Is the 2020 Republican National Convention still being held in Charlotte? Yes and no.

Back on June 7, 2020 I blogged about how President Trump blames North Carolina governor Roy Cooper for not allowing a “full” Republican National Convention in Charlotte. The President had proudly tweeted that he was forced to move the convention elsewhere. Is that what actually has happened? Of course not! The official convention business still will be in Charlotte, but then there will be a celebration in Jacksonville. With Trump you have to first listen to the overblown tweet, and then later read the walk back by others. When they began the change Florida looked like a good alternative. Now that the pandemic is raging in that state things look questionable.  

The official Republican National Convention web page about the convention currently says:  

“The official business of the 2020 Republican National Convention, including the formal nomination of President Donald J. Trump, will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 21-24, 2020. This vital party business is, of course, the primary purpose of any national convention. Other important convention business will also take place in the ‘Queen City,’ including the Convention Committee on Credentials meeting and the publication of proceedings. As the North Carolina Governor’s Executive Order prohibited convention celebrations in Charlotte, the Republican National Committee modified the rules to align with the state’s current restrictions in place so that fewer delegates and staff are required to gather in Charlotte. Following the official business, there will be a five-star convention celebration – including the president’s acceptance, speeches by other individuals and candidates, and other convention-related activities – in Jacksonville, Florida on August 24-27, 2020. The convention celebration will be an encore like never before. Our world-class event will play an integral role in supporting small businesses and generating millions of dollars across the southeastern United States. It will leave a lasting impact across the nation as we celebrate American greatness. This will be one historic convention and one unconventional celebration in support of the Republican Party’s winning leader: President Donald J. Trump.”

It’s similar to a high school class holding their prom at one location, and an after-prom at a second location. But prom planners would know enough to hold both events in the same city, not the second one 330 miles away (by air) or 380 miles driving distance (six hours).

In Charlotte the convention will be in the Spectrum Center (capacity 19,000). In Jacksonville the celebration might be in the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (capacity 15,000). Will the convention be filling that Jacksonville arena? Nope. At NPR on July 16, 2020 Brian Naylor has an article titled GOP scales back convention plans, relenting on virus restrictions. On July 15, 2020 at The Hill Morgan Chalfant has another article titled Pence says GOP considering moving convention outdoors.

As shown above, the old logo (with a crown for the “Queen City” of Charlotte) in a press release on August 1, 2019 was replaced by the new, more abstract one in another press release on June 25, 2020.

Why didn’t they put both city names in a new logo, as shown above? It would emphasize that holding it split in two is a bit silly. Also, they said it only was a “five-star convention celebration.” That scaled-down convention really is not a five-star event.