Milwaukee's 2024 Republican convention perk package for donors includes private dinner, exclusive access
WASHINGTON – Top sponsors of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee will receive special access to convention events and hotels, a dinner with Republican leadership and advertising opportunities in and around Fiserv Forum — with the most exclusive perks going to the multi-million dollar donors.
Sponsorship levels range from $100,000 to $5 million to help fund the various events during the Republican presidential nominating convention, according to a copy of the RNC host committee's sponsorship prospectus obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The committee is looking for companies and mega donors to dish out millions for programming that includes a welcome party, a convention concert featuring a "top-tier recording artist" and an off-site convention park.
“Our fundraising continues to be strong and we’re pleased to be ahead of where we need to be, but we still have a long way to go," Reince Priebus, the chairman of the RNC's Milwaukee host committee, said in a statement to the Journal Sentinel on Monday. "It’s our job to ensure each day that we are securing the resources needed to help host a successful convention."
The Republican convention, scheduled for July 15-18, 2024, is expected to bring more than 50,000 people to Milwaukee and inject as much as $225 million into the local economy. The host committee is tasked with raising $70 million, according to the document, which estimates that convention costs could range anywhere from $89 million to $154 million.
To cover those costs, the RNC is offering sweeping access to top donors willing to sponsor convention events or make a general, tax deductible donation.
Notably, a company that sponsors the convention's welcome party or official convention concert — both listed at $5 million — can have its name and logo featured on signage and credentials, VIP access to convention events and the opportunity to host its own event highlighting its business.
Sponsors of the convention's media center and the media party, as well as a "volunteer party," which takes place after the week's events, will all need to give $3 million, according to the document. They will receive similar perks and advertising opportunities.
The donation threshold for the off-site convention park runs at $2.5 million, and sponsorship of a convention plaza outside Fiserv Forum runs at $1.5 million. Hospitality lounge sponsorships are listed at $1 million and also give companies advertising opportunities both in the lounge and in the main convention center.
The committee is also looking for an official airline, vehicle and "private aviation partner" in exchange for services and donations ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. Additional "official provider opportunities" include an official beverage provider, cheese provider, coffee and snack provider and shipping provider, all listed in the $500,000 to $1 million price range.
A spokesman for the RNC's host committee on Monday declined to provide additional details on the off-site convention park and concert. The prospectus materials call the park "an opportunity for our sponsors, partners, providers, and vendors to build a community experience for convention attendees and guests."
The convention concert will feature "a top-tier recording artist" and be open to delegates, "VIPS," host committee partners and members of the media, according to the prospectus. It does not provide additional details, and it is not clear who will perform.
Milwaukee's convention perk package matches the price range of the package offered by the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Chicago from Aug. 19-22, 2024. The DNC's package focuses heavily on convention credentials and access and hotel rooms, according to a June report from the Chicago Sun-Times.
Outside of program-specific sponsorships, here's what the Milwaukee convention's top donors can expect to receive:
'Premier sponsorships': Diamond, platinum and gold
Donors who give $5 million (diamond sponsors), $3 million (platinum sponsors) and $1 million (gold sponsors) can attend a private convention kickoff dinner with "Republican leadership and elected officials" and will receive VIP credentials for each convention session and corresponding hospitality area, according to the prospectus.
Diamond sponsors will have access to a private suite with catering and beverage service, while the $3 million and $1 million sponsors will have access to a shared suite.
Those donors will also get priority and preferred booking at "premier downtown hotels," VIP concierge services throughout the week that include private transportation, priority on reserving hospitality spaces and the opportunity to host a private golf outing at a golf course in the Milwaukee area, among other perks.
'Club convention levels' sponsorships
Sponsors who give $500,000 (vice presidential level), $250,000 (governor level) and $100,000 (senator level) will also have VIP credentials to all convention events.
Only the $500,000 contributors can attend the private kickoff dinner with the premier sponsors, according to the prospectus, but all three levels of donors will be recognized in host committee publications.
Unlike the premier sponsors, the club convention level sponsors must choose between a range of other perks, including access to reserving hospitality spaces, recognition on the Fiserv Forum scoreboard and official host committee commemorative gifts.
All sponsors — from $100,000 to $5 million — can join monthly host committee leadership calls to discuss convention planning.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Top sponsors of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee will receive special access to convention events and hotels.
