As crews worked inside Quicken Loans Arena converting the massive 20,562 seat building into an intimate 4,500 seat space for Thursday first Republican presidential debate, the work continued around the city on roads and other projects as the city stands just 350 days away from the start of the 2016 Republican National Convention.
Cuyahoga County Republican Chair Rob Frost believes the guests this week for the Republican National Committee won't mind the work.
"It sends a huge message and it's a good one, yeah there's a little dust right now, a little bit of orange barrels," said Frost. "Cleveland is getting ready and that's what this tells the RNC is that they made the right decision in coming to Cleveland."
"Cleveland is pulling out all the stops to be ready for July 2016."
The debate is the centerpiece of the three-day RNC event. "This is huge for the entire 168-member National Republican Committee to get to see all that is going on in Cleveland and all the promise it holds for the big event next July," said Frost."This with the summer meeting and the debate together is like a dress rehearsal for next year."
The summer meeting consists of a lot of party business and rules and policy issues as well as sub-committee on the debates.
"They'll have a lot of opportunities with their Committee on Arrangements, with a representative from every state to get out and see the hotels, the venues and the other that are being prepared for next year's convention," he said.
As for the work inside the arena, Frost said it's shaping up nicely.
"I just came out from a walk through meeting some of the final preparations, everything from security, to logistics, to seating that's all being wrapped up right now by the Ohio Republican Party with Fox News and Facebook the hosts of this debate."
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