The economic impact of Milwaukee hosting the 2024 Republican National Convention totaled $321.5 million for the city and state, according to a report commissioned by the host committee.
That included $216.3 million in direct spending. Of that, $162.2 million went for: the MKE 2024 Host Committee, Republican National Committee and major contractors’ expenses to put on the convention; the city’s security and other costs, most of which were funded through a federal grant; and events hosted by third parties.
The $216.3 million in direct spending also included what some 50,000 visitors dropped on lodging, food, retail, recreation and local transportation.
Philadelphia-based Tourism Economics, which the MKE 2024 Host Committee hired to do the study, also calculated $65.1 million in indirect expenditures. That included purchases by suppliers and new consumption generated by household income impacts of the convention.
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It also calculated the convention generated $16.8 million in state and local taxes.
