Cost to host Democratic National Convention in Pittsburgh could be $60M

Pittsburgh is capable of hosting the Democratic National Convention in 2016, but it would need an estimated $60 million to pull it off, two elected officials said on Friday.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, said Pittsburgh can compete with any of the cities that the Democratic National Committee asked to submit proposals. Fitzgerald and Doyle met with Mayor Bill Peduto to discuss the possibility.

“We have the infrastructure. We have the hotel capacity,” Fitzgerald said.

What the city does not have is $60 million for security and getting the city ready for tens of thousands of visitors, but the pair said it's possible to raise that sum through corporate and nonprofit donations.

“The whole idea of this is to put together a fundraising committee to raise the money,” Doyle said. “Pittsburgh wouldn't pay anything.”

Peduto was unavailable for comment, but he has said the convention would have to benefit businesses and residents before he could sign on.

The DNC requires the host city to have at least 17,000 hotel rooms and 1,000 suites, and an 18,500-seat venue for the convention. Officials have said Consol Energy Center could hold that many, and the DNC could draw on hotel rooms from as far away as Butler County.

Pittsburgh hosted the G-20 summit in 2009, which Fitzgerald said proves the city can host large events.

The DNC will accept proposals through June 6 and pick a host city late this year or in early 2015.

Other cities under consideration are Atlanta; Chicago; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit; Indianapolis; Las Vegas; Miami; Nashville; New York; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; and Salt Lake City.

Bob Bauder is a staff writer for Trib Total Media.