Gathering under the theme of "A Better Future," Republicans convened in Tampa to formally nominate the Romney-Ryan ticket.  Countless hours of preparations went into the week.  Back on May 12, 2010 the Republican National Committee announced that its Site Selection Committee had voted to recommend Tampa-St. Petersburg to host its 2012 convention; the full RNC approved the selection on Aug. 6, 2010 (+).  The RNC Committee on Arrangements started work in 2011 to prepare for the gathering of 2,286 delegates.  The Tampa Bay Host Committee, Inc. was also busy, raising contributions totaling $55.6 million; these included 19 contributions of $1 million or more topped by $5 million from Las Vegas Sands Corp. CEO Sheldon Adelson, $3 million from local Marketing Solution Publications and $2 million from the America Petroleum Institute.  The committee made disbursements of $53.2 million.  The RNC Committee on Resolutions (Platform Committee) developed the party platform. 

The best laid plans of mice and men are no match for Mother Nature however.  In the days leading up to the convention Tropical Storm Isaac threatened to hit Tampa.  The city was under tropical storm warning and hurricane watch and planners made changes to the convention schedule, nixing the program for the first day (+), but the storm edged away to the West.

Some 70,000 people gathered in the Tampa area for the Convention.  In addition to the official activities, Republican, conservative and allied groups organized hundreds of events, receptions, forums and parties.  Democrats set up a counter-convention presence.  (Vice President Joe Biden had even been scheduled to be in Tampa for a couple of events but cancelled "due to disaster preparedness and security concerns.")  It would not be a convention without protests; a big march occurred on Aug. 27, and other protests were coordinated under the resistRNC banner.  Despite concerns of trouble, there were only two arrests, and delegates did not see much of the protesters.  Both conventions are designated National Special Security Events and dozens of law enforcement agencies coordinated on security operations.  Fifteen thousand media representatives covered the activity (1, 2, 3).  Although many Ron Paul supporters would argue (1a, 1b [jpgs], 2, 3, 4), when the delegates headed home, Republicans could be pleased with what appeared to be a generally successful convention.

A pre-convention analysis by Jones Lang LsSalle put the total economic impact of the convention on Tampa conservatively at $153.56 million (+).  A post-convention study done for the Host Committee by Brian T. Kench, Ph.D. of the Sykes College of Business put the direct economic impact at $214.15 million; this figure includes $125.35 million for regional infrastructure upgrades (PDF).