A defining moment for the Milwaukee Region

By MMAC President Tim Sheehy

Milwaukee claimed its place in the national spotlight earlier this week, when the Democratic National Committee announced that its national convention will be held here in July 2020. No matter what direction your political beliefs might lean, this is a defining opportunity that will benefit our entire region.

I want to congratulate Milwaukee Bucks Senior Vice President Alex Lasry, Mayor Tom Barrett, County Executive Chris Abele and so many others who worked tirelessly to ensure that this bid was successful. The MMAC supported this effort from the start. I’ve joked throughout the bidding process that we’re here to represent the “green party” – as in the estimated $200 million that this event will generate in our region.

In terms of how your businesses might be able to participate in the convention, additional details will be forthcoming as soon as they are available.

But the opportunity here goes beyond the visitors who will spend money in our hotels, restaurants, taverns and cultural venues. This event will give us a national stage, a chance for visitors and television viewers across the country and around the world to experience what we already know: The Milwaukee Region is on the rise.

And remember that the convention is just one of many big events that Milwaukee will pack into something of an “endless summer” in 2020. In a span of just a few weeks, we’ll be hosting Summerfest, the DNC Convention, Festa Italiana and the Northwestern Mutual agents’ annual meeting. When we pull it all off – and we will -- we’ll be able to make the case that we can do even more.

Now the real work begins. We’ll be ready.

Tim Sheehy
President, MMAC