Dallas2016RNC.com

DALLAS 2016 FACT SHEET

Dallas and the RNC Have a History of Victory

  •   Dallas has changed significantly since launching President Ronald Reagan’s successful reelection victory as the host of the 1984 Republican National Convention (RNC).

  •   Dallas has proven itself as a world-class city, successfully hosting Super Bowl XLV, NBA All-Star Weekend, the opening of The George W. Bush Presidential Center with five living Presidents and diplomats from around the world in attendance, and numerous other large-scale, high profile, high security events.

    A Community Committed to Service and Philanthropy

  •   In 2012, Dallas area citizens donated more than $48 million to GOP candidates.

  •   Commitment from the Dallas community will surpass all expectations, including the involvement of legendary Texans and Dallas boosters like Roger Staubach, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Herb Kelleher, Randall Stephenson, Ray Hunt, Ebby Halliday, T. Boone Pickens, Harlan Crow; former ambassadors Jim Oberwetter, Jeanne Johnson Phillips and Robert Jordan; and civic leaders Myrna Shlegel and Charlotte Jones Anderson.

  •   The Dallas Host Committee is committed to raising $60 million. The funding breakout by source includes:

o Private cash contributions: 59 percent
o Major event trust fund: 31 percent
o Private in-kind contributions: 8 percent
o Dallas tourism public improvement district: 2 percent

Choices. Access. Success.

 Home to the headquarters of American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, it is easy to get to Dallas within four hours from anywhere in the country via Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport or Dallas Love Field Airport. Dallas also features an extensive ground transportation network.

o Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport – the world’s fourth busiest airport.
o Dallas Love Field Airport – with more than $1 billion in recent investments.
o Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) – the nation’s largest light-rail system with service between downtown, the American Airlines Center and both DFW Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport.
o Additional free DART D-Link bus service and trolley service between downtown and main entertainment districts.

 Dallas has more than 30,000 hotel rooms and more than 75,000 available throughout the Metroplex area.

o 70 percent of the 16,000 needed Republican National Convention rooms are within two miles of the American Airlines Center; 5 -7 minutes via shuttle

o 80 percent of the entire number of needed rooms are within fifteen minutes of the center

  •   Dallas offers convenient access for all types of hotel property preferences from luxury to economy 80to specific brands.

  •   Nearly 85 percent of the 16,000 hotel rooms will be in a 3-diamond star property, with 21 hotels in the proposed block with a 4 or 5 diamond star rating.

  •   Dallas has more than $15 billion in recent development from parks and retail development to venues and infrastructure.

    The American Airlines Center

  •   Dallas already has reserved the American Airlines Center for the Republican National Convention event dates of July 18-21, 2016.

  •   The American Airlines Center is a world-class events venue built with holding a major political convention in mind.

  •   Each year the American Airlines Center hosts more than 200 events, resulting in 2.5 million guests.

  •   The award-winning American Airlines Center’s capabilities were built for media and television broadcasts quality and functionality and is media ready.

  •   From a technical perspective, the American Airlines Center has recently upgraded all technologies and provides state of the art video and audio facilities, high speed data connectivity, and the highest level of connectivity for guest through recently expanded WIFI system.

  •   The open spaces surrounding the American Airlines Center lend themselves to gathering and audience interactions with the ATT Plaza being designed to host special events adjacent to our south entrances. With built in production technologies, multiple high definition big screens and staging, the plaza has been used in many creative ways and provides an opportunity to use the balcony and our 500ft video screen as a back drop to the possible appearance by the Republican Party nominee to a gathering of supporters in a Times Square type setting. The plaza itself holds 10,000 people.

    Big Things Happen in Dallas.

 Dallas is a top convention destination and hosts millions of visitors every year. o Dallas is the No. 5 city in the U.S. for meetings and conventions.

o Dallas-Fort Worth is the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas.
o Dallas is the No. 10 most visited city for business in the U.S.
o Dallas is the 4th fastest growing city in the U.S.
o Dallas is the #1 “Best City for Jobs” by Forbes.
o Dallas is the best place in U.S. to start a business.
o Dallas is the No. 2 best city in the U.S. for small businesses. o Dallas is the top city in the U.S. to find tech professionals.
  •   Tourism in Dallas region boasts 22 million business and leisure travelers annually, infuses more than $3 billion into the local economy and employs one of every 10 people in the area.

  •   In 2013, Dallas booked 31 city-wide conventions and hosted several large scale events, including 75,000 for MegaFest, 60,000 with AHR (Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating) Exposition and again with Mary Kay Seminar, and more than 100,000 with USA Volleyball.

 With security of utmost importance, the city offers the expertise of thousands of well-trained, sworn officers of the Dallas Police Department and surrounding cities and the experience of working closely with the Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI during last year’s opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center that included five living presidents and numerous global dignitaries as well as numerous presidential and candidate visits through the years.

Dallas. Truly Traditional. Distinctly Diverse.

  •   Dallas is critical to the Texas Red State economic success.

