| Charlotte Convention & Visitors' Bureau |
| Where America
First
Discovered Gold, It's Now Discovering Wealth
As the center of America's first gold rush in 1799, Charlotte laid the foundation for its success in banking and finance that is evident 200 years later. Now it is the nation's second largest banking center. Charlotte's citizens, government and businesses have built a vibrant economy that today is the envy of the nation. Charlotte exemplifies what is present and possible, not what is past. We can provide the perfect foundation from which to build the Republican vision, recapture the soul of America and regain the White House in the year 2000.
The Republicans need the Carolinas and the South. Long a battleground upon which presidential elections were won or lost, the Carolinas are pivotal to aspiring presidential players. North and South Carolina combined have a powerful block of 22 electoral votes, placing it in a tie for sixth place with Illinois.
Charlotte can be characterized with one word--vision. That vision was first shown by Scots-Irish and German Protestants who came here to live and worship free from royal shackles. Here the cauldron of revolution boiled long before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Today, Charlotte boasts of more churches per capita than any other city in America. Gleaming skyscrapers and professional sports franchises stand testament to Charlotte's economic vision. Business and government openly identify problems and then unite to solve them. And, here we work to stay united by faith
and common economic goals, rather than be divided by race and creed. Faith,
family and freedom are central to our lives. And, we exemplify what is
present, not what is past. As the Republicans mold their vision for the
nation in the year 2000, Charlotte provides the perfect setting from which
to launch that vision.
Facilities The Charlotte Coliseum, home to the NBA Hornets and WNBA Sting, will provide the premier setting for the Republican National Convention in the year 2000. Situated between the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and a state-of-the-art multi-purpose Convention Center in Uptown, the Coliseum is also adjacent to more than 1 million square feet of Class A office space, as well as a proposed 300-room convention hotel.
Anywhere you stay in Charlotte, you're sure to experience a blend of down-home hospitality combined with the sophistication and class that comes with a major metropolis. Charlotte's dynamic growth means there is more to see and do here than ever before. There are approximately 21,000 hotel rooms including 5,000 new rooms under construction-- totaling more than 26,000 hotel rooms in the Greater Charlotte area. Best of all, 13,000 of these rooms are within a 10-minute drive from the Charlotte Coliseum--affording convention-goers convenience and more time for leisure.
With 50 percent of the US's population only a two-hour flight away, Charlotte is the ideal location for the Republican National Convention. The Convention site and hotels are served by major Charlotte Interstates and other local expressways--making transportation for the participants a simple and safe procedure. A major hub for US Airways, the Charlotte-Douglas
International Airport is served by American, Delta, United, TWA, Northwest,
Continental and international carriers British Airways and Air Canada.
Together the nine major carriers and four associated regional commuters
provide an average of 500 departures per day, with non-stop service to
138 cities and direct service to an additional 22. A 1.5 million square-foot
terminal, the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is considered quite
user-friendly. In 1997, it served 22 million passengers, making it the
17th busiest airport in the United States.
Hospitality Southern hospitality is at the very root of Charlotte's climate and culture. A rising star in the New South, Charlotte's diverse and progressive population continues to embody the same spirit and charm that has enriched its history. A prolific arts community combined with a booming economy has given Charlotte's hoteliers, restaurateurs attractions and retailers unparalleled pride and prosperity.
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