July 12, 2016
Final preparations are underway as Philadelphia prepares to host the Democratic National Convention later this month, and local businesses are getting involved.
The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced Tuesday two partnerships with businesses that will give the event a local feel.
Multimedia juggernaut Comcast has been named the DNC's official broadband and telecommunications provider. Comcast will provide network connections for internet, Wi-Fi, ethernet, voice and television services for use by media and event goers alike.
"With the new consumer technologies that have emerged since the 2012 convention, we expect an unprecedented amount of content to be created and shared using the network we have built at the Wells Fargo Center," said Bill Stemper, President of Comcast Business.
The Wells Fargo Center, which will host the DNC, is owned by Comcast Spectacor, a subsidiary of the Comcast Corporation.
The DNCC also named Center City-based Curalate, a visual commerce company, as the event's official technology provider. Curalate will allow users to access more information about the party platform via images associated with the event.
"The Democratic Convention is partnering with Curalate because they recognize that the political world is increasingly dominated by visual content and that each image is an opportunity to engage supporters," said Apu Gupta, CEO of Curalate. "This will transform each fleeting moment of discovery into an opportunity to engage. What works for products, can work for politics."
Curalate was recognized as "25 hottest under-the-radar startups in America" in 2015 by Business Insider.
Philadelphia Distilling will be the official gin provider for the event, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The distillery, which is currently moving from Northeast Philly to Fishtown, will provide its Bluecoat American Dry Gin, which was named the event's official gin.
The DNC will be held July 25-28.
