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Nashville Could Be Long Shot To Host Democratic Convention

Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.

Nashville city officials found out this week their city is one of 15 being considered as a possible host site for the 2016 Democratic National Convention.  But Tennessee's political leanings suggest the Music City may be a long shot.

On Monday, mayors in Nashville and 14 other U.S. cities received a request for proposals from DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz after organizers trimmed their initial list of choices to 15 cities.  Each city has until June 6 to present its proposal to the DNC.  

Nashville city planners may decide it's not worth the effort.  Convention organizers tend to choose regions where they have stalwart support for their party and Tennessee is anything but a Democratic stronghold.  In addition, the competition for the convention is pretty intense, with Atlanta, New York, Chicago and Miami among those receiving proposal requests.  

Butch Spyridon of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. tells the Tennessean the city would have to spend as much as $70 million to stage the convention if it was chosen.   But he says it would also bring visitors, money and worldwide attention to the city.

The DNC will announce its final choice later this year or early next year.   The convention will most likely take place in late summer 2016.

The GOP is also looking for a host city for its 2016 convention, but Nashville is not on the list of six finalists, partially because of scheduling conflicts.