Milwaukee Could Benefit From DNC in Chicago
Visit Milwaukee hopes for side tourism to this city by Democratic convention goers.
The announcement this week that Chicago will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention has communities across southeast Wisconsin hopeful they’ll see an economic boost from dueling party conventions next summer.
Milwaukee’s selection by the RNC was seen as part of a strategy to take back Wisconsin after Democratic President Joe Biden narrowly defeated Republican Donald Trump in the state, that victory a key step in Biden’s 2020 win.
The Chicago selection is another indication of the important role Midwest states will play in the 2024 presidential election. Local tourism officials are hopeful the DNC will bring visitors and added economic activity to Wisconsin.
Spotlight on the region
Milwaukee is already expected to see an estimated 50,000 visitors and $200 million in economic impact from the RNC, which will be held July 15-18, 2024 at Fiserv Forum. Claire Koenig, communications director for Visit Milwaukee, said the city’s tourism bureau was thrilled to hear that Chicago will be the host site for the DNC.
“Because of those political conventions, that means there’s going to be a lot of spotlights on the region,” Koenig said.
“That’s where those weekends really could work to benefit Milwaukee,” she said.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he’s excited about the choice.
“With the Republicans selecting Milwaukee and Democrats choosing Chicago, it is clear the Midwest is front-and-center this Presidential election cycle,” Johnson said in a statement. “I’m happy for Chicago, and I will certainly extend an invitation to Democratic convention goers to come on up to Milwaukee.”
Kenosha County is just 60 miles from Chicago, while Racine County is about 80 miles away. Cari Greving, the tourism director for Racine County, also said she was excited when she heard the announcement on Tuesday.
“We’re literally the meat in the sandwich now,” Grieving said. “Racine is smack dab in the middle of that (RNC and DNC), so we’re hoping that we’ll be able to get benefits from both events.”
“Whether people are here solely for the business purpose of it, or if they’re also here and they can spend a little time exploring the area, we will take it,” Greving said.
The 2020 DNC was held in Milwaukee, but that event transitioned to a remote event after the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to shut down any in-person events. This is the fourth time the DNC will be in Chicago, a stronghold for Democrats.
“Wisconsin’s lodging properties are not likely to see any direct overnight stays from the 2024 DNC, and that’s really due to the inventory of hotels that are available in Chicago and the Chicago suburbs,” he said.
But for the RNC, Elliot said it’s likely that hotels as far as Kenosha, Madison and Sheboygan are used for that event.
“For hotels it’s not just selling those nights, but it’s showing that we can handle these great conventions, these big conventions,” Elliot said.
Fox News to host RNC debate in August
Meanwhile, Fox News announced Wednesday it will host the first Republican presidential primary debate this August in Milwaukee. Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker‘s group Young America’s Foundation will also partner with the streaming service Rumble for the event.
The exact dates and location for the event have not been released yet, but the RNC will hold a summer meeting around the time of the debate.
In 2015, the first RNC debate ahead of the 2016 presidential election was viewed by 24 million people, making it the most watched live broadcast for a non-sporting event in cable television history. That event took place in Cleveland, which played host for the 2016 RNC.
So far, former president Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have declared they’re running for president.
Listen to the WPR report here.
Southeast Wisconsin communities could see economic boost from DNC in Chicago was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
More about the 2024 RNC
- How Will Milwaukee Handle Protests At The RNC? - Isiah Holmes - Apr 15th, 2024
- RNC Says Event, Restaurant Bookings Should Begin Soon - Graham Kilmer - Apr 8th, 2024
- Milwaukee Police Seek ‘Open Source Intelligence Tool’ for RNC - Isiah Holmes - Apr 2nd, 2024
- City Hall: Lawsuit Likely Over RNC Free Speech Stage - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 18th, 2024
- RNC Closed Hispanic Center in Milwaukee - Evan Casey - Mar 18th, 2024
- RNC Elects New Chair and Co-Chair in Houston - Republican National Committee - Mar 8th, 2024
- City Hall: Council Concerned RNC Free Speech Zone Could Bring Extremists, Violence - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 6th, 2024
- RNC Wants 10,000 Volunteers To Greet Guests, Provide Directions - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 1st, 2024
- City Hall: Milwaukee Seeks RNC Police HQ, Mobile Command Post - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 4th, 2024
- After School Contract Scrutiny, Randall Resigns From RNC Post - Corri Hess - Nov 30th, 2023
Read more about 2024 RNC here
Even with the added exposure to the region, Bill Elliot, the president of the
Wisconsin Hotel and Lodging Association, said it’s unlikely
that any DNC visitors stay in hotels in Wisconsin.
Don’t look for a blip in anything here.
Except to visit relatives, no one is going to make the roughly
4 hour round-trip commute. Milwaukee has cool places to visit,
but Chicago’s got a year’s worth within easy reach.
Regarding the RNC convention, note that without taxpayer money,
the net estimated economic effect for Milwaukee would be $150 million,
not 200, and not evenly diffused throughout our economy.
@Marty Ellnbecker — Agreed. Chicago doesn’t need Wisconsin hotels and—as wonderful as Milwaukee is—it won’t see much if any residual tourism, “bleisure” trips, so to speak.