National party conventions

Ginkgo · January 30th, 2008, 06:00 AM

So once again Seattle is bypassed for the Democratic and Republican conventions. But this time we did not lose out to New York, Los Angeles or Chicago, but to cities with smaller populations both in the cities themselves and in the metropolitan areas. I was under the impression we could NEVER get a national convention because the convention center is too small. Is that really the case? Or not enough hotel rooms? If so, how did Minneapolis and Denver get it so right and we so wrong? The northwest remains the only area of the country never to host such a convention. Pity.

mhays · January 30th, 2008, 06:27 AM

Seattle has far more downtown hotel rooms than either Minneapolis or Denver -- Denver is in the 7,000 range, Minneapolis is around 5,000, and we have something like 10,500including today's projects. (I count around 10,300 off the top of my head and suspect the 11,000 I've heard might include some areas not really downtown.)

But Denver has a new arena that seats more than Key Arena, and also has much more concourse and meeting square footage -- as we've heard, the Key is half the overall size of a typical NBA arena. Minneapolis will use its dome, which is on a whole 'nother level. Plus, yes, both have bigger convention centers, though I don't know what they'd use them for, given that they're not at the arenas.

If Safeco or Qwest were domed, they would be suitable. The Stadium Exhibition Hall would serve ok as the annex because it's right there, thought it's not a convention center and doesn't have the huge infrastructure like kitchens and so on.

We're long past the days when a convention center could hold a convention, unless the center has a room that can seat 20,000 with NBA-type ceiling heights.

Also, conventions generally go to swing states, and we're considered fairly solid Democratic. The Republicans are taking a swing at a Democratic state and trying to keep their past strength in Middle America, while the Democrats are locating in a swing state that's also embelmatic of the Mountain states, which they consider an area with growth potential.

mhays · January 30th, 2008, 06:52 AM

I'll be damned. According to the convention and visitors bureau, we have 10,982 rooms currently between Lower Queen Anne, South Lake Union, First Hill, and Pioneer Square. That's all legit "downtown" hotels within a mile or so of the WSCTC (ok, 1.3 in some cases). Look on page 34 with addional details about the hotels on the following pages: http://www.visitseattle.org/resources/pubs/MPG06-07.pdf

Current construction includes Four Seasons (149), Olive 8 (300), the Arctic Building (100)... About 500 rooms are in the "someone please tell me they've started" category including the Alaska Building, Hyatt Place, and 4th N & Roy. If anything else breaks ground, that'll take us over 12,000 pretty quickly.

***Bond James Bond*** · January 30th, 2008, 07:37 AM

Meh, I don't care. If the Democratic or Republican conventions ever did come here, all that would do is make me want to avoid downtown Seattle like a plague for 2 weeks or more.

taiwanesedrummer36 · January 30th, 2008, 08:13 AM

With politics these days, i'm with

, don't really care. Sure it would be good for our economy, maybe put a national spotlight on us, but then there could be protests, and perhaps maybe something like the WTO riots (but probably not as big as that, hee hee).

And let's not forget Safeco CAN be domed, unless mhays means something else. We could easily host some sort of national convetion, assuming Central Link is completed, providing accessibility to Downtown hotels, the main venue (let's say Safeco), and our gateway, Sea-Tac. I predict there will be a national convention here after 2009, okay 2012.

mhays · January 30th, 2008, 08:15 AM

A lid isn't good enough for a convention. They want 100% rain protection, sound protection from protests, etc. Sorry, zero chance for Safeco.

Ginkgo · January 30th, 2008, 05:20 PM

So why not then as a region, bite the bullet and build an all-purpose arena, one which will serve all comers--NBA, NHL, national political convention, and other major events where a large covered space is required. I'd look at it as an asset and investment, not a liability or some kind of giveaway to a sports team. Location and financing I'll leave to others--I'm thinking theoretically. I just think it would add to the city's overall attractiveness and desirability. If we worry about protesters at every event, we 'll be held back from making tough--but necessary, IMHO--decisions.

mhays · January 30th, 2008, 05:22 PM

Few events require that sort of space, and it's a lot of money. Combine that with the political winds re: Sonics subsidy and our lack of clamor for NHL, and there's not much chance.

CrazyAboutCities · January 30th, 2008, 07:57 PM

Hmmm What's wrong with Washington Convention Center? It is not big enough to host National Party Conventions?

We could get a new sport arena too but I don't want to spend another cent on sport stadiums.

