RNC 2024 Team Visits Milwaukee
Milwaukee is now one of three finalists to host Republican convention.
Officials from the Republican National Committee are in Milwaukee this week to tour the town as part of the city’s pitch to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Milwaukee is now, reportedly, one of three finalists. Nashville and Salt Lake City are the other cities, with Pittsburgh having been eliminated.
“Milwaukee is pursuing the RNC for the same reason it pursued the DNC,” said Williams-Smith in a statement. “To bring hundreds of millions of dollars in near- and long-term economic benefit to our restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and venues.”
Williams-Smith and others recently went to an RNC event in Salt Lake City to pitch Milwaukee.
“We highlighted what they would see in Milwaukee through the food that we served as well as the different areas. So we had a local Harley dealership who provided us with three Harley-Davidsons with a photo op so they could take a picture with a Harley. We also had a supper club set up where we had carved prime rib as well as all of the accompaniments that go with that. We had a beer garden,” she told Adrienne Pedersen on Upfront. Restauranteur Omar Shaikh tweeted a photo of the trip delegation which included Tim Sheehy, Jim Kanter, Ted Kellner, David Caruso and Jennifer Gonda.
And despite the fact that the pandemic made the event effectively virtual, the city and its partners have already done the prep work to coordinate how to host the event. That includes how to secure the event’s perimeter, how to coordinate hotels and transportation and where to host auxiliary events.
Former Mayor Tom Barrett previously said the city was able to show the DNC team Fiserv Forum the day after it opened.
Similar to the DNC, the RNC is estimated to bring approximately 45,000 visitors and a $200 million economic impact to the city.
A request for proposals has not been issued for the 2024 DNC.
A federal grant of approximately $50 million covers the security cost of both major political conventions.
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More about the 2024 RNC
- Council members seeking information on fatal shooting during RNC, details on convention-related arrests, economic impact - Milwaukee Common Council - Jul 23rd, 2024
- Photo Gallery: Scenes from the RNC - Urban Milwaukee - Jul 19th, 2024
- Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock and Donald Trump, Final Day of RNC Veered All Over - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 19th, 2024
- Trump to Wisconsin – ‘I Am Trying To Buy Your Vote’ - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 18th, 2024
- ‘Everyday American’ Diane Hendricks Touts Trump, Her Life Story in RNC Speech - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 18th, 2024
- Bars and Restaurants See Dramatically Mixed Results For RNC Traffic - Sophie Bolich - Jul 18th, 2024
- Young Republicans Say They’re Ready To Lead Wisconsin GOP - Rich Kremer - Jul 18th, 2024
- RNC Preview – Day 4, Thursday July 18 - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 18th, 2024
- JD Vance Plays Up Working Class Roots, Populist Politics in RNC Speech - Graham Kilmer - Jul 17th, 2024
- RNC Host Says Visitors, Locals Need To Spread Across Downtown - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 17th, 2024
Read more about 2024 RNC here
Political Contributions Tracker
Displaying political contributions between people mentioned in this story. Learn more.
- June 21, 2017 - Tom Barrett received $350 from Omar Shaikh
- March 9, 2016 - Tom Barrett received $150 from Jim Kanter
- February 3, 2016 - Tom Barrett received $400 from Tim Sheehy
- December 30, 2015 - Tom Barrett received $400 from Jennifer Abele
This could be a real problem costing more than might be gained. All it takes is for TRUMP to be nominated and it will be bedlam and then Milwaukee and Wisconsin will be held up for allowing the bedlam. A mixed blessing to say the least.
In a way it’s really good to see such a massive event coming to this city and we will be able to showcase our new arenas and event spaces, but then again it is the RNC. If the past is anything to go by, it’ll be a real mess once the event shows up, be it the DNC or RNC it’ll be a real mess with protests or what not, plus whoever shows up has the real chance of changing the outcome of the election, so that’ll be fun.