Latest news with #HostCommittee
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Republican National Convention created a $321 million economic impact, new study says
The 2024 Republican National Convention generated more than $200 million in direct spending − including more than $50 million by Milwaukee visitors, according to a new report. Along with additional spending by businesses and their employees, that created an estimated $321 million economic impact on the state and local economy. That's according to the study released May 20 by the MKE 2024 Host Committee and Visit Milwaukee. That total economic impact is well above a $200 million rough estimate convention backers had used before the event. But it comes after some downtown restaurateurs and other business operators reported disappointing results from the convention. Milwaukee hosted the RNC in July, attracting 50,000 visitors. Fiserv Forum, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the newly expanded Baird Center were the main venues. Of the $216.3 million in direct spending, $162.2 million is considered operational spending. Most of that was spent by the Host Committee, Republican National Committee and the City of Milwaukee − with the city's share mainly funded through a $74.7 million federal security grant, the report said. Operational spending, which includes spending by other organizations, covered such items as event operations, insurance, housing and professional services. Also, convention delegates, their family members, news media employees, law enforcement officers, national committee staffers and other visitors spent $54.1 million at sites beyond the official RNC venues, the study said. The largest amount, $36.6 million, was for lodging and accommodations, it said. Other spending categories were food and beverage, $7.7 million; retail, $4.5 million; recreation and entertainment, $3.1 million, and local transportation, $2.2 million. The biggest category for all direct spending − both on operations and by visitors − was business services, which totaled $49.8 million. Along with that $216.3 million in direct spending, the study counts $65.1 million of indirect business sales and $40.1 million of induced business sales − for a total economic impact of $321.5 million. Indirect spending covers RNC-related businesses that buy goods and services from other providers − for example, a hotel restaurant stocking up on food and drinks. Induced spending accounts for money spent by employees of RNC-related businesses. That would include that hotel restaurant's wait staff spending money earned during the convention. The RNC also generated $26.8 million in federal tax revenue and $16.8 million in state and local taxes, the study said. Convention boosters said the RNC raised Milwaukee's profile on a global stage. "Our entire goal with this convention was to help put Milwaukee on the map for future events, and it already has,' said Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of Visit Milwaukee, in a statement. Visit is a publicly funded nonprofit group that promotes Milwaukee as a travel destination. Meanwhile, the Host Committee plans "to give back millions of dollars in leftover funds directly to the community," said Alison Prange, committee president and chief operating officer. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's reporting during the convention and its immediate aftermath found hotels reporting strong business − while some downtown restaurants, taverns and stores seeing much less of an impact. The occupancy rate for area hotels during the convention week was 83.4%, according to CoStar, a real estate data provider. That compared to 69.2% from the previous week. The average daily room rate during the RNC was just over $350 compared to around $179 during the previous week, according to CoStar. However, the Journal Sentinel in July interviewed several local business owners who were disappointed. They cited three big factors: a spike in downtown employees working remotely, which decimated the normal lunch trade; a reluctance by area residents to venture downtown for dinner because of real and perceived traffic issues, and the busy schedule of delegates — many bused from hotels to Fiserv Forum and other venues — which left little time to explore downtown restaurants, taverns and shops. There were unmet expectations, Nicholas DeSiato, Mayor Cavalier Johnson's chief of staff, told Common Council members in September. Those was partly driven by the contradiction of Milwaukee being the center of a widely publicized week-long event − but with most of the activity confined to a small portion of downtown centered on Fiserv Forum and the Baird Center, DeSiato said at a council Steering and Rules Committee meeting. The study was conducted for the Host Committee and Visit Milwaukee by Philadelphia-based Tourism Economics, a division of U.K.-based Oxford Economics. (This story was updated to add new information.) Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@ and followed on Instagram, Bluesky, X and article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: RNC created a $321 million Wisconsin economic impact, new study says Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Entergy Is Driving Economic Growth in Gulf South Region, CEO Tells Shareholders at Annual Meeting