Capitol Hill · January 30th, 2008, 08:32 PM

The WSCTC isn't even large enough for many conventions now. Seattle isn't even in the top 15:

The survey ranked the Top 20 convention centers in the United States in terms of size. Chicago was ranked first, with existing and planned exhibition space totaling 2.35 million square feet, followed by New Orleans (2), Orlando (3), Las Vegas (4), Atlanta (5), Las Vegas (Sands) (6), Los Angeles (7), Javits (New York City) (8), Anaheim (9), Orlando (10), San Diego (11), Boston (12), Dallas (13), Kentucky Expo (14) and Miami Beach (15).

Note, the past few political conventions have not occurred in Convention centers, but in arenas. 2008 Republican convention is in Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN (not the Metrodome in Minneapolis) http://www.xcelenergycenter.com/ And the Democratic Convention is being held in the Pepsi Center http://www.pepsicenter.com/

Going back here are the National Conventions sites. First, Democratic: 2004 Boston, FleetCenter, now called TD Banknorth Garden, 2000 Los Angeles, Staples Center, 1996 Chicago, United Center, 1992 New York City, Madison Square Garden, 1988 Atlanta, The Omni Center, 1984 San Francisco The Moscone Center (The last time a convention was held for the Democrats at an actual convention center)

Republicans: 2004 New York City, Madison Square Garden, 2000 Philadelphia First Union Center (now Wachovia Center) 1996 San Diego (San Diego Convention Center). This was the last time that a Republican convention was in a traditional convention center.

Of note is that both the Dems and Republicans have held conventions in NYC, and they didn't choose Javits Center, and in Chicago, they didn't take their cavernous convention center, either. So most of the conventions have been held in Basketball/Hockey arena sized buildings.

Seattle just doesn't compete, and thus until/unless a new facility is built, we won't rank for this convention. And our convention center isn't even in the same league, size wise, as San Diego, not even in the top 15 in size in the US. The WSCTC is marketed only to midsize convention and trade shows. Seattle isn't even in the market for many of the largest shows that tour the country.

CrazyAboutCities · January 30th, 2008, 08:35 PM

Oh no! That's not good news!

Are they planning to expand Washington Convention Center at all?

Capitol Hill · January 30th, 2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutCities

Oh no! That's not good news!

Are they planning to expand Washington Convention Center at all?

Its not a negative that the Convention Center isn't in the 'big leagues.' There is plenty of business in the midsize conventions. The problem arises when conventions grow out of the Center. I know that the AMA like meeting here in the Summer, but then their size needs outgrew our center. Is it a total loss? No, because then we got sub groups (say meetings of anesthesiologists, orthopedics, etc.) that meet here.

Its how you market the center that matter, and our group does a good job. Convention Center planners love how close our hotels are to the center. In many cities, the convention centers are in the middle of BFE, and the delegates all need to be shuttled back and forth, adding to costs and stress.

CrazyAboutCities · January 30th, 2008, 08:50 PM

True. I still think it is good reason to expand Washington Convention Center to boost local economy by able to host huge events like National Party Convention, AutoShow, Fashion Show, Job Fairs, etc. That would bring thousands of people to downtown Seattle too. I think they would have to get rid of Freeway Park to make room for convention center expansions or take over I-5 too.

Capitol Hill · January 30th, 2008, 09:25 PM

Well, they've maxed out their ability to build out anywhere else but up. Where as that might be instant nirvana for many of the members here, it wouldn't work too well for the convention planners. I think that everything that we currently have at the site is what we'll be getting.

Nutterbug · January 30th, 2008, 10:18 PM

Just hope that a terrorist attack happens on a Repub convention ELSEWHERE.

taiwanesedrummer36 · January 30th, 2008, 11:57 PM

Maybe any potential convention center expansion should be paired-up with a potential I-5 reconstruction project. The WSDOT always say they're going to have to eventually rebuild I-5 to current standards, but I don't see how they'll accomplish that with all the "barriers" in the way.

Oh, well...I guess it just wasn't meant to be...

CrazyAboutCities · January 31st, 2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutterbug

Just hope that a terrorist attack happens on a Repub convention ELSEWHERE.

That harsh. I don't like republicans at all too but I don't want anything evil to happen to them. That would make us bad people too if we wish something evil happen to them.

CrazyAboutCities · January 31st, 2008, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capitol Hill

Well, they've maxed out their ability to build out anywhere else but up. Where as that might be instant nirvana for many of the members here, it wouldn't work too well for the convention planners. I think that everything that we currently have at the site is what we'll be getting.

Or... Possible a second convention center?

Nutterbug · January 31st, 2008, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutCities

That harsh. I don't like republicans at all too but I don't want anything evil to happen to them. That would make us bad people too if we wish something evil happen to them.

Call it a case of "Live by the sword..." You know, a little belligerence coming back to bite them.

