Organizers are making a last-minute push to fill seats at the American Airlines Center for the 2026 Republican midterm convention. The event starts Tuesday, yet the Washington Examiner reports they are still trying to offload tickets. Less than a week remains before the party faithful are set to gather in Dallas. High costs and NFL games are keeping crowds away from what some call "Trumpalooza."
A political operative told the Washington Examiner that planners held a call this week to offer remaining tickets.
The convention venue holds more than 21,000 people, but turnout fears are real. A source told the Washington Examiner that Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany and Sen. Susan Collins will not attend. Even President Donald Trump changed his schedule to speak on both nights to boost numbers.
Cost is a major barrier for many regular party members trying to attend. However, the schedule clashes directly with the start of the NFL season. A Super Bowl rematch featuring the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will clash with the opening night.
Major networks like CBS and CNN are not expected to cover the two-day event live. NBC is also unlikely to broadcast much of the convention on Wednesday. The event faces stiff competition on Thursday night against an NFL rivalry matchup in Melbourne, Australia.
President Trump is now scheduled to speak on both nights of the convention next week. A party official told Reuters this change comes after concerns about low viewership. The goal is to set a strong tone for the entire gathering. "President Trump wants to set the tone for the entire convention," an official stated.
The RNC has taken on much of the responsibility for organizing this massive event. They promise a story of historic results for the American people. "Trump and Republicans have delivered historic results for the American people, and every hour of this historic convention will tell that story," the official added.
Each hour will have its own theme and message to build toward the President's vision. The event aims to cover the defining issues of the Party's agenda. Over two action-packed days, they will explain what is at stake in November. "Over two action-packed days, we will take Americans through the defining issues of our Party's agenda and what is at stake in November," the statement read.