Milwaukee RNC organizers unveil stage design, contractors submit permits

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Organizers for the 2024 Republican National Convention on Wednesday unveiled renderings for the incoming stage inside the Fiserv Forum, as construction crews started work inside the facility and on several lots around Milwaukee‘s downtown.

Dallas-based Freeman Exposition, LLC, a subsidiary of stage-setter Freeman Company, applied to work inside the Fiserv Forum facility, an application showed. Teams started work on less than 40 days before the convention, which is expected to draw 50,000 delegates, guests and more. The 2024 RNC is scheduled through July 15-17.

“We could not be more excited about bringing the convention to Milwaukee,” said Michael Whatley, the RNC committee chair, at a news conference. Him and other top convention organizers said they anticipated former president Donald Trump as presidential nominee, and that they were eager to “roll Milwaukee out to the rest of the world.”

The stage will be partially mounted to the floor and partially hung from the ceiling of the convention arena, RNC officials said. It will be made of nearly 1,200 LED panels and a 26-foot-tall, 60-feet-wide panel display designed with protrusions to “guarantee that there are no bad seats in the house.” The LED panels are also versatile, and the set won’t have to be physically rebuilt each day, officials added.

Freeman also submitted an exhibit permit to set up trade show equipment, carpets and drapes inside the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

Brookfield-based Stark Pavement Corp. submitted permits for temporary asphalt pavement at two lots for bus and media staging, applications showed. Stark will pave at 423 W. McKinley Ave., 520 W. State St. and 1224 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave.