GOP picks 2000 convention site

Next summer's Republican National Convention, expected to bring more than 30,000 visitors to the Philadelphia area, will be held at the First Union Center in South Philadelphia, Republican leaders announced last week. The announcement follows months of analysis of the First Union Center and the Philadelphia Convention Center, the two potential sites for the GOP gathering, according to Republican National Committee Chairperson Jim Nicholson. Although the Convention Center can seat about 3,000 more people for the event, the First Union Center was chosen for its state-of-the-art broadcast facilities which will enable television viewers around the world to watch the week's events. The convention, which will take place from July 29 to August 4, will be based at the First Union Center, although Nicholson said that the Convention Center will likely host committee meetings, delegate gatherings and other events. The event will cost about $35 million but is expected to bring in as much as $300 million in direct and indirect revenue to the city, officials have estimated. At least 6,000 people, including delegates and their families -- in addition to more than 15,000 members of the news media -- are expected to arrive in Philadelphia. Not only will South Philadelphia see some action from the event, but so will the rest of Philadelphia, mostly in the way of hotel revenues. According to Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau President Tom Muldoon, about 17,000 hotel rooms throughout the area will be occupied by convention-goers during the week-long gathering. The soon-to-open Inn at Penn and the University City Sheraton hotel have already booked rooms through the bureau for the convention, according to hotel officials. The Sheraton will see 90 percent of its rooms occupied by Republicans and members of the media, while the Inn has booked almost half. University Spokesperson Ken Wildes said a University committee has held regular meetings to discuss what role, if any, Penn will play in the convention.

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