For some downtown businesses, RNC is a bust

[MineralMan]

5. Conventions, in general, don't do much good for local businesses.

The hotels love them, the cabbies hate them (no tips), and local bars and restaurants don't profit from them. Worse, their regular customers won't go near the area near the convention center.

I attended Comdex in Las Vegas for several years running, back in the 90s. It was a huge trade show, and brought an enormous number of people to Vegas for it. But, gambling revenues went way down, restaurants were empty, and you could walk through casinos without seeing more than a few people. The hotels jacked their room prices way up to try to compensate, and made money with their catering operations for all of the private parties around the city.

Conventions suck for local businesses.