The pitch: Use Trop for convention finale

Packed stadium would be exciting backdrop for president's speech, say Tampa organizers, who visited the White House.

By BILL ADAIR and DAVID KARP
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 4, 2002

WASHINGTON -- The Devil Rays may not pack 'em in at Tropicana Field, but organizers of Tampa's bid for the 2004 Republican convention say President Bush might.

That's why, in a meeting at the White House on Tuesday, they offered the novel suggestion of moving the convention to the Trop for the final night when the president delivers his prime-time acceptance speech.

That would allow as many as 50,000 people to attend the speech and take part in a giant rally to launch Bush's re-election campaign.

Al Austin, the Tampa developer heading the effort to get the convention, said the nominee's acceptance speech is the most popular event of a convention, and even a 20,000-seat arena such as the St. Pete Times Forum -- the proposed convention site -- isn't large enough to accommodate everyone who wants to attend.

"This is a media event, and when you have a media event, you want to show enthusiasm, you want to show excitement," Austin said after the White House meeting. "If you get 50,000 people in a facility like that, it would be overpowering, it would be tremendous."

Tampa's convention plan had long included the possibility of a rally at Tropicana, but making the stadium the closing night venue is a new incentive.

A White House spokeswoman declined to comment on the meeting and referred calls to the Republican National Committee. Kevin Sheridan, a party spokesman, would not comment on the specifics of the meeting or the Tropicana Field proposal but said the site selection committee was open to new suggestions from cities bidding on the convention, which is scheduled for Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, 2004.

"We welcome the ongoing dialogue with the cities and we welcome a refining of different aspects of the proposals, but it's too early to say which pieces of the proposal are better than the others," Sheridan said.

The RNC panel has narrowed the contenders to Tampa, New York and New Orleans. A decision is expected to be announced in the next three weeks. New Orleans is considered an unlikely choice, but party officials probably will delay their announcement until after Saturday, when Louisiana holds a runoff for a U.S. Senate seat.

Tampa leaders requested Tuesday's meeting to convince top officials from the White House and the RNC that the city had resolved issues about logistics and could raise the $50-million needed to hold the convention.

The Tampa delegation included Austin; Mayor Dick Greco; developer Dick Beard; Paul Catoe, CEO of the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau; Republican state chairman Al Cardenas; and U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow. Others at the meeting were White House political director Ken Mehlman, RNC deputy chairman Jack Oliver and RNC site selection chairwoman Ellen Williams.

Tampa officials had hoped that Karl Rove, President Bush's top political adviser, would participate in the meeting, but he was out of town. The Tampa leaders were told Rove's absence was not an omen because he had not met with representatives from the other cities, either.

The Tampa leaders said they were pleased with the meeting.

"They like what we have to offer," Austin said.

Beard said the RNC officials asked about the city's traffic and transportation plan, but he characterized those questions as minor and easily addressed.

Austin said the Tampa delegation had resolved any concerns party officials might have about whether they could raise the $50-million needed for the convention.

"I think they are totally satisfied that not only can we fulfill our commitment, but they liked the fact we had the banks on board to provide letters of credit," he said.

Cardenas said the RNC officials also recognize that Tampa has less money to raise than New York because of lower prices for products and services. Tampa has promised to raise about $28-million of the $50-million from private donors.

Moving the festivities to Tropicana Field for the final night could cost tens of thousands of dollars. The stage at the St. Pete Times Forum is one of the most expensive items in the budget -- about $4.2-million. A stage at the Trop probably would be less complicated than the elaborate, multitiered structure used for the main convention, but it would still be costly. And there would be additional costs for security, transportation and lighting at the St. Petersburg stadium.

Rick Nafe, the Devil Rays vice president of operations and facilities who oversees the Trop, said the team would be happy to have the stadium used for the big political gathering.

"We're willing to do whatever we need to do to ensure a successful convention for this area," he said.

The team would need to work out details about the event, he said, but employees can easily adapt the stadium for different events.

"I wouldn't think it to be too complicated," Nafe said. "We've got a good crew of people here that can get major concerts in and out in a day or two."

In a related development Tuesday, New Orleans officials said they have not planned a trip to Washington and don't need to make one. Staffers from the RNC were in the city last month.

"We gave them everything they needed," said Pat Bristler, chairwoman of the Louisiana Republican Party.

Bush was in New Orleans on Tuesday campaigning for a Republican trying to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu. As he posed for a picture with Bush at a $1.3-million fundraiser, John Batt Jr., a Republican member of the New Orleans City Council who is leading the city's bid, made a pitch.

"Isn't this a beautiful venue for the convention?" Batt asked Bush.

Bush replied, "It's a lovely city."

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