More Potential 2016 Convention Host Cities Make Their Case to the RNC ...4 / 4 >

March 21, 2014 - Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Phillip J. Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau discuss Dallas' bid after their presentation.  Dallas hosted the Republican National Convention in 1984 when the party nominated President Reagan for a second term.  Mayor Rawlings said things are very different now and there is a "remarkably new Dallas."  Dallas started working on its proposal relatively late, but it appears to have put together a strong bid.  For example, they note that they have secured $40 million in commitments and plan to "raise the $60 million necessary to execute the best Republican National Convention in history."  Dallas is proposing the American Airlines Center as the site of the convention; indeed it has already reserved the facility for July 18-21.  However, one potential problem for Dallas is that American Airlines Center is home to the NBA Dallas Mavericks; NBA playoffs run to June and, with the six weeks required to prepare the arena, that would not allow for a convention in late June, one of the time periods Priebus is considering.






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[additional details on the Dallas bid]


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