Philadelphia has officially submitted a bid to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Mayor Michael Nutter announced Friday.
"We have submitted a very competitive sealed bid," Nutter said adding that hosting the convention could bring millions of dollars to the city.
The city, along with 14 other towns, was asked to submit a bid to host the multi-day political event by the Democratic National Committee back in March. The deadline to submit bids was Friday.
A group of city leaders, led by U.S. Congressman Bob Brady, also previously said they planned to put together a pitch for Philly. Former Gov. Ed Rendell is also chairing a nonprofit looking to raise $50 million to host the event at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia.
Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke sent a letter to the DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Friday shilling for the city. Clarke highlighted that the city regularly hosts large events like the Welcome America July 4 Celebration, the Made in America music festival and Philadelphia Marathon.
"As one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, we already have first-class hotels and public transportation offerings," he wrote. "There are plans to add more than 1,000 hotel rooms in Center City to accommodate our booming tourism and convention center business."
Last month, however, the city pulled out of the running to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. A move that did not sit well with all of City Council.
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The city's announcement came hours after New York Mayor Bill De Blasio said the borough of Brooklyn had put in a bid to host the event.
Philadelphia has hosted six political conventions in its history, city officials said. The DNC last hosted its convention in Philadelphia in 1948 when they nominated President Harry Truman to run for The White House. The last political convention to be hosted in the city was the 2000 Republican National Convention.
"A trip back to the Cradle of Liberty by the Democratic National Committee is well overdue," Clarke said.
The DNC is expected to make a decision late this year or early 2015.
