Minneapolis (Feb. 1, 2011) - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Meet Minneapolis President and CEO Melvin Tennant released the following statements on today's announcement from the DNC:

Statement by Mayor Rybak: "Congratulations to Charlotte on being selected to host this great event. Any assistance they need - we're here to help.

We're obviously disappointed, but having been a finalist for this selection proves once again, that Minneapolis has what it takes to host any major event. Trust me; we're going to continue to compete for them. Every time Minneapolis vies for this caliber of high-profile event, we strengthen the infrastructure needed to be competitive in attracting conventions and new business to town that in turn create jobs that grow our economy."

Statement by Melvin Tennant: "Congratulations to Charlotte. Minneapolis is proud to have been a finalist to host a historic second consecutive national political convention."

Minneapolis will continue to host world-class events such as the 2011 Netroots Conference and the National Senior Games in 2015. Minneapolis is also working to attract other major events such as the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the National Hockey League Winter Classic, Meeting Planners International (MPI) the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the NCAA Final Four.

About Minneapolis Minneapolis is routinely recognized as among the cleanest, greenest, most educated and culturally rich cities in the country, where residents and visitors have four seasons to enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle. With eight times more park space than New York's Central Park and 79 miles of shoreline along our lakes and the Mississippi River, it's no surprise Minneapolis was named the top bicycling city in the country. Minneapolis is also one of the nation's most thriving economic centers, with eight Fortune 500 companies located in the city and more Fortune 1000 companies in the metro area than any other U.S. destination.

About Meet Minneapolis Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes the Minneapolis area as a venue for conventions and meetings and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to bring a positive economic impact to the greater Minneapolis area. Visit online at www.minneapolis.org.