Comfortable shoes and attire for being in an arena most of the day. For your situational awareness, most folks (delegates, electeds and reporters) will be dressed in business and business casual attire (with sneakers or comfy shoes). Others (like production staff and media crews) will be dressed in casual attire for the execution of their duties. It’s completely your own personal preference!
If applicable to your content style, bring a mic in anticipation of a loud, crowded area. Feel free to bring a gimbal or a light (some ring lights will be available in the creator lounge), as well as your own camera, needed chargers etc. Selfie sticks are not permitted.
Never miss a moment by signing up for our Convention Press Distro. You can expect helpful emails with copies of remarks and advisories following speeches. To sign up, please head to Press List Sign Up .
Aug 18th-22nd 11am-2pm CDT, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place (2233 S Martin Luther King Dr, Chicago, IL 60616) Room: Jackson Park D)
Names submitted for credentials must be accurate and reflect the identification presented at pickup. If someone else will be picking up your credentials, please email dquintero@demconvention.com to let us know.
McCormick Place
About
At McCormick Place you can attend delegate breakfasts, caucus meetings, and an exhibitor hall (called DemPalooza!). There are lots of sessions focused on your area of interest, region, or constituency, so there will be opportunities for pull-aside interviews and more educational content as well.
DemPalooza will be a chance to meet advocacy organizations, activists, democratic clubs, live panels, and fellow creators. Be on the lookout for constant updates on what is happening at McCormick place including visiting the Future Forward Creator Hub and Higher Ground Labs (check out their panels).
Getting to McCormick Place
McCormick Place is accessible by public transportation or Uber; there will also be shuttles from Convention hotels to McCormick Place. In order to ride the shuttle, you must have a credential.
Caucus and Council Schedule:
United Center is accessible by shuttle (you must be credentialed to be on shuttle). Rideshares and public transportation can drop you off at the perimeter (which is several blocks away walking).
As the Convention programming gets underway, please expect to go through general security screening, somewhat similar to TSA as you travel. Restricted items include alcohol, firearms and other forms of weaponry (for more specific guidance, please see below). You will need to enter through the checkpoints and be re-screened any time you leave the premises as this event is secured by the United States Secret Service (USSS) and local law enforcement. Please plan to arrive earlier than your planned coverage times as security lines may take time to process. It is strongly recommended that you arrive by 4:00 pm CDT everyday to ensure you have enough time for screening before the start of the official program.
Throughout the remainder of the convention week, you will need to have your credentials present and accessible at all times as movement throughout the arena will be restricted to delegates and electeds as programming takes place. At any point, credentials will be checked and access revoked if not in compliance with security requirements.
Selfie sticks, aerosols, ammunition, animals other than service/guide animals, bicycles, balloons, coolers, drones and other unmanned aircraft systems, explosives, firearms, glass, thermal, or metal containers, laser pointers, mace/pepper spray, noisemakers, signs, wrapped packages, sound amplification devices, toy guns, and umbrellas with metal tips.
Note: The comprehensive list of prohibited items above is provided for planning purposes and remains subject to change by the DNCC and/or its security partners at any time.
Ring lights, gimbals, tripods, laptops and handheld recording devices are all permitted. Selfie sticks are not.
The United Center ((Gate 6 & 7)) 1901 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60612
Media Entrance: Malcolm X College 1900 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612 - entrance will be through Gate 6 & 7 when you clear security mags.
You may access the United Center anytime after you’ve obtained your daily credentials. Official Convention hall programming does not begin until 5:30pm CDT // 6:30pm EDT, but again creators may access the United Center at any time after 11AM throughout August 19-22nd with their daily credential.
The primary workspace and gathering area for creators is located at the Creator Lounge on the atrium level of the United Center. Within this space you will find charging stations, access to wifi and limited seating. There is an additional lounge with workspace located on the 300 level across from Section 309. These lounges will also have TVs with coverage of what’s happening in the arena.
Creators have access to the press seating area (this is the 300 level). In order to access the 300 level, you will need to ask a volunteer to escort you via elevator for security reasons.
There are 50 seats set aside specifically for creators (in Section 319 - look for signs on seats that say “Creator”), but creators are welcome to sit anywhere they can find a seat in the press area. All these seats are first come, first serve.
**ALL CREATORS WILL NEED ESCORTS TO ACCESS ANY OF THE ELEVATORS WITHIN THE UNITED CENTER**
For more information on Studio 24 spaces email: studio24creators@demconvention.com
To book studio 24 spaces please fill out this request form. Once booking is confirmed you will be sent an email.
Situated between Gate 6 & 7 on the main concourse, this vibrant area serves as an energetic interview and photo backdrop with a large LED wall, reminiscent of an Oscars Red Carpet.
Space during 5:30-7:30pm is reserved.
Please download Greenfly: Greenfly will serve as the photo and video distribution platform for all content shot in studios or by DNCC photographers, you will not be able to access content without downloading the app.
Tag @demconvention if you would like us to share your content on our accounts
The Accessibility team has created sensory quiet spaces for any creator who is in need of a stimulation break. Please ask a volunteer to direct you to this area.
Additionally, we have an accessibility accommodations request form to help address specific needs or concerns. It is linked here. More accessibility questions can be directed to accesssibility@demconvention.com
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll meet them in person and at events throughout! But also, find them on the Discord community (link to come soon) and in this WhatsApp community!
Over fifteen hundred members of the media have been credentialed to cover this year's Democratic National Convention. While the creator lounges are separate from the general press workspaces, expect to cross paths with members of the media as you cover this year's convention. If they ask you questions, be sure to indicate if you want it “on the record” or “off the record”. Please assume that wherever cameras are present, microphones are on.
If you’re not at United Center, not to worry, there’s a ton of off-campus programming and events happening every. single. day. (think watch parties, happy hours, panel discussions. These can be found in this living document here. Here’s another list of third-party happenings.
No, Floor seating at the United Center is limited to convention delegates.
Business festive to business casual should make you feel at home (but also you might want to rep your state at McCormick, dress business casual to the United Center, and wear something fun for an afterparty!).
Unfortunately, you cannot bring your own snacks into the United Center, yet food and beverage options are available throughout the arena, including in the creator lounges.
Each studio and lounge has wifi so does the whole arena. AT&T will have help desks around the United Center for troubleshooting and additional support.
Outside of Studio24, you will be responsible for your own production. There may be available staff or volunteers to help, but this is not guaranteed.
Caucus meetings are located in the McCormick Center and are open to the public. Please have your credential on you at all times incase of road closures or perimeter restrictions. After 2pm, there will not be DNCC digital staffer on site to troubleshoot any questions you may have. If you are at McCormick place before 2pm, please stop by the credential pick-up table located within the Press Galleries with any questions. Please find the current caucus schedule here .
Both creator lounges are intended to provide workspaces for you while you are onsite. Note these spaces are first come, first serve and if you anticipate needing a lot of editing workspace for an extended period of time, we encourage you to consider your hotel room or another space offsite. Please see above for lounge locations.
Permitted Items: Ring lights, gimbals, tripods, laptops and handheld recording devices are all permitted. Selfie sticks are not.
If you’d like someone else to pick up your credential, this MUST be communicated to dquintero@demconvention.com ahead of time.
Computer + Tablet + Mobile Device
TV Device Apps (search for “Democratic National Convention” or “2024 DNC”)
Copyright © 2024 | Privacy Policy
Paid for by 2024 Democratic National Convention Committee. 430 South Capitol Street, SE Washington, DC. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.