NEW ORLEANS, LA / / May 5, 2025 / Entergy experienced a transformational year in 2024 and there's additional growth potential for our company and region in the year ahead, Chair and Chief Executive Officer Drew Marsh told shareholders during Entergy's 76th annual meeting on Friday, May 2. "Fundamentally, we believe all our stakeholders have a bright future ahead, and Entergy is championing a better future through fostering growth within our service area and investment in cleaner, more reliable and more resilient energy," said Marsh. Entergy is focused on initiatives to improve outcomes and deliver value for all our stakeholders, including capturing customer growth, resolving key regulatory priorities, creating opportunities for employees, making the energy grid more resilient, continuing to enhance our restoration response for our communities, furthering progress on renewable energy, and building generation resources to meet customer-driven needs. Marsh highlighted several business achievements in 2024: "We continued to see strong industrial customer growth, fueled by the competitive advantages of our region. Last year, both Entergy Mississippi and Entergy Louisiana signed electric service agreements with hyperscale data center customers. These new customers bring significant value to our stakeholders, including good jobs, infrastructure improvements and tax revenues for our communities." "Driven by customer interest, we continued to make progress in advancing renewable energy and other clean technology solutions. We brought more than 700 megawatts of solar resources online last year." "Our commitment to corporate social responsibility had a positive impact in 2024, resulting in an economic impact of over $153 million for our customers and communities. Our dedicated employees played a pivotal role in our economic impact, contributing more than 122,000 hours of volunteer service valued at more than $4 million across our service area." Serving as a founding partner of the New Orleans Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, Entergy strengthened our stakeholder engagements leading up to the big game. "In partnership with the Host Committee, the New Orleans Saints, the NFL Foundation and other philanthropic organizations, we created the charitable legacy program, Impact 59 Powered by Entergy. Through Impact 59, we awarded more than $3.5 million in impactful grants to local nonprofit organizations. This program is making a positive impact in the Greater New Orleans community and has left a legacy of philanthropy that will endure long after the Super Bowl ends." "Finally, we effectuated a 2-for-1 stock split and again delivered strong adjusted earnings per share growth last year, in the top half of our guidance range. We also grew our quarterly dividend per share by approximately 6% and, importantly, we continued to make positive progress on our credit metrics in 2024, which provides financial flexibility as well as long-term customer benefits through lower cost of capital." Explore Entergy's 2024 Performance Report to learn about our latest progress and the growth opportunities ahead. Other business Additional business conducted during Friday's meeting: Entergy shareholders elected all 10 director nominees to the company's board of directors. Two management proposals related to the appointment of the company's independent public accountants and executive compensation were voted on and approved by shareholders. Marsh responded to several shareholder questions on a range of topics, including the growth potential for data centers and new industrial customers for the Entergy region, our progress on hardening the energy grid for severe weather events, potential tariff impacts on our operations, and how the company is integrating artificial intelligence into its operations. A replay of Entergy's annual shareholders meeting and responses to questions asked during the meeting will be published on our Investor Relations website this week. About Entergy Entergy (NYSE: ETR) produces, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're investing for growth and improved reliability and resilience of our energy system while working to keep energy rates affordable for our customers. We're also investing in cleaner energy generation like modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy. A nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy was a founding partner of the Host Committee for Super Bowl LIX played in New Orleans, Louisiana, the home of Entergy's corporate headquarters. A Fortune 500 company, Entergy has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at and connect with @Entergy on social media. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements In this news release, and from time to time, Entergy Corporation makes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding Entergy's 2025 earnings guidance; financial and operational outlooks; industrial load growth outlooks; statements regarding its climate transition and resilience plans, goals, beliefs, or expectations; and other statements of Entergy's plans, beliefs, or expectations included in this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, Entergy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including (a) those factors discussed elsewhere in this news release and in Entergy's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Entergy's other reports and filings made under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (b) uncertainties associated with (1) rate proceedings, formula rate plans, and other cost recovery mechanisms, including the risk that costs may not be recoverable to the extent or on the timeline anticipated by the utilities and (2) implementation of the ratemaking effects of changes in law; (c) uncertainties associated with (1) realizing the benefits of its resilience plan, including impacts of the frequency and intensity of future storms and storm paths, as well as the pace of project completion and (2) efforts to remediate the effects of major storms and recover related restoration costs; (d) risks associated with operating nuclear facilities, including plant relicensing, operating, and regulatory costs and risks; (e) changes