Nutterbug · January 31st, 2008, 12:46 AM

^ Well okay, I'll soften my stance and spare those who naively buy all the propaganda that the government feeds them and truly believe the war is being done with good intentions. But the unconscionable ones who support the war to further their own financial and personal interests couldn't perish soon enough.

In any case, wouldn't you rather the slime have their gathering as far away from your city as possible?

January 30th, 2008, 06:00 AM	#1
Ginkgo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 395 Likes (Received): 63	National party conventions So once again Seattle is bypassed for the Democratic and Republican conventions. But this time we did not lose out to New York, Los Angeles or Chicago, but to cities with smaller populations both in the cities themselves and in the metropolitan areas. I was under the impression we could NEVER get a national convention because the convention center is too small. Is that really the case? Or not enough hotel rooms? If so, how did Minneapolis and Denver get it so right and we so wrong? The northwest remains the only area of the country never to host such a convention. Pity.

January 30th, 2008, 07:37 AM	#4
*Bond James Bond* Licence to kill. Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Apple Maggot Quarantine Area Posts: 6,996	Meh, I don't care. If the Democratic or Republican conventions ever did come here, all that would do is make me want to avoid downtown Seattle like a plague for 2 weeks or more. __________________ Please DO NOT "like" any of my posts or request "friend" status. I don't care if you like me, or my posts. Thank you. - If you do either of these more than once you will be put on my ignore list.

January 30th, 2008, 08:13 AM	#5
taiwanesedrummer36 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Little Taipei, Everett Posts: 1,047 Likes (Received): 0	With politics these days, i'm with , don't really care. Sure it would be good for our economy, maybe put a national spotlight on us, but then there could be protests, and perhaps maybe something like the WTO riots (but probably not as big as that, hee hee). And let's not forget Safeco CAN be domed, unless mhays means something else. We could easily host some sort of national convetion, assuming Central Link is completed, providing accessibility to Downtown hotels, the main venue (let's say Safeco), and our gateway, Sea-Tac. I predict there will be a national convention here after 2009, okay 2012. __________________ Everett/Snohomish County Development News Thread

January 30th, 2008, 11:57 PM	#16
taiwanesedrummer36 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Little Taipei, Everett Posts: 1,047 Likes (Received): 0	Maybe any potential convention center expansion should be paired-up with a potential I-5 reconstruction project. The WSDOT always say they're going to have to eventually rebuild I-5 to current standards, but I don't see how they'll accomplish that with all the "barriers" in the way. Oh, well...I guess it just wasn't meant to be... __________________ Everett/Snohomish County Development News Thread

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January 30th, 2008, 06:27 AM	#2
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,376 Likes (Received): 119	Seattle has far more downtown hotel rooms than either Minneapolis or Denver -- Denver is in the 7,000 range, Minneapolis is around 5,000, and we have something like 10,500including today's projects. (I count around 10,300 off the top of my head and suspect the 11,000 I've heard might include some areas not really downtown.) But Denver has a new arena that seats more than Key Arena, and also has much more concourse and meeting square footage -- as we've heard, the Key is half the overall size of a typical NBA arena. Minneapolis will use its dome, which is on a whole 'nother level. Plus, yes, both have bigger convention centers, though I don't know what they'd use them for, given that they're not at the arenas. If Safeco or Qwest were domed, they would be suitable. The Stadium Exhibition Hall would serve ok as the annex because it's right there, thought it's not a convention center and doesn't have the huge infrastructure like kitchens and so on. We're long past the days when a convention center could hold a convention, unless the center has a room that can seat 20,000 with NBA-type ceiling heights. Also, conventions generally go to swing states, and we're considered fairly solid Democratic. The Republicans are taking a swing at a Democratic state and trying to keep their past strength in Middle America, while the Democrats are locating in a swing state that's also embelmatic of the Mountain states, which they consider an area with growth potential.

January 30th, 2008, 06:52 AM	#3
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,376 Likes (Received): 119	I'll be damned. According to the convention and visitors bureau, we have 10,982 rooms currently between Lower Queen Anne, South Lake Union, First Hill, and Pioneer Square. That's all legit "downtown" hotels within a mile or so of the WSCTC (ok, 1.3 in some cases). Look on page 34 with addional details about the hotels on the following pages: http://www.visitseattle.org/resources/pubs/MPG06-07.pdf Current construction includes Four Seasons (149), Olive 8 (300), the Arctic Building (100)... About 500 rooms are in the "someone please tell me they've started" category including the Alaska Building, Hyatt Place, and 4th N & Roy. If anything else breaks ground, that'll take us over 12,000 pretty quickly.

January 30th, 2008, 08:15 AM	#6
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,376 Likes (Received): 119	A lid isn't good enough for a convention. They want 100% rain protection, sound protection from protests, etc. Sorry, zero chance for Safeco.

