Last week Matt told you about the $260 million that Denver pulled in during the Democratic National Convention. The Republicans are out with their numbers and, while good, they fall far short of what the Democrats brought to their host city.
MINNEAPOLIS and SAINT PAUL, Minn., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2008 Republican National Convention, held in Minneapolis Saint Paul last year, generated nearly $170 million in new money for the local economy - exceeding original projections for the event. The results were announced today, the one-year anniversary of the Convention, by the Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee - a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization charged with raising $58 million for the Convention to reduce the financial burden on the host cities.
Not only did the Host Committee raise enough money to fund the Convention, it ended the fundraising process with a surplus of nearly $7 million, which will be divided and donated to the Saint Paul Foundation, the Minneapolis Foundation and the Minnesota Community Foundation. This is the largest surplus ever donated by a Convention Host Committee. This direct financial support is in addition to the hundreds of thousands of dollars donated by companies and organizations in computer equipment, clothing, office furniture, office supplies and food, which the Host Committee donated to local organizations post-Convention.
"This report is a clear illustration that our community benefitted significantly from hosting the 2008 Republican National Convention," said Jeff Larson, CEO of the Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee. "Not only did the efforts of countless individuals help generate nearly $170 million for our economy at a time when this country was facing a major economic downturn, but the event also showcased that this community came together to put on a world-class event."
And as a former Minneapolis resident I'm happy they did well. You can read more after the jump.
