COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus is throwing its hat in the rings in an effort to attract a major party political conventio to the city is 2016.
Columbus 2016 and Experience Columbus today submitted their bid to the Republican National Committee to host the GOP 2016 National Convention.
Thursday, it will be the Democrats’ turn to be courted when Columbus 2016 hosts a reception at The Capital Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C., for members of the Democratic National Committeeee during its Winter Meeting.
To secure the Republican convention, the committe said, among other requirements, the host city must have a “convention hall, arena, or similar facility capable of seating at least 18,000 persons in a configuration suitable for a presidential nominating convention,” 16,000 first class hotel rooms and 1,000 one- and two-bedroom suites as well as ample parking, air-conditioned buses and sufficient volunteers.
Mayor Michael Coleman said in his State of the City address eatlier this month that one of his administration’s goals this year is to bring a major political convention to Columbus.