Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association
 
2000 Democratic National Convention 
                       In the Heartland of the United States 
                             Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
Introduction 
Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and the State of Minnesota are the ideal venues for the 2000 Democratic National Convention. It is a partnership with enthusiasm and experience that has hosted virtually every major U.S. event in the decade of the 90s. The community resume includes: 
  • 1990  U.S. Olympic Festival
  • 1991  U.S. National Figure Skating
  • 1991  U.S. Open Golf Championship
  • 1991  Hockey's Stanley Cup
  • 1991  International Special Olympics
  • 1991  Baseball World Series
  • 1992  Super Bowl
  • 1992  NCAA Men's Final Four
  • 1993  Lions Club International Convention
  • 1994  NCAA Women's Final Four
  • 1995  NAACP Convention
  • 1998  World Figure Skating Championships
Future major events of note that Minneapolis will host include: 
  • 1998  International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference
  • 1999  International Gay Lesbian Travel Association
  • 2000  Quentennial International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous
  • 2001  NCAA Men's Final Four
No other community has the event resume of Minneapolis and the Twin Cities. 

Each of these notable events has required significant community support both financially and in volunteerism. Minneapolis has a metropolitan database of more than 6,000 volunteers. While all groups required financial support, the financial support for the International Special Olympics was the most comparable to a national political convention. In 1991 the local host committee raised $22 million in cash and in-kind of which $10-12 million was raised by local fund-raisers. Minneapolis and Minnesota have consistently exceeded the expectations of the sponsoring organizations. 

Facilities 
The Minnesota Host Committee is proposing a choice of two venues: the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and the Target Center. Both are located in Minneapolis. 

The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, built in the mid-1980s, is home to the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota football. It is a multipurpose facility which has hosted numerous general assembly conventions, trade shows, the 1990 visit from the USSR president Gorbachev and will be the site of the 2000 international convention of Alcoholics Anonymous. 

The Target Center was completed in 1990. It is also a multipurpose facility and home of the Minnesota Timberwolves. It has hosted non-athletic events like the NFL Super Bowl Saturday Night, the 1993 Lions Club International Convention as well as smaller events including Minnesota political conventions. 

Accomodations 
The Twin Cities metro area has nearly 25,000 hotel rooms. The furthest rooms are located no more than a 30-minute commute from the proposed venues. The Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association has housed 65,000 attendees for the 1992 Super Bowl, 35,000 attendees of the 1992 NCAA Men's Final Four, 30,000 delegates of Lions Club International and will be hosting 75,000 projected attendees of the 2000 International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous. 

Transportation 
Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is an international gateway with eight major airline serving 165 cities with nonstop service. Once in the Twin Cities, nearly 300 buses will provide convenient shuttle service to hotels no further than 15 miles from Minneapolis. 

Attractions 
In 1984 the renowned travel expert Arthur Frommer described the Twin Cities as one of the top ten destinations in the world because of the variety, quality and affordability of area cultural attractions. Since that time we have added the Mall of America, Broadway production at the renovated State and Orpheum Theaters, the Minnesota History Museum, and the Science Museum. With 133 golf courses, dozens of lakes and the nation's best park system, opportunities abound for activities when the convention is in recess. 

Finally, there is summer in Minnesota...the land of 10,000 lakes and 100,000 vacation opportunities. 

Financial 
Other factors to consider are the fifteen Fortune 500 companies that call the Twin Cities home, the private sector's willingness to contribute, and the AAA bond rating of the City of Minneapolis, a distinction it has consistently held since the early 60s. Minnesota is the birthplace of the 5% Club and the 2% Club of corporations who give that percentage of pretax profits back to the community. 
Selecting a host city for a national political convention is a leap of faith involving some risk. That risk is minimized by selecting Minneapolis and Minnesota.  

Summary  
Minnesota, the Twin Cities and the host city of Minneapolis meet all the specifications to host the Democratic National Convention. There is a choice of venues, hotel room totals exceed requirements, the attractions of the Twin Cities offer an excellent variety for delegates and their families, and most important, Minneapolis offers an experienced team with resources to meet the requirements. Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton was reelected this past fall to another four-year term as mayor of Minneapolis. The stability of city government through the planning and implementation phases of this convention is important to its success. You can be assured that the city is committed and dedicated to the 2000 Democratic National Convention.