We’re probably “one and done” when it comes to national political conventions. Something about summer-weather paranoia, terrorist-tantalizing CentCom proximity and logistically-challenging bays and channels.
But we pulled it off in 2012. No incidents occurred, even if downtown lockdown was the tradeoff.
It was worth 9 figures of direct regional spending. And it underscored that we’re a major player beyond Super Bowls and Final Fours.
And this just in.
The 2012 convention’s Tampa Bay Host Committee, in the aftermath of its final audit from the Federal Election Commission, is now distributing nearly $3 million left over from the event to local charities. The non-profit committee has also secured approximately $2 million in matching funds.
That means some 80 groups–ranging from education and the arts to the Crisis Center and child and family welfare organizations–will share in the convention spoils. Most donations should be in the $10,000 to $100,000 range.
That also means that the legacy of the 2012 convention is much more than City Hall bragging rights and a prominent place in Santiago Corrada’s PowerPoint presentations.
It’s also a fitting paean to the legacy of the late Al Austin, the man most responsible for finally bringing a national political convention to Tampa.