Republican convention in Milwaukee to be held July 15-18, 2024

Mark your calendars: The Republican National Convention is coming to Milwaukee July 15-18, 2024.

The dates were revealed Wednesday in a news release from the Republican National Committee.

The announcement marks the most significant move since Milwaukee won a two-city race with Nashville and was awarded the convention in August.

With the dates now confirmed, local organizers can begin nailing down final agreements for blocks of hotel rooms where delegates and their guests will stay for the event. Previously, three windows of time were being considered for the convention as Republicans will nominate their presidential ticket for 2024.

Fiserv Forum will serve as the centerpiece for the convention, along with a newly expanded Wisconsin Center. Delegates are expected to be housed within 30 minutes of the main convention sites.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said: "We look forward to our continued work with the beautiful city of Milwaukee to make this convention week a success. Republicans will stand united in Milwaukee in 2024 to share our message of freedom and opportunity with the world."

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Reince Priebus, a former White House chief of staff under ex-President Donald Trump and the chair of the host committee, said: "The location is set, the dates are booked and now the work of pulling off the biggest event in politics is underway. With partners like the RNC and the city of Milwaukee, we are confident the RNC Convention will be the gold standard for decades to come."

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson declared in a statement: "Our city is ready to show the world we are open for business, conventions and tourism. The presidential nomination convention is a historical opportunity to present what a phenomenal place Milwaukee truly is."

The July dates are advantageous for Milwaukee for several reasons. They won't conflict with the area's two major summer events, Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair. Those facilities can now be used for convention-related entertainment.

The dates also leave open the possibility that college dormitories could be used for some housing.

The Wisconsin Center can also lock in major groups now that the convention dates are set. The major renovation is due to be completed by the first quarter of 2024.

Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, said having the dates set now "is helpful for our hotels, helpful for us to fill in around the dates" with other conventions and events.

There's still another major piece of the pre-convention puzzle that has to fall into place, that's for the Republicans to announce their convention Committee on Arrangements, the group that actually runs the event. That's expected to happen early next year.

In addition, the party has to sort out its race for chair, with McDaniel facing opposition for another two-year term. The election will be decided next month at the RNC winter meeting.

The local host committee, headed by Priebus, is responsible for raising funds for the event, with a target of $65 million.

Other members of the committee include Steve King, the CEO, Tim Sheehy of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, philanthropist Ted Kellner, Republican Party of Wisconsin first vice chairman Gerard Randall, philanthropist Kathryn "Murph" Burke, Tony Povkovich of Uline Corp. and Williams-Smith.