  •   With 42 percent Hispanic, 28 percent Anglo and 25 percent African American residents according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Dallas is the ideal place for the Republican Party to continue the current outreach to growing and evolving segments of the population who will be critical in the 2016 election.

  •   The Washington Post recently noted that Latinos in Texas are more Republican than elsewhere. And what's more, Latinos in Texas are also trending more toward the GOP and away from Democrats, in contrast to the rest of the country.

  •   The Texas economic philosophy put into practice encourages private sector growth and job creation, with Texas accounting for 33 percent of the nation's net job gains over the past decade.

  •   Dallas offers endless entertainment options from more than 4,000 restaurants to 14 entertainment districts to the largest urban arts district in the nation, including buildings by Pritzker Prize-winning architects.

    Committee

    Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, The Honorable Mayor of Dallas  Co-Chair
    The Honorable Mayor Mike Rawlings, Former U.S. Senator  Co-Chair

  •   Governor Rick Perry, State of Texas, Governor

  •   Senator John Cornyn, III, State of Texas, U.S. Senator

  •   Senator Ted Cruz, State of Texas U.S. Senator

  •   David Dewhurst, State of Texas, Lieutenant Governor of Texas

  •   Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas

  •   Susan Combs, State of Texas, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

  •   Representative Michael Burgess, State of Texas, U.S. House of Representatives

  •   Representative Jeb Hensarling, State of Texas, U.S. House of Representatives

  •   Representative Kenny E. Marchant, State of Texas, U.S. House of Representatives

  •   Representative Pete Sessions, State of Texas, U.S. House of Representatives

  •   Senator Phil Gramm, State of Texas, Former U.S. Senator

  •   Mr. Steve Munisteri, Republican Party of Texas, Chairman

  •   Dr. Robin Armstrong, Republican National Committee, Texas National Committeeman

  •   Ms. Toni Anne Dashiell, Republican National Committee, Texas National Committeewoman

  •   Mr. William Crocker, Republic National Committee, Former Texas National Committeeman

  •   Ms. Denise McNamara, Republican National Committee, Former Texas National Committeewoman

  •   Mr. D. Wade Emmert, Dallas County Republican Party Chairman

  •   Senator John Carona, State of Texas, Texas State Senator

  •   Mr. George P. Bush, Texas Land Commissioner

  •   Mr. Ray Hunt, Hunt Consolidated, Inc., Chairman, President and CEO

  •   Mr. Robert B. Rowling, TRT Holdings, Inc., Chairman and CEO

  •   Mr. Harlan Crow, Crow Holdings, Chief Executive Officer

  •   Mr. Randall Stephenson, AT&T, Inc., Chairman and CEO

  •   Mr. T. Boone Pickens, BP Capital, Chairman and CEO

  •   Mr. H. Ross Perot, Jr., Hillwood Chairman

  •   Ms. Charlotte Jones Anderson, Dallas Cowboys, Executive Vice President, Chief Brand Officer

  •   Mr. Ernest Angelo, Jr., Former State Chairman

  •   Mr. Bill Boyd, AlliedPRA Dallas/Ft. Worth Chairman

  •   Ms. Milli A. Brown, Brown Books Publishing Group, Chief Executive Officer

  •   Mr. Jim Burke, TXU Energy, Chairman and CEO

  •   Mr. Donald J. Carty, Virgin America Airlines Chairman

  •   Dr. Kenneth Cooper, MPH, Cooper Aerobics Founder and Chairman

  •   Dr. Tyler Cooper, MPH, Cooper Aerobics Enterprises, CEO

  •   Mr. and Mrs. Bill Custard, Philanthropists

  •   Mr. Sean Donohue, DFW - International Airport, Chief Executive Officer

  •   Mr. Robert Estrada, Estrada-Hinojosa & Co., Inc., Chairman

  •   Mr. Sam Gilliland, Sabre Holdings Corporation, Chairman

  •   Mr. Al G. Hill, Jr., Galatyn Properties, Ltd, President

  •   Mr. Noe Hinojosa, Jr., Estrada-Hinojosa & Co., Inc. President and CEO

  •   Mr. Arthur Hollingsworth, Lone Star Investments, Managing Partner

  •   Mr. James Huffines, PlainsCapital Corporation, President and Chief Operating Officer

  •   Mr. Charles Jarvie, Equity Appreciation Partners, Chairman

  •   Mr. Jim Lites Dallas Stars, President and CEO

  •   Mr. Stephen L. Mansfield, Ph.D. FACHE, Methodist Health System, President and CEO, 2014 Dallas Regional Chamber Chairman of the Board

  •   Ms. Nancy Cain Marcus, Ph.D., Philanthropist

  •   Mr. Schuyler Marshall, The Rosewood Corporation, Chairman of the Board

  •   Mr. Clint McDonnough, Ernst & Young, Dallas Office Managing Partner

  •   Mr. Donnie Nelson, Texas Legends Owner, Dallas Mavericks, President of Basketball Operations

  •   Mr. Erle Nye, TXU, Chairman Emeritus

  •   The Honorable James Oberwetter, Dallas Regional Chamber, President

  •   Mr. Carter Pate, MV Transportation, Chairman and CEO

  •   The Honorable Jeanne Johnson Phillips, Hunt Oil Company, SVP, Corp and International Relations

