We now have some official, economic-impact numbers from the 2012 Republican National Convention to ponder. According to the study done by University of Tampa economist Brian T. Kench, the GOP gathering pumped some $214 million directly into the Tampa Bay economy and more than $400 million indirectly. Those numbers, of course, can be further parsed for spin and context.
But here’s what really matters about Tampa’s moment on that mega international stage: The biggest plus is that there was no big minus. No Hurricane Isaac, no reputation-bludgeoning riot, no terrorist attack. It’s likely that Mayor Bob Buckhorn is still audibly exhaling in relief.