Cities Seek To Lure Convention

One day after Boston added $1 million to its $32.4 million bid for the 2000 Democratic National Convention, Denver officials said they have no plans to increase the city's $33.9 million package.

The reason: Denver's offer already includes the amenities that Boston just added, officials said Tuesday.

"Our proposal had a little more in it than the other cities," said Mike Dino, a consultant helping Denver with its convention bid. "Now they're trying to play catchup."

The Democratic National Committee has narrowed its choice of convention site to Boston, Denver and Los Angeles and is scheduled to decide within six weeks.

The Boston Globe reported Tuesday that Boston will add a "cutting-edge Web site," another $750,000 for a media pavilion and a free airport shuttle. Included is a company's offer to donate palm-size computers for floor delegates, the newspaper said.

Denver had a Web site the first time the Democratic National Committee's site selection committee visited town in August and has since offered to provide free airport and hotel shuttle service.

The city also offered a $2 million to $4 million media tent pavilion and the possibility of a permanent media facility adjacent to the Pepsi Center arena, the proposed convention headquarters. U S West offered floor delegates palm-sized pager-phones similar to the mini-computers offered by officials in Boston.

"The bottom line is, for the moment anyway, we don't believe we have major deficiencies in our bid that we have to add to," said Elizabeth Orr, who oversees convention planning for the mayor's office.

Los Angeles reportedly did not do well in the Democratic National Committee's follow-up visit there last month, partly because it did not have detailed logistical plans.