  •   Mr. Matthew K. Rose, BNSF Railway, Executive Chairman

  •   Ms. Myrna Schlegel, Philanthropist

  •   Mr. Neal Smatresk, University of North Texas, President

  •   Mr. Roger Staubach, The Staubach Company, Inc. Founder, Executive Chairman

  •   Mr. Ronald Steinhart, Texas Industries, Inc., Director

  •   Mr. John Tatum, Genesco, Chief Executive Officer

  •   Dr. R. Gerald Turner, Southern Methodist University, President

  •   Mr. Terdema Ussery, Dallas Mavericks, President and CEO

  •   Ms. Heather Washburne, Highland Park Village, Managing Director



Site Visit June 11-13, 2014
Reception at RNC Spring Meeting in Memphis, TN May 8, 2014

March 21, 2014

Dallas Unveils Its Bid to Host the 2016 GOP Convention

Dallas offers to host the best, biggest and grandest party yet for the GOP

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 21, 2014 – Dallas leaders met with the Republican National Committee (RNC) today to share their vision to bring the 2016 Republican National Convention back to the city. Thirty years ago, Dallas helped launch President Ronald Reagan’s successful reelection victory at the 1984 Republican National Convention. Today, Dallas is ready once again to host more than 40,000 visitors and offer a unique and memorable experience as Republican delegates nominate their next candidate for president.

"Dallas is an ideal location for the 2016 convention because Texas is a national model for economic success and job growth," Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said. "Not only is Dallas-Fort Worth home to 18 Fortune 500 companies, but Texas led the nation in job growth for the fourth straight year and Forbes just named Dallas as the fourth fastest growing city in America."

The city has a strong history of civic and political giving and philanthropy, with many of the new Dallas museums and arts venues built using hundreds of millions of privately raised dollars. Being able to raise at least $55 million is a primary requirement of the host city for the convention. To ensure the success of the Republican National Convention, Dallas has assembled a world-class Host Committee of more than 60 leaders and philanthropists capable of robust Texas-sized fundraising.

“We are confident that our Host Committee will raise the $60 million necessary to execute the best Republican National Convention in history,” said Phillip J. Jones, President and CEO of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We have a solid track record of successful fundraising and are proud to report we have already secured $40 million in commitments through private donors and the state’s major event trust fund.”

Conveniently located in the middle of the U.S., visitors can be on the ground in Dallas in less than four- hours from just about anywhere in the country. The city has hosted a number of world-class events, including Super Bowl XLV, the NBA All-Star Game, and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

Realizing that location and convenient access to meeting events are a priority, Dallas can accommodate approximately 80 percent of delegates within 15 minutes of the proposed location of the convention, the American Airlines Center. Located in the heart of the city, the state-of-the-art facility is considered to be one of the premier sports and entertainment spaces in the country. And in fact, it was built envisioning it would one day host a major political convention. The award-winning facility seats 18,500 people and in 2009, it installed the first and largest 1080 high-definition video replay system in a professional sports venue. In addition, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is the nation’s largest light-rail system with service linking downtown, American Airlines Center, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field. There is also free DART D-Link bus service and trolley service between downtown and main entertainment districts.

Dallas offers a wide variety of cultural and entertainment options. From the largest urban arts district in the nation to 14 distinct entertainment districts, Dallas offers notable museums and some of the most praised attractions in the country. The city has invested more than $15 billion in recent development from parks and retail to venues and infrastructure.

Dallas is also a reflection of the country’s diversity. “We are 42 percent Hispanic, 28 percent Anglo and 25 percent African American, and 70 different languages are spoken in the homes of Dallas-area students. We believe the convention is a great opportunity to share the Republican vision for our country’s future,” said Former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

“Texas is an example of the future of the Republican party – a fast-growing, diverse place where Republican ideas and leadership are improving the quality of life,” said Senator Hutchison. “This economic success is why Texas is a Republican state and will remain so for years to come.”

All eight cities, which include: Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Denver, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Phoenix were expected to present their bids to the RNC on March 3. However inclement weather forced the rescheduling of Dallas as well as Las Vegas and Cincinnati. The remaining 3 cities presented today. The RNC will select the top two or three finalists in late March, and will conduct city visits in April. The convention city will be named in August.

“We intend to paint the town red when we welcome the Republican National Convention back to Big D,” Jones said. “We’re bigger and better than ever and more than ready to host a successful 2016 Republican National Convention.”

About Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that promotes Dallas as a business and pleasure destination. Its mission is to market Dallas as the ideal convention and visitor destination to the regional, national and international marketplace and to favorably impact the Dallas economy through meetings and tourism. The award-winning Dallas CVB supports the business needs of their clients and guarantees that the city fulfills its promises and garners repeat bookings. For more information, please go to VisitDallas.com and Dallas2016RNC.com.

Contact:

Kim Sullivan
Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau 

Images available at Dallas2016RNC.com and VisitDallas.com



                                                                                                                                     Photos: Dallas 2016