Frequently Asked Questions - Democratic National Convention (2024)

The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) is the convention arm of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), responsible for planning the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19-22, 2024.

Chicago is the perfect place to tell the story of the Democratic Party to the American people. Chicago represents the diversity of the Democratic Party and the country. It’s a union city that sits at the heart of the Midwest, and it’s a Democratic stronghold that was part of the “blue wall” crucial to the Biden-Harris victory in 2020. Across the city and entire region, Midwesterners are seeing the progress that is possible under Democratic leadership, including a manufacturing boom that has created good-paying jobs and uplifted communities who have been left behind.

We look forward to welcoming 50,000 total visitors to the city for the convention, including 5,000 delegates and alternates and 15,000 members of the media.

Hotel allocations and reservations will be managed by the DNCC Housing Department who will remain in close touch with official state delegations and other stakeholders to understand and meet their housing needs for convention week.

We have contracted thousands of hotel rooms at more than 40 properties around the city for delegates, alternates, media, and members of the Democratic family.

All delegate hotels are located downtown within a five-mile radius and 15-20 minute drive from the United Center and/or McCormick Place.

In addition to Chicago’s robust public transit options, the DNCC transportation team will coordinate buses and shuttles to ensure guests can easily travel between official convention locations.

Official proceedings, primetime programming, and speeches will take place at the United Center, which has hosted 70 million guests since its opening in 1994, including the 1996 Democratic National Convention. Home to the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, the arena will host more than 200 events this year, including the convention.

Official daytime party business, meetings, and briefings will be held at McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention center. Hotels on the McCormick Place campus will also serve as the headquarters hotel for Democratic staff and media. McCormick Place hosts more than 200 conferences each year that draw 1.8 million guests and create an estimated $1.8 billion in economic impact.

In 2020, Democrats held a virtual convention – breaking new ground using technology, creativity, and ingenuity. Democrats produced programming that reached historic numbers of Americans and allowed more Americans than ever to participate in the convention in real and meaningful ways. In 2024, we are going to build on that success – reaching not only delegates in the United Center but people watching, gathering, and participating across the country.

The U.S. Secret Service is coordinating public safety efforts with the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). More information on public safety efforts, including how the public can sign up for updates, is available at: Chicago.gov/OEMC.

For specific security needs related to guests at official DNC events, please reach out to security@demconvention.com.

The 2024 Democratic National Convention Committee adheres to current guidance from relevant public health authorities regarding COVID-19. Masking is not required at convention events, but any participant desiring to wear a mask is welcome to do so.

The DNCC has added an Accessibility Advisor to their team in pursuit of its mission of hosting the most accessible Democratic National Convention in history. The Accessibility Advisor will work closely with the DNCC, Host Committee, United Center, McCormick Place, airports, hotels, and other venues as well as the Mayor’s Office for Persons with Disabilities and other key experts to ensure the physical infrastructure and material presented during the 2024 Democratic National Convention meets and exceeds all relevant accessibility standards.

Sign up for media updates from the DNCC here and contact press@demconvention.com with any additional questions. People can also connect with the Democratic National Convention on social media. You can follow the DNC on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

For media organizations that do not receive credentials by the Congressional Press Galleries, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) will review applications to receive credentials through the DNCC Press Gallery. Relevant applicants would include student media and media with political or religious affiliation. To request a DNCC Press Gallery application, please email medialogistics@demconvention.com.

Media outlets will be notified by their respective galleries in the late spring.

Yes, after receiving a credential through the respective press gallery, media will then apply for a USSS credential. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Requests were due by Thursday, February 29. If you would still like to make a request for housing, please email medialogistics@demconvention.com for an application.

Allocations will begin on a rolling basis through the spring.

Outlets will be contacted directly via a designated point of contact for each media outlet. Outlets will have one week following the allocation notification to confirm whether they will use the offered rooms. Thereafter, unconfirmed rooms will be released back to the DNCC and assigned to other organizations.

During convention week, there is a four-night minimum stay starting the evening of Monday, August 19, 2024 through the evening of Thursday, August 22, 2024.

Media can request parking spaces on the workspace applications through their respective credentialing gallery. Media will be notified directly by the DNCC regarding their requests and parking locations. Additional details including any associated fees per parking spot will be announced closer to the convention.

Yes. The details of the locations will be communicated closer to the convention.

Yes. The details of the locations will be communicated closer to the convention.

Yes. There will be buses that run to and from the United Center and contracted media hotels. We will have more information available on the transportation, including hours of operation closer to the convention.

The DNCC is working extensively with cellular carriers to encourage them to provide cellular coverage for all attendees in and around Convention venues including with the use of additional cell phone towers and equipment.

The DNCC is working extensively with technology partners to provide WiFi for the general public at Convention venues. The United Center will have public WiFi and we are working with additional venues to provide WiFi as well.

There will be a mobile version of the website www.demconvention.com which will be formatted and optimized for cell phones and tablets. The mobile website will have extensive logistical information for Delegates, Media, and other attendees.