:::::This page is updated frequently, and we appreciate submissions::::::

List of Delegation Hotels (includes map)

SPPD SIU Procedural Manual: an updated manual for the SPPD’s Special Investigations Unit.

MAP: Google Street View of Downtown St. Paul! and Downtown Minneapolis!

Info from Convention Planners: Who’s doing what for the RNC.

MAPS, provided by the WC:
Tourist Map of Downtown St. Paul (updated 02/01/08) desktop viewing version
Tourist Map of Downtown St. Paul (updated 02/01/08) high resolution, for printing
St. Paul Venues (added 01/18/08) desktop viewing version
St. Paul Venues (added 01/18/08) high resolution, for printing

UPDATED 10/07!! Click here for a powerpoint presentation on what we know about the 2008 RNC. Put it to good use!

Possible security perimeters are available here and are included in the powerpoint presentation linked above.

from the Host Committee’s website:

By the numbers:

Dates: Sept. 1-4, 2008

Convention facility: Xcel Energy Center

Headquarters hotel: Hilton Minneapolis has been recommended

Delegate Experience venue: Minneapolis Convention Center

Hotel rooms needed: 20,000 per night at 95 hotels have been secured specifically for the convention

Number of hotel rooms in the metro area: Approximately 35,000

Cost: Approximately $50-$80 million-15% in goods and service, and 85% in cash- plus federal security dollars

Expected attendees: (all are approximate & estimated numbers)

• Total: up to 45,000
• Delegates: 2,000
• Alternate delegates: 2,000
• Volunteers: 10,000
• Media: 15,000
• Staff, families, guests, etc.: 15,000

Economic impact: Differs according to attendance and the host city. According to the Democratic National Committee, the 2004 Democratic National Convention held in Boston resulted in direct spending of $156 million.

How is traffic flow going to be impacted?

The current security and transportation plan requires no entrances to or exits from freeways to be blocked. There will be a security perimeter around the convention facility that will be slightly bothersome. An additional 250-300 busses will be used for transporting attendees, many of which will be borrowed from cities outside the metro. However, about 1 ½ years of intensive planning will go into logistics and security, with the goal of having as little disruption to local residents as possible. Local experts have extensive experience in organizing transportation for large events, so this convention should prove no different. Also, the fact that events will be spread between both cities should also alleviate some of the congestion residents of other cities have experienced.

Law enforcement agencies have announced that they are preparing to make 3,000 arrests during the RNC. They have predicted that “troublemakers” and “anarchists” will comprise less than 5% of protestors- the logical extension being that they are expecting at least 60,000 protestors in all.