NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —Republican Party officials are visiting Nashville this week amid reports that the city is being considered as a site for the Republican National Convention.
Gov. Bill Lee said during a news conference Tuesday that his office has "just begun" conversations with the RNC.
This comes as RNC is looking for a possible replacement for its convention slated for Charlotte, North Carolina. RNC has given NC Gov. Roy Cooper a Wednesday deadline to see if the state can fully accommodate the party's national convention in August.
Lee said party officials are coming to Nashville Thursday for a tour.
“Nashville is the best place in America to have a convention,” Gov. Lee said. "Hosting the Republican National Convention in Nashville would certainly help accelerate the economic recovery for local businesses. We welcome their interest and would be happy to host the convention in Tennessee."
Local news reports from 2018projected RNC 2020 to have a $163 million economicimpact in Charlotte.
Butch Spyridon, president and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp said, "we are aware of the interest from Gov. Lee’s office. We have not had any official contact with the RNC at this time.”
The RNC and Gov. Cooper reportedly disagreed about the viability of a full-fledged convention.
The convention is currently scheduled to begin Aug. 24 in Charlotte. Trump and Republicans have said they want no coronavirus-related restrictions on attendance or hotel and restaurant capacity. Cooper's administration has said it needs details from Republicans on how they plan to hold a convention with up to 20,000 delegates and others safely.
A petition has already started onlineseeking to keep the convention out of Music City.