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Document reveals estimated cost of hosting RNC in Charlotte

By Paul Boyd
By Paul Boyd

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte's bid for the 2020 Republican National Convention is still being finalized but Channel 9 is now getting a first look at what the Republican National Committee is looking for from potential host cities.

A 116-page document outlines the "Basic Requirements for Convention Facilities and Service" and largely covers the lease and control of the convention site. Charlotte's bid will presumably feature the Spectrum Center at the heart of the convention.

The cover letter says, "We will only travel to those cities that are designated as finalists." RNC officials visited Charlotte this week.

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There are also revealing details about other requirements for hosting the RNC in 2020, including the need to make available 17,000 hotel rooms in Charlotte and surrounding communities and to provide a volunteer base no smaller than 7,000 people.

The next section of the document is officially classified as the "Request For Proposal" and instructs potential host cities on how to submit their bid. One key point in this document is the need to provide a "fundraising plan" to pay for the estimated $70 million price tag.

The remainder of the document details the economic benefit of hosting the Republican National Convention and touts the positive impact previous conventions have had in cities including Cleveland in 2016. It's estimated that Charlotte would stand to see upwards of $200 million in total economic benefit from hosting the Republican National Convention.

Details to security services are requested throughout the document.

While the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security lead much of this effort, local law enforcement agencies also plays a crucial role in security planning.

A $50 million federal grant is traditionally given to the host city. In 2012, that grant helped construct a state-of-the-art command center within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department headquarters, helped purchase a mobile command center and upgraded the citywide communications system. All of those facilities are still utilized today.

Ross Bulla is a national special event security expert who helped organize the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. Bulla says there are other important benefits to becoming a host city.

"It definitely enhances the law enforcement training because we get to send our law enforcement personnel to all of the major national events in advance of RNC," Bulla said, "My hope is that we are the front-runner because of what did not happen during the DNC. We were well-prepared. It really made us a flagship community for hosting such an event."

Charlotte City Councilman Braxton Winston supports the bid.

"In order to pull off an event like this you need to have all facets of our city working together," according to Winston

He said he knows the economic benefit potential  firsthand because he was paid as a production worker during the 2012 DNC in Charlotte.

Winston said he worked in "several different capacities. As a stage hand. As a camera operator for Senate TV" and even for a David Letterman crew filming at the DNC.

As for potential protests that would come with a Republican National Convention in Charlotte, Winston said his focus is on supporting the bid and ensuring all voices have an opportunity to be heard.

"Politics aside, I try to be a good steward for the city and all of our residents from top to bottom," said Winston.

It's not clear how many other cities are in the running.

The DNC brought 35,000 people to Charlotte. It was the single largest event in the city’s history.

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