Officials tour United Center as potential hosts of 2028 DNC are evaluated

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]And right now the Democrats who are choosing the city for the 2028 Democratic National Convention are in town checking out various venues.

[00:00:08]Chicago just hosted the 2024 convention, so a lot of people are asking, "Why do it again?" Political reporter Mary Ann Ahern is here to explain.

[00:00:18]Good afternoon. Less than 2 years ago, the Democrats gathered here at the United Center for the Democratic National Convention. This week, Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson are hosting the team that is taking a look at the five finalist cities to perhaps host not just the 2028 convention, but also 2032.

[00:00:42]This morning, the DNC site selection committee received a behind-the-scenes tour of the United Center. This is where the nomination of the Democratic nominee would take place. Last night, they held a private event at the new Obama Presidential Center, not yet open to the public. They're also cruising along the river on one of the architectural boat tours. If there is ever a city to demonstrate its ability to go back to back, it's certainly the city of Chicago. We do large-scale events quite well. It is not just the prestige of having all eyes on Chicago Convention Week. In 2024, there was a $371 million economic impact to the city, a new record for political conventions.

[00:01:29]Putting on this major event takes big bucks. In '24, the host committee raised 97 million. Governor Pritzker personally adding 5 million, and they actually spent only 83 million, leaving the DNC without a debt.

[00:01:46]The host committee includes labor leaders like Chicago Federation of Labors Bob Reiter. Regardless of whether you're a Democrat, an independent, or a Republican, having uh such an incredible event here in the city of Chicago is good for our economy. Whether Chicago is chosen to host the convention in 2028 is still up in the air, and politics, for sure, are involved. Governor Pritzker, likely to be a nominee, that could be a factor, and who's to say how well he might or might not do in the primaries leading up to the convention. But, what we do know, Chicago has hosted more Democratic conventions than any other city. Already, Chicago has hosted 12.

[00:02:36]From the United Center, Mary Ann Ahern, NBC 5 News.