JAX potential new host of 2020 GOP convention

[vicupstate]

Daily's Place is better in some ways (solves for rain and no one will get sunburned). But, unlike the stadium at night where there's some breeze, Daily's Place has no breeze. The place is an oven on hot days.

At least the heat would kill any Covid virus flying around.

[Lunican]

So this will have the economic impact of at least a school field trip.

[thelakelander]

Daily's Place is better in some ways (solves for rain and no one will get sunburned). But, unlike the stadium at night where there's some breeze, Daily's Place has no breeze. The place is an oven on hot days.

At least the heat would kill any Covid virus flying around.

Doesn't seem like the heat has killed much here. It's been hot as hades in town through this pandemic and it hasn't stopped this surge.

[Charles Hunter]

Instead of the economic impact of a "Super Bowl-like" event, it looks like it will be less than a normal Florida-Georgia game, or even a good Gator Bowl game.

[jaxlongtimer]

So this will have the economic impact of at least a school field trip.

What's the impact of spending millions of dollars of our own money on ourselves?  Does that net to zero?  Outside money will be minimal but we may still be stuck with the "big time" expenses.  In such case, it may have a negative economic impact.  Curry wasn't clear on if it was $100 million positive or negative, was he?  Politicians are artful in leaving back doors to what they promise voters 

[jaxlongtimer]

Just reported by the NY Times:

Democratic officials are instructing members of the House and Senate and party delegates to skip their national convention this summer.

The directive ensures that little will happen at the physical convention site beyond keynote speeches from former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., his vice president nominee and a handful of other top party leaders. The remainder of the event — state delegation meetings, parties and schmoozing, voting on the party platform and Mr. Biden's nomination — will happen virtually or not at all.

[JaxJersey-licious]

Put aside the issue of personal safety or how well this convention should be, the handling of this convention must be infuriating to supporters of the Republican Party because many donors who have already donated money to help run the initial convention are having to be double dipped to help pay for this new convention which itself will be at this point an unknown scaled back version. That money would be better spent not so much on the presidential race but the more influential down-ballot Senate, House, and local races. It's one thing if the Presidency is lost (very telling that there has been radio silence from all the Senators defending seats in tight statewide races on whether they plan to attend), but they desperately need to retake the House and save their Senate majority this year since districts will be redrawn by the party in power based on this year's census results.

And as for the "tens of millions" of dollars raised claim by Mayor Curry, don't be surprised that some of the bigger donations were wheeled and dealed promising all kinds of perks like suites, speaking slots, hobnobbing opportunities and the like which given the current readjustments of the convention's scope can no longer be promised to these big contributors. Since there seems to be little oversight in what has been spent so far by the city there is no way of determining how this money is currently spent this could just be "pledged" convention donations, and not actual liquid funds to offshoot current expenses. Come late August, the RNC may be looking at some Tulsa rally like shortfalls financially from whatever pared-down shindig this turns out to be leaving the city and the state footing most of the bill.

And even though I never attended a full concert at Daily's Place, I couldn't help notice how poor air circulation seemed too be in the seats and isn't it that it's a constant breeze that helps prevent the virus from transmitting to others? Also many of these attendees are not younger energetic more experienced concert-goers more capable of dealing with the heat and I think they would be much safer, COVID concerns and all, being in a more spaced out VyStar Arena.

[Charles Hunter]

Summer concerts at Daily's Place are miserable experiences, you are correct, there is no air circulation. We have skipped performers we like because of the lousy summer experience there (well, those we have seen fairly recently ... looking at you Tedeschi-Trucks).
Now, at 25% to 50% capacity (like they will enforce that), there won't be as much "body heat" - but it will still not be pleasant.

I think you are probably right about the "tens of millions" being more pledges than liquid cast. And, technically, $20 million is "tens" of millions, two of them.

Saw a TV news report yesterday that Jacksonville may actually "make money" from the Feds on the RNC. The logic was that $XX million has been allocated, and since the RNC will be smaller, it won't cost Jacksonville as much.  Pretty sure that isn't how it works, that the Federal funds are reimbursements for funds spent by the locals.  I don't think the Feds send suitcases full of cash ahead of time for us to spend however we like.

[Josh]

One of the earliest shows I went to at Daily's Place actually did have some air circulation due to the presence of some pretty strong gusts of wind. Unfortunately this just brought all the dust and dirt in from Lot J which sandblasted everyone in the face for part of the show 

[Papa33]

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/20/florida-sheriff-gop-convention-security-373089

[Charles Hunter]

No worries. Trump will bring his Secret Police, and invite Very Fine Second Amendment people to come.

[Papa33]

No worries. Trump will bring his Secret Police, and invite Very Fine Second Amendment people to come.

Put Sheriff Daryll Daniels in charge.

[BridgeTroll]

No worries. Trump will bring his Secret Police, and invite Very Fine Second Amendment people to come.

Just in case you have never heard of it...

https://www.secretservice.gov/

[jaxlongtimer]

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/20/florida-sheriff-gop-convention-security-373089

A salient quote from the article:

Williams, a Republican, wouldn't definitively say that there is no way the event could be held. But he said he had grave doubts about it, especially in an era of heightened protests concerning police use of force.

Williams said the event, scheduled for Aug. 24-27, was announced in June, giving his agency little time to plan and prepare. The Republican National Committee has not yet nailed down which convention events will be at which venues, making it more challenging. And a pledged $50 million grant has been paired back to $33 million and, Williams said, there are strings attached that make letting contracts too difficult.

Given Williams and Curry have been tied at the hip more than not, Williams must really be worried to say this to the national media.  If COVID scares many Republicans from coming, having inadequate security might scare off much of the rest.  .

[Charles Hunter]

No worries. Trump will bring his Secret Police, and invite Very Fine Second Amendment people to come.

Just in case you have never heard of it...

https://www.secretservice.gov/

Actually, I was referring to the Homeland Security military forces that are detaining people in Portland, Oregon
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/20/portland-protests-federal-agents-unmarked-cars-and-walls-moms/5470780002/