Philadelphia is excited about the opportunity to host the 2000 Democratic National Convention.  There is no better place to select the millennium's new leader than Philadelphia, the city where America's freedom was born.

We are ready to help you craft a bold new chapter in American history as our country enters the twenty-first century.

Philadelphia has the experience: Our hospitality team is well known nationally for creating seamless events, such as the recent Presidents' Summit for America's Future, where we hosted President and Mrs. Clinton, former Presidents Bush, Carter, Ford and their wives, and Mrs. Reagan.

A tradition of making history.  Today's Philadelphia is a stunning mix of classic past and cosmopolitan.  We honor our heritage with the most historic square mile in mile--eight blocks of unparalleled American history, recalling the days when a different generation of Americans came to Philadelphia to build a nation.

We're no stranger to conventions.  In 1996 we hosted more of them than Washington, D.C. and Boston combined.  With a wealth of new hotels and restaurants adding to our great hospitality core, and with our performing arts and entertainment venues booming, Philadelphia is more than ready to make the Democratic National Convention the standard for the new millennium. 

We're also easily accessible--within a 100-mile radius of more than six million people, and within a four-and-a-half hour drive of 38 percent of the population of the United States.  Philadelphia's world-class airport and Amtrak train service throughout the Northeast will make getting here as easy and enjoyable as your convention stay itself.

The resources to make it happen.  When it comes to corporate funding, the greater Philadelphia region has the resources.  More than 75 Fortune 500 firms have a major presence in the region, and many are headquartered here.

The arena that's the Center of attention.  Philadelphia boasts the state-of-the-art First Union Center.  The First Union Center seats more than 21,000.  The arena features five seating levels, including two public levels and three premium seating levels.  The premium levels feature 126 private luxury suites and 14 club boxes.  The First Union Center is at the cutting-edge of communications and audio-visual technology.

Plenty of rooms to relax in.  Loews, Hyatt, Grand Bay, Hawthorn Suites.  These are just some of the new hotels investing in Philadelphia.  We already have more than 30,000 rooms--15,000 within a 15-minute drive of the First Union Center.

We're big on world-class museums.  The Rodin Museum, home to the largest collection of the artist's works outside of Paris.  The Franklin Institute Science Museum.  The Academy of Natural Sciences, America's first natural history museum.  the Please Touch Museum for kids.  They're all along the beautiful Benjamin Franklin Parkway, lined with flags of the world.  At the end of the Parkway stands the world-renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art, which together with the nearby Barnes Foundation, houses the greatest collection of impressionist art outside of Paris.

When it comes to hosting a political convention, we meet or exceed all the requirements.  We have the first-class accommodations, a state-of-the-art arena complex, exciting cultural attractions and entertainment, ease of access, and the support of a dynamic and committed corporate community.