The Republican National Convention is looking for a new home. Party officials should look no further than Arizona.
A battleground state with sprawling desert, a Super Bowl-worthy stadium, and hotels and resorts for miles, Arizona is the obvious choice for the convention later this summer.
The Phoenix area is uniquely positioned to host an event such as the Republican National Convention. Glendale, which is in my congressional district, has hosted large-scale events like this before, including the 2008 and 2015 Super Bowls and the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2016. We are also preparing to host the Super Bowl again in 2023.
We have two large scale arenas — State Farm Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, and Gila River Arena, home of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. Gila River has a capacity of 19,000, very similar to that of the original convention site in Charlotte.
Arizona is also an easy place to travel to, with Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport serving as a hub for many major airlines. And, we pride ourselves on being “America’s Friendliest Airport.” Last year alone, nearly 46.3 million travelers passed through. Once you arrive, we invite you to stay in one of our nearly 66,000 rooms in more than 480 hotels in the greater Phoenix area. Few other cities in America can offer such ready-made infrastructure to the convention.
Not only is Arizona the right choice for the convention, but with its 50,000 anticipated visitors and more than $300 million in economic benefits, the convention is also the right choice for Arizona. After months of closures and stay at home orders, Arizona businesses, especially those in the hospitality industry, are in desperate need of the influx of economic activity the convention would bring. We should welcome the convention and the many benefits it would bring to our economy.
The political benefits of an Arizona convention are also hard to ignore. The electoral map is ever-changing, and Arizona will no doubt be a key battleground state for President Trump in his quest to keep the White House for another four years. This year, we are also home to one of the toughest Senate races in America. Republicans need a win for Sen. Martha McSally to hold onto their narrow majority in the Senate, and what better way to drum up support than with a full-fledged convention right here in the Grand Canyon State?
So, let me be the first to welcome the Republican National Convention to Arizona. We will be ready to roll out the red carpet and put on a tremendous show as we nominate Donald J. Trump for president.
Rep. Debbie Lesko represents Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
