St. Louis 2012 Convention Exploratory Committee
Fact Sheet, April 2010

General

1. St. Louis is preparing its bid to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention.  Following solicitations from the Democratic National Committee, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay submitted letters of interest.

2. Mayor Slay asked Kitty Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, and Brian Wahby, chairman of the St. Louis City Democratic Party and Missouri’s At-Large Delegate to the Democratic National Committee to lead the St. Louis 2012 Convention Exploratory Committee.

3. The Committee will organize a regional effort including Missouri and Illinois to attract the convention to St. Louis.

4. St. Louis will craft a bid that shares the Convention experience with the entire community, building on an engaged and energetic public.

5. The last national political convention in St. Louis was the 1916 Democratic Convention, which nominated Woodrow Wilson.   Including 1916, St. Louis has hosted 5 national party conventions, 4 Democratic and 1 Republican.

6. The Exploratory Committee can be reached via the Web at STL2012.org.

2012 Exploratory Committee Goals

1. Produce a winning bid for the entire metro St. Louis region.

2. Generate a significant economic return to the region.

3. Create an event that showcases St. Louis' unique attributes to world as a family-friendly metropolis in the American heartland.

4. Emphasize inclusiveness by collaborating with and reaching out to diverse communities and businesses.

5. Showcase St. Louis' commitment to a sustainable, clean environment by hosting a green Convention.


Immediate Milestones
1. On April 5, 2010 the DNC announced that the 2012 convention will be held during the week of September 3, 2012, immediately following the RNC convention.

2. St. Louis' bid must be submitted to the DNC on May 21, 2010.

Economic Impact

1. The CVC has begun the process of securing a block of more than 15,000 hotel rooms (from the region’s nearly 40,000) to house the delegates, guests, staff, media, etc.  The 2012 Host Committee estimates the need for 77,000 total hotel room nights for the Convention.

2. St. Louis can expect an overall impact similar to Denver’s experience hosting the 2008 Democratic National Convention, though our location in the center of the country, along with President Obama’s incumbency, may generate greater numbers for St. Louis.

3. The 2008 Convention generated a $266 million regional economic benefit to Metro Denver, of which $153 million occurred within the City and County of Denver.

4. The Denver 2008 Host Committee was responsible for raising a minimum of $51 million in cash and in-kind donations to fund the Convention activities.

5. Approximately 80% of the funds were raised outside of the Denver metropolitan area.

6. The Convention attracted 50,000 people to Denver, including 6,000 delegates, 18,000 national and international media, and 26,000 dignitaries, delegate family members, and other guests.

7. The City and County of Denver hosted more than 120,000 people at community events in more than 17 locations.