Brooklyn’s Barclays Center is officially in the running to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today.
His administration formally proposed the sports and entertainment arena in Downtown Brooklyn as an anchor venue for the gathering, which would spread accommodations and other events around among the rest of the city’s five boroughs.
“The progressive spirit of New York City has never been stronger or more vibrant than it is today,” the mayor wrote in the official bid. “We believe that this spirit can energize and captivate both the Democratic party and the nation.”
The shift from Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden, which has hosted four Democratic conventions and one Republican to date, would be a symbolic move, according to the New York Times. New York was one of 15 cities invited to submit bids to host the convention. [NYT] — Julie Strickland