8
Wednesday, August 18, 1976
University Daily Kansan
KC convention effects on Lawrence slight
By CHRIS COTTRELL
and BILL CALVERT Staff Writers
The Republican National Convention invaded Kansas City this week, but it looks as if most of the onslaught bypassed Lawrence.
The Utah delegation is staying at the Ramada Inn, Sixth and Iowa, and a handful of the press are scattered in various motels throughout Lawrence. But their effect on the Lawrence community, on the whole, has been slight.
Bill Hicks, manager of the Ramada Inn, said Tuesday that the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Commission contacted owners of the major motels in Lawrence shortly after Kansas City was chosen last winter as the convention site.
THE COMMISSION TRIED to reserve all the rooms at those motels in anticipation of a possible overflow from Kansas City. The commission sent a representative cent of their rooms for the conventioners.
But there was little overflow from the convention, and most of the rooms in Lawrence weren't needed. Several Kansas City residents offered to house conventioneers, and as a result most Lawrence reservations were canceled.
Several Lawrence businesses reported an increase in customers but attributed the upsurge to the return of University of Kansas students than to the convention.
The managers of three large motels in Lawrence said, because of the cancellations, the convention hadn't affected business much.
LONG JOHN SILVER'S Seafood Shoppe,
a restaurant that has enjoyed an increase in sales.
"This weekend, we had the largest weekend in sales we've ever had." Beverly
Police called to 14th and Ohio
The Lawrence Police Department stationed six patrolmen near 14th and Ohio Tuesday night, in the vicinity of the Jayhawk and Wheel cafes after responding to numerous noise complaints in that area Monday night.
A police spokesman said the department had received no complaints as of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, but added that the patrolmen would be instructed to be stationed in the area until 1 a.m.
Abbott, a relief manager at Long John
Silver's, said. "But I don't think very much
about it."
"I really don't think the convention is affecting us much here. Just the fact that the students are coming back is what our increase in business is due to."
JoAnn Jilson, general manager of the Eldridge House Dining Room and Club, Seventh and Mass, said business had risen in the past few days, but she didn't know whether that rise was caused by the convention.
"I think it (increased business) is coupled at the same time with KU opening," Jilson said. "We were expecting an overflow just because of the students returning."
But Lawrence can receive the benefits of convention publicity if not an increase in commerce, according to Larry Danielson of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
"This gives us an opportunity to put on a good show—to sell Lawrence and to show what a nice town we have," he said. "If we can impress them (the delegates), they will take a warm up in their hearts for Lawrence back to Utah with them."
DANIELSON SAID additional publicity could be gained through a documentary that CRS was planning to do on the Utah delegation and their stay in Lawrence. The documentary may be shown during the network's convention coverage, he said.
Dave Turner, executive director of the Utah delegation, said that the delegates wouldn't be able to get a city hotel. That hotel's manager decided he didn't want the Utah delegates staying there, however, because he thought they would just pay the hotel patronize the bar, Turner said.
The delegation then found lodging in
Most of the delegates weren't too upset
with it.
"Frankly, I like it," Turner said. "The people here in town and at the Ramada have
"I COMMUTE 30 MILES to work every day," Turner said, "so I don't mind it at all."
He acknowledged that some of the delegates weren't happy about staying so far from the convention site, but added that the delegates were not allowed than Kansas City to the Utah people.
Danielson said an information and welcome booth had been set up at the Ramada. The Chamber of Commerce also is sponsoring a luncheon for the delegates to attend a meeting that the delegates will take to the Mormon Headquarters in Independence, Mo.
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