January 30th, 2008, 05:20 PM	#7
Ginkgo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 395 Likes (Received): 63	So why not then as a region, bite the bullet and build an all-purpose arena, one which will serve all comers--NBA, NHL, national political convention, and other major events where a large covered space is required. I'd look at it as an asset and investment, not a liability or some kind of giveaway to a sports team. Location and financing I'll leave to others--I'm thinking theoretically. I just think it would add to the city's overall attractiveness and desirability. If we worry about protesters at every event, we 'll be held back from making tough--but necessary, IMHO--decisions.

January 30th, 2008, 05:22 PM	#8
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,376 Likes (Received): 119	Few events require that sort of space, and it's a lot of money. Combine that with the political winds re: Sonics subsidy and our lack of clamor for NHL, and there's not much chance.

January 30th, 2008, 07:57 PM	#9
CrazyAboutCities Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 8,329 Likes (Received): 15	Hmmm What's wrong with Washington Convention Center? It is not big enough to host National Party Conventions? We could get a new sport arena too but I don't want to spend another cent on sport stadiums.

January 30th, 2008, 08:32 PM	#10
Capitol Hill Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,389 Likes (Received): 159	The WSCTC isn't even large enough for many conventions now. Seattle isn't even in the top 15: The survey ranked the Top 20 convention centers in the United States in terms of size. Chicago was ranked first, with existing and planned exhibition space totaling 2.35 million square feet, followed by New Orleans (2), Orlando (3), Las Vegas (4), Atlanta (5), Las Vegas (Sands) (6), Los Angeles (7), Javits (New York City) (8), Anaheim (9), Orlando (10), San Diego (11), Boston (12), Dallas (13), Kentucky Expo (14) and Miami Beach (15). Note, the past few political conventions have not occurred in Convention centers, but in arenas. 2008 Republican convention is in Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN (not the Metrodome in Minneapolis) http://www.xcelenergycenter.com/ And the Democratic Convention is being held in the Pepsi Center http://www.pepsicenter.com/ Going back here are the National Conventions sites. First, Democratic: 2004 Boston, FleetCenter, now called TD Banknorth Garden, 2000 Los Angeles, Staples Center, 1996 Chicago, United Center, 1992 New York City, Madison Square Garden, 1988 Atlanta, The Omni Center, 1984 San Francisco The Moscone Center (The last time a convention was held for the Democrats at an actual convention center) Republicans: 2004 New York City, Madison Square Garden, 2000 Philadelphia First Union Center (now Wachovia Center) 1996 San Diego (San Diego Convention Center). This was the last time that a Republican convention was in a traditional convention center. Of note is that both the Dems and Republicans have held conventions in NYC, and they didn't choose Javits Center, and in Chicago, they didn't take their cavernous convention center, either. So most of the conventions have been held in Basketball/Hockey arena sized buildings. Seattle just doesn't compete, and thus until/unless a new facility is built, we won't rank for this convention. And our convention center isn't even in the same league, size wise, as San Diego, not even in the top 15 in size in the US. The WSCTC is marketed only to midsize convention and trade shows. Seattle isn't even in the market for many of the largest shows that tour the country.

January 30th, 2008, 08:35 PM	#11
CrazyAboutCities Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 8,329 Likes (Received): 15	Oh no! That's not good news! Are they planning to expand Washington Convention Center at all?

January 30th, 2008, 08:50 PM	#13
CrazyAboutCities Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 8,329 Likes (Received): 15	True. I still think it is good reason to expand Washington Convention Center to boost local economy by able to host huge events like National Party Convention, AutoShow, Fashion Show, Job Fairs, etc. That would bring thousands of people to downtown Seattle too. I think they would have to get rid of Freeway Park to make room for convention center expansions or take over I-5 too.

January 30th, 2008, 09:25 PM	#14
Capitol Hill Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,389 Likes (Received): 159	Well, they've maxed out their ability to build out anywhere else but up. Where as that might be instant nirvana for many of the members here, it wouldn't work too well for the convention planners. I think that everything that we currently have at the site is what we'll be getting.

January 30th, 2008, 10:18 PM	#15
Nutterbug Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,053 Likes (Received): 0	Just hope that a terrorist attack happens on a Repub convention ELSEWHERE.

January 31st, 2008, 12:46 AM	#20
Nutterbug Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,053 Likes (Received): 0	^ Well okay, I'll soften my stance and spare those who naively buy all the propaganda that the government feeds them and truly believe the war is being done with good intentions. But the unconscionable ones who support the war to further their own financial and personal interests couldn't perish soon enough. In any case, wouldn't you rather the slime have their gathering as far away from your city as possible?