http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/rnc-journey-convention-223620RNC nabs Journey for post-convention blowout
By Anna Palmer and Kyle Cheney
05/26/16 02:18 PM EDT
Updated 05/26/16 03:18 PM EDT
The Republican National Committee has dedicated hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring the band Journey to Cleveland for a post-convention bash.
One source familiar with the details of the event said that the total cost of booking Journey is about $750,000. Another source has indicated the RNC has $500,000 to spend on the event.
The concert, slated to take place at Cleveland’s State Theatre, will be the capstone of the four-day Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in mid-July, when Donald Trump is expected to emerge as the party’s nominee. It also comes at a time when the party is stockpiling cash for the general election and is working to catch up to its cash position from previous election cycles. The RNC recently inked a joint fundraising agreement with Trump to help collect large donations for the fall campaign and boost state parties.
About 1,300 attendees are expected at the party, produced by Gravatt Entertainment. RNC officials disputed the committee's role in the event. "The RNC has not signed Journey," said Katie Walsh, the committee's chief of staff, said in a statement. "This is 100% false."
The RNC did not respond to a follow-up request for comment on how much it would spend on this event.
The concert, in some ways, will be a fitting close for a convention that Trump’s allies have insisted will break from the stiff and staid proceedings from prior presidential years. Trump has promised a more entertaining convention, and his team has recently begun working more intimately with the RNC on planning the convention week.
