Another swing at the Democratic National Convention is what Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says he'd like to see, if the opportunity presents itself.
"I want another swing at the bat. I'm going keep my baseball analogy alive," Barrett said. "I want another swing at the bat."
"As much as I would've liked to see 50,000 people and $200 million in the City of Milwaukee, I will always be proud we were chosen to the convention," the mayor added.
Instead, the virtual DNC produced just $3 million in spending, 4,000 hotel room stays, and about $125,000 in generated tax dollars.
Wolfgang Schaefer runs Uncle Wolfie's in Brewers Hill. He posted on social media saying the DNC week was one of the slowest weeks he's had in a while.
"It kind of was a ghost town, that's less something to laugh about but be concerned about," Schaefer said.
Mayor Barrett said he doesn't believe businesses would've been affected given the smaller DNC footprint downtown.
As as for a second swing at a big convention, or event, Mayor Barrett said he believes local businesses and the economy won't have to wait too long to see something special in the city.
"I think a lot of goodwill has been generated, and I don't think we're going to have to wait four years for a convention because the word is out," Barrett said. "The word is out, but uncertainly still looms with the COVID-19 pandemic still out as well."
