Thursday, June 08, 2006

Facilities Overview

WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

Here is an overview of the facilities that may be proposed by the four cities bidding to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention. There are assumptions and estimates here which will be refined as the process moves forward.

  • Denver - Pepsi Center - Built 1999 - Cap: 19,000 - Skyboxes: ?? - Adjacent Media Workspace: None - Previous conventions: Dem 1908
  • Minneapolis/St, Paul - Previous conventions: GOP 1892
    • Target Center - Built 1990, Refurbished 2004 - Cap: 20,000 - Skyboxes: ?? - Adjacent Media Workspace: ??
    • St. Paul - XCel Center - Built 2000 - Cap: 18,000 - Skyboxes - 84 - Adjacent Media Workspace - RiverCentre Convention Center, Roy Wilkins Auditorium Complex
    • Minneapolis - Metrodome - Built 1982 - Cap: 30,000-40,000 - Skyboxes: 115 - Adjacent media Workspace: ??
  • New York- Madison Square Garden - Built 1968, Refurbished ~1995- Cap: 20,000 - Skyboxes: ?? - Adjacent Media Workspace: Farley Post Office?- Previous conventions: Dem '76, '80, '92, GOP '04
  • New Orleans - Superdome - Built 1975, Refurbished 2006 - Cap: 40-50,000 - Skyboxes: ?? - Adjacent Media Workspace: New Orleans Arena - Previous conventions: GOP '88
Minneapolis is proposing the Metrodome, the Target Center, and/or the XCel Center for the convention.

Notes: Adjacent workspace must be able to be in any security perimeter. (Javits Center in NY would not qualify). Some arenas, such as MSG in NY and Target Center in Minneapolis, have smaller separate theaters inside the building which can be used as media workspace. Capacities for domes assume curtained setup.

The Farley Post Office (adjacent to Madison Square Garden) was used to provide media workspace at the 2004 Republican Convention. It's not clear if the space will be available for a 2008 convention.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Denver!

Anonymous said...

I think that Minneapolis will get it since they have three large facilities that could be used. It's also important to remember that a lot of other stuff goes on during conventions. The College Democrats generally hold their convention in the same city, along with other groups. This city surely has enough room for everyone. Plus, MN has a strong democratic history (it should be rewarded for being strongly blue)!

Anonymous said...

I disagree; I think Denver's got this one in the bag.

Anonymous said...

At least you the guys got it right and refered to the building as its rightful name Farley and not Moynihan, Farley is the one who built the Democratic Machine, and installed Rossevelt,Moynihan was a genious but lets not forget who congress named the GPO after in the First Place Mr. Democrat James A. Farley. The convention should always be there :)