in decommissioning trust values or earnings or in the timing or cost of decommissioning Entergy's nuclear plant sites; (f) legislative and regulatory actions and risks and uncertainties associated with claims or litigation by or against Entergy and its subsidiaries; (g) risks and uncertainties associated with executing on business strategies, including (1) strategic transactions that Entergy or its subsidiaries may undertake and the risk that any such transaction may not be completed as and when expected and the risk that the anticipated benefits of the transaction may not be realized, and (2) Entergy's ability to meet the rapidly growing demand for electricity, including from hyperscale data centers and other large customers, and to manage the impacts of such growth on customers and Entergy's business, or the risk that contracted or expected load growth does not materialize or is not sustained; (h) direct and indirect impacts to Entergy or its customers from pandemics, terrorist attacks, geopolitical conflicts, cybersecurity threats, data security breaches, or other attempts to disrupt Entergy's business or operations, and/or other catastrophic events; and (i) effects on Entergy or its customers of (1) changes in federal, state, or local laws and regulations and other governmental actions or policies, including changes in monetary, fiscal, tax, environmental, international trade, or energy policies; (2) changes in commodity markets, capital markets, or economic conditions; and (3) technological change, including the costs, pace of development, and commercialization of new and emerging technologies. Investor inquiries:Liz Hunter504-576-3294ehunte1@ Media inquiries:Neal Kirby504-576-4238nkirby@ View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on Contact Info:Spokesperson: Entergy CorporationWebsite: info@ SOURCE: Entergy Corporation View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Axios
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Atlanta releases Sonic ID for 2026 FIFA World Cup
The sound of Atlanta hip-hop will be heard by soccer fans around the world leading up to and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Why it matters: It's been 30 years since Outkast's André 3000 told the music industry the South "got something to say," and the tune crafted by Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Dallas Austin proves the Atlanta sound still influences everything. Driving the news: Atlanta released a nearly two-minute hype song — dubbed by FIFA as a Sonic ID — on Thursday that's available to stream on several platforms. Each of the host cities was tasked with remixing FIFA's official theme for the 2026 World Cup to create its own unique sound. How it sounds: FIFA's original song is heavy on European house and electronic dance rhythms, but Austin's remix overlays that with Atlanta's signature drum line and hip-hop sound. It will be shared by the city on social media, by the Host Committee, during "key moments" leading up to next year's final match and on occasion by Atlanta United, said Emilie Leveille, senior communications and media relations specialist for AMB Sports and Entertainment. What they're saying: Austin said he wanted the track to feature a drum line, elements of hip-hop and pop music and "that spirit and the culture of Atlanta." He said it took months for him to find the perfect beat and sound that represents Atlanta. "I just wanted to make it something that was incredible and felt like us," he said during Thursday's press conference unveiling the track. Mayor Andre Dickens said he loved the song "right off the bat." "I heard all the elements the first time, and I was ... sold the minute I heard it," he said. "It was really something that celebrated Atlanta culture." What's next: Atlanta will host eight matches, including group matches on June 15, 18, 21, 24 and 27, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The city will also host a knockout round on July 1, a Round of 16 match on July 7 and a July 15 semifinal. The 2026 World Cup marks the first time in more than 20 years that the tournament will be played in more than one country.
Axios
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Super Bowl parade: Time, route and celebrities
A parade celebrating Super Bowl LIX rolls through the French Quarter on Saturday morning. The big picture: Todd Graves, founder of Raising Canes and Louisiana's richest man, will reign as king. He's expected to bring his celebrity friends, officials say, but they're not naming names yet. Marching bands, dance troops and cultural groups will participate too. They'll throw NFL-themed beads and plush footballs, according to a press release. Zoom in: The Super Bowl Host Committee is organizing the parade and Barry Kern of Mardi Gras World is doing the floats. The route: The parade rolls at 10am at the corner of Esplanade Avenue and Decatur Street. It goes down Decatur then Magazine Street and turns onto Poydras Street. It ends at St. Charles Avenue. How to watch: You can line up on the street, watch the livestream on or catch the broadcast on WDSU.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
The pattern continues: foggy mornings and near record warm days
Meteorologist Devon Lucie starts us off showing where the fog is the worst Wednesday night and who's under the Dense Fog Advisory, then jumps into the high resolution forecast showing where fog is expected to be the worst Thursday morning and how warm we'll get in the afternoon, then shows the same for Friday. Then he covers the forecasts for the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee parade forecast Saturday and the Super Bowl Sunday forecast, then when showers and storms are likeliest to return while finishing with your seven day forecast.
