHINGTON — More than two dozen cities have been invited to submit bids to explain why they would be the best choice for the 2008 Republican National Convention.

The 31 cities were announced Wednesday by the Republican National Committee, which also has asked to hear from cities not on the list but interested in playing host to the convention.

The committee’s site selection committee will hold individual meetings in Washington with representatives of all interested cities to discuss the choice of a convention city. The RNC has several basic requirements for the host city.

# A main convention facility capable of seating at least 20,500.

# A city and its host committee’s willingness and ability to provide and pay for security for the convention.

# City must be able to make available to the RNC’s planning committee 20,000 hotel rooms and 2,000 one- and two-bedroom suites.

Cities that received requests for convention proposals are: Anaheim, Calif.; Atlanta; Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Kansas City, Mo.; Memphis, Tenn.; Miami; Minneapolis; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; New York; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Pittsburgh; Portland, Ore.; Sacramento, Calif.; San Antonio; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; St. Louis, Mo.; and Tampa.

The RNC’s site selection committee will decide on a list of finalist cities by mid-summer of this year and will visit those cities in the late summer. Final selection is expected no later than Feb. 1, 2007.

So, what are the chances it will be here? I could see some strong political rational in putting the convention in Ohio’s capital city…

Then again, New Orleans might be a good choice for them too. :?