CLEVELAND — According to reports out of Cleveland, we have our work cut out for us in Kansas City.
The same apparently applies to Dallas and Denver after Republican National Convention Chairman Reince Priebus announced in a news conference Tuesday that he was “totally impressed” with Cleveland and praised the efforts there.
The Republican National Committee’s site selection committee is making the rounds, visiting the finalist cities as it chooses the host city for the party’s 2016 National Convention. They will come into Kansas City Wednesday afternoon and leave Friday around midday.
“We know we have a beautiful arena with the Sprint Center. We know we have fabulous museums and great food and the Country Club Plaza,” said Troy Stremming, co-chair of KC 2016. “But we are hoping what sets us apart is the passion that this entire community has to land this convention.”
The RNC representatives arrived in Cleveland Monday for an official visit to tour some of Cleveland’s amenities like Quicken Loans Arena and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“The hunger, the commitment and the willingness to do whatever it takes to make this work. And that, you just can’t replace,” Priebus said of Cleveland.
“Lots of cities have the technical requirements,” added Enid Mickelsen, the chairperson for the RNC site selection committee. “At this point what we are looking for is a city that wants us, that is willing to work hard at it, that realizes this is a long-term commitment.”
Cleveland was the first to receive an official visit.
“We have a very short period of time to show them all of the great gems that this community has,” K.C.’s Stremming said. “That’s one of our most difficult challenges that we have so much to show in a limited amount of time.”
He also said Kansas City’s central location should give Kansas City an advantage.
“Tens of millions of people can be in Kansas City by car within 8 hours, and no where in this country does it take longer to fly here than 3 hours so I think there is a huge benefit there,” Stremming said.
A final decision was expected in late summer or early fall.