The Republican National Committee has opened a public lottery for free tickets to its first-ever midterm convention, set for Sept. 9-10 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
According to the RNC, interested people can request tickets online at gopconvention.com for one or both days of the event. Lottery winners will be notified on Sept. 4 and must claim their tickets within 24 hours. The tickets are free of charge.
Organizers expect more than 20,000 attendees. Lottery winners will gain access to a “victory plaza” featuring food, drinks and special guests in what the party describes as a celebratory environment. Some selected attendees may also receive VIP front-row seating.
The midterm convention is being billed as a first-of-its-kind gathering focused on rallying support ahead of the November elections rather than conducting traditional party business. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters has referred to the event as a “Trumpapalooza.”
In addition to the free lottery, state Republican parties have offered paid packages for donors seeking higher levels of access. The Republican Party of Texas initially marketed packages ranging up to $20,000 before later reducing some prices.
The American Airlines Center, home to the Dallas Mavericks, will host the two-day event. Organizers are also seeking hundreds of local volunteers to help staff the convention.
The ticket request form is now live on the official convention website. Credential possession does not guarantee arena entry if capacity is reached, according to the RNC.
