Lasry pitches city strengths for 2020 Dem convention

In its bid to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Milwaukee is pitching itself as being affordable, compact, welcoming and diverse, with a cuttingedge new arena.

And one more thing: insulated from natural disasters. When your competitors are Houston and Miami Beach, which have seen a hurricane or two over the years, you look for any advantage you can get.

“Where do you want to go in the summertime where you know you’ll be free of hurricanes? Milwaukee is the place,” said Alex Lasry during a presentation Tuesday at the Milwaukee Rotary Club.

Lasry, who chairs Milwaukee’s bid, joked the city couldn’t guarantee there would be no snow, though. The convention will be held July 13-16, 2020. The Democrats’ site selection committee is due to visit the city in August, after the primaries. The pick is expected to be announced by early next year.

“I don’t know a city that is better in the summertime than Milwaukee,” he said.

The new Fiserv Forum will be “a big draw,” Lasry said. “This will be a big part of our pitch for the convention.” A separate media tent would be erected nearby, he said.

Lasry emphasized the convention will have an economic impact, noting that Philadelphia pulled in more than $200 million of impact in 2016. He said it will put the city on the map, and provide “billions in free advertising.”

“There’s going to be suspense in the Democratic Convention,” said Lasry, an executive vice president of the Milwaukee Bucks. “For the next year and a half, all you are going to hear is on the road to Milwaukee.”

He said the convention will also help recruit talent to the city.

“This is our way to advertise for Milwaukee,” he said. “We’re a key city in a pretty interesting state, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican,” he said. “It’s a prime battleground.”

He also noted that the city has a history of putting on successful large events, like Summerfest, Harley Davidson reunions and the annual Northwestern Mutual meeting. Lasry said the convention will encompass 1,500 events over four days.

“It’s going to be all hands on deck,” he said. Lasry said, “We need to start debunking that myth” that the area doesn’t have enough hotels to host the convention. He said there are around 7,000 hotel rooms in downtown Milwaukee and overall more than 18,000 rooms within 30 miles.

The committee has raised nearly $750,000. Lasry said if Milwaukee wins the bid, the host committee will have to raise up to $70 million to stage the event.