Monthly Archives: August 2006

Democratic Convention Watch: DNC visits Denver again – update

By Oreo | Published August 10, 2006

Thursday, August 10, 2006

DNC visits Denver again – update

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

Members of the Democratic National Comittee’s Technical Advisory Group revisited Denver today to take a second look:

“I think it’s very good that they are coming back out,” said Debbie Willhite, executive director of Denver’s host committee.
…
It will also be a chance for Denver’s host committee to showcase some new staff. Willhite, a longtime event organizer with national Democratic connections, was recently hired as executive director. “I’ve been on site selection in the past,” Willhite said. “Once you get down to the real cities that are in contention, you want to check things out as thoroughly as you can.” Continue Reading...

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Democratic Convention Watch: Is Denver still the frontrunner?

By Oreo | Published August 9, 2006

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Is Denver still the frontrunner?

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

I’ve been tracking the union issues with Denver’s bid for the 2008 Democratic Convention, and Colorado Confidential is reporting that Denver’s chances to host the convention have been affected:

The political “buzz” about the location of the Democratic National Convention has Denver slipping into second behind St Paul/Minneapolis because of Union problems and lack of facilities, according to sources within the national party circle. They acknowledged that Denver Mayor Hickenlooper is working on the labor problems, but with the DNC decision expected in November, will he have enough time to solve the problems? Continue Reading...

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Democratic Convention Watch: GOP buzz: Minnesota

By Oreo | Published August 8, 2006

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

GOP buzz: Minnesota

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

Some buzz from the other side:

A New York Republican who’s attending the Republican National Committee summer meeting in Minneapolis, Minn. called in to say the current buzz is that Midwestern city has an edge over New York, Cleveland and Tampa for the party’s 2008 convention. Continue Reading...

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Democratic Convention Watch: Could both conventions be held in Minnesota in different venues?

By Oreo | Published August 8, 2006

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Could both conventions be held in Minnesota in different venues?

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

An interesting option has come up: Could the Democrats and Republicans hold their conventions in back-to-back weeks in different venues in Minneapolis/St. Paul? The Democrats have already decided to hold their convention at the St. Paul Xcel Energy Center. I’ve been assuming the two conventions could not be held in the same city, as there’s no way for the two events to share a venue – different requirements, cost sharing issues, not to mention the venue looks pretty trashed after the convention is over.

But could the GOP go to the Target Center or Metrodome the following week? I don’t see why not. The Minneapolis venues are obviously not near the St. Paul venue, so the whole construction/logistics/security thing is not an issue. Continue Reading...

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Democratic Convention Watch: St. Paul Xcel Energy Center

By Oreo | Published August 5, 2006

Saturday, August 05, 2006

St. Paul Xcel Energy Center

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Minneapolis/St. Paul is proposing that the 2008 Democratic National Convention take place at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center.

The Xcel Center opened in 2000, the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, other teams, and the usual arena events. The building seats 18,000-19,000, depending on configuration, and 74 luxury boxes. The building totals about 650,000 square feet of building space.

A diagram of the Xcel Center and the surrounding area is at left. Note that unlike Denver’s Pepsi Center, the Xcel Center is mostly surrounded by buildings. This is good and bad. The good is that a convention center, the St. Paul RiverCentre, is right next door, offering great workspace for the media and convention needs. Also next door is the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, which also provides good workspace. The bad is that it makes the area more congested, and the convention has a large effect on nearby locations. Continue Reading...

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Democratic Convention Watch: More Denver DLC meeting convention news

By Oreo | Published August 2, 2006

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

More Denver DLC meeting convention news

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

Some notes from Colorado Confidential on the DLC meeting meeting in Denver last week.

“The weather’s great,” chimed Mike O’Conner, former Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis. “It’d be fine with me to have the convention in Denver to get out of the humid Midwest.”
… Continue Reading...

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