New York City is very proud and ready to host the 2000 Republican National Convention. With safer streets, a thriving economy and urban revitalization taking place throughout the city, New York City is an excellent example of the success of Republican ideals in action. Under the leadership of Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, New York City has made real progress in building a safer, cleaner, more responsible and dynamic city – a place where people are proud to live, work and visit. 

There is no place in the world that generates more excitement than New York City. The 2000 Republican Convention is the perfect time for delegates to enjoy the city’s tremendous entertainment and cultural offerings. From Broadway to Yankee Stadium, New York City has it all. New York City is eager to help the Republican Party lead the nation into the next millenium. Just take a look at what the Capital of the World has to offer the 2000 Republican Convention. 

Convention Site 

The City of New York proposes the world-famous Madison Square Garden as the main site for the 2000 Republican National Convention. The Garden, one of the nation's most modern convention centers, offers state-of-the-art technical capacity and capability, optimum design for television coverage, and convenient location to transit hubs, hotels, restaurants, stores, and other attractions. 

Madison Square Garden’s superb facilities and sense of intimacy will provide a powerful impact on delegates, spectators, and television viewers alike. Madison Square Garden Arena has a total seating capacity of 20,275. Recent improvements include the new 5,600-seat Theater, the addition of 89 private suites, 4 new food courts, the 100,000 square-foot Club Terrace, and sky lobbies. 

Hotels & Motels 

New York City has the finest and largest selection of hotel rooms in the world. With 59,000 guest rooms in 230 hotels in close proximity to Madison Square Garden, the delegates are within easy walking distance of the Convention site. 

By the year 2000, New York City expects more than 5,000 new hotel rooms to open, bringing the City’s total room count to over 64,000. Plans are already well underway for 10 new hotel projects, and least 20 other projects are in various stages of planning. 

Security 

New York City, the nation’s safest large city, is best prepared to host the 2000 Republican National Convention. According to FBI statistics, New York City has the lowest per-capita crime rate among U.S. cities with more than one million people. New York City’s crime rate is at its lowest point in 28 years. From 1993 to 1997, the serious crime rate dropped by 48 percent in New York City. 

New York City's Police Department (NYPD) is the most experienced in the nation in handling large-scale, high-security events and regularly provides VIP arrangements for U.S. and foreign dignitaries, and handles parades, special e vents and demonstrations with minimal disruption to normal City life. 

Media 

New York City is the Media Capital of the World. With declining convention coverage in recent years, it is a real advantage to have the 2000 Republican Convention in New York City. Not only is it the number one media market in the country, New York City is also home to more than 2,000 newspapers, 80 news services, six broadcast and four national cable television stations and more than 100 radio stations. 

From The Today Show to Good Morning America to Fox News, New York City has it all. There is little doubt that the Republican Convention would benefit from the added value a New York City location provides. 

Transportation 

New York City offers the most accessible, extensive and modern network of commercial airline services and facilities in the U. S. New York City’s three regional airports, LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International, and Newark International, supply non-stop service to 89 U. S. cities by 39 domestic carriers. All three airports are located within 30 – 60 minutes travel time to midtown Manhattan. 

New York City’s mass transit system is the most extensive and efficient in the nation, serving more than 1.7 billion people annually. The inter-city system features 24 subway lines and more than 200 bus routes offering delegates fast, easy and affordable transportation throughout the City. Intra-city transportation services are readily available to all points in the greater New York metro region and beyond. 

Entertainment Attractions 

New York City offers visitors an incomparable variety of activities and events. Popular tourist attractions include: 

The Statue of Liberty and The Ellis Island Immigration Museum are easily accessible by ferry from the New York Harbor. The world-renowned Empire State Building features indoor and outdoor observatories offering spectacular day and sparkling night views of New York City. The United Nations offers multilingual guided tours featuring the General Assembly Hall and Council Chambers. 

Times Square is now an active entertainment and retail corridor, attracting more than 20 million tourists annually. The district’s recreational complex offers a wholesome, family-oriented mix of movies, shopping and live theater. 

Broadway theater is more popular than ever. Last season nearly 10.6 million people attended shows on the "Great White Way". Long-running hits include the Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and Cats, as well as highly acclaimed new productions such as Rent, Titanic, and Jekyll & Hyde. 

New York City is home to more than 26,000 restaurants ranging from elegant establishments such as Union Square Café, Windows on the World, and Le Cirque 2000, to authentic ethnic cuisine, to theme restaurants such as Planet Hollywood, Fashion Café, and the Harley-Davidson Café. 

New York City is home to a multitude of ethnic and artistic neighborhoods. Little Italy and Chinatown are known for their restaurants, cafés, and food specialty stores. Greenwich Village, a long -time artists’ haven, features craft and curio shops, restaurants, art galleries, jazz clubs, and off-Broadway shows. Harlem attracts visitors from around the world to its notable churches, historic landmarks and vibrant nightlife. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest and most comprehensive art museum in the western hemisphere. The American Museum of Natural History, one of the world’s preeminent scientific and educational in stitutions, houses more than 30 million specimens ranging from dinosaur fossils to a slice of a giant sequoia tree. The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, housed on a veteran World War II aircraft carrier, features military artifacts as well as exhibits on early aviation, undersea, and space exploration. 

Central Park, the largest public park in New York City, is a popular spot for bicyclists, joggers, softball players, birdwatchers, and nature lovers. The Bronx Zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals, including some of the world’s most endangered species. The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, a 520-acre urban oasis in the heart of the City, features a Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, tropical forest exhibit, and a world-renowned bonsai collection. 

Yankee Stadium, the "House that Ruth Built", is home to the 1996 World Series Champion New York Yankees. The amazin’ Mets play at Shea Stadium in Queens. The world-famous Madison Square Garden is homecourt to both the New York Rangers and the New York Knicks. Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium, in Forest Hills, hosts the U.S. Tennis Open each summer. 

National Recognition 

New York City’s accomplishments are nationally recognized. New York City is number one on the list of places where Americans would like to move, according to a new national poll by Louis Harris & Associates. Fortune magazine’s 1997 Best Cities for Business survey proclaimed New York City as the Most Improved City in North America. According to a 1998 New York Times poll, 76 percent of recent visitors said that "New York City is a good or excellent place to visit."