Brooklyn is finalist for 2016 Democratic National Convention

Brooklyn may be the place to be for the DNC.

The borough was named a finalist for the 2016 Democratic National Convention, along with Columbus and Philadelphia, by the Democratic National Committee on Monday. Birmingham and Phoenix were dropped from the running.

“This is a good day for New York City, we are thrilled by the news,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday afternoon, after the announcement.

Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, home to the Brooklyn Nets, would host the convention.

De Blasio, a Brooklyn resident before he moved to Gracie Mansion, said the DNC recognized that New York is “a city moving in the right direction” toward inclusivity, and said Brooklyn’s story, from “underdog” to “envy of the world,” can inspire the rest of the country.

“This is probably the greatest thing that can happen to Brooklyn right now, in terms of businesses and growth,” said Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. “For business owners, it will make their year, it’s not just the four or five days of the convention, but the year leading up to it, the buzz.”

Scissura said he had “zero concerns” about the logistics of moving thousands of people into the borough, and that major subway lines connect to the Barclays Center. “From the Bronx, to Queens, you can get to downtown Brooklyn,” Scissura said.

“One of the downsides of having it in Brooklyn deals with the costs and limitations of hotel space and hotel scarcity in Brooklyn,” said Daniel DiSalvo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. “There isn’t big hotel space around the convention center to support this.”

DiSalvo said the convention in New York “bring de Blasio into the national spotlight,” as well as his populist views.

Last week, the de Blasio administration said $10 million of $100 million needed to bring the convention to Barclays Center has been raised from 101 host committee members.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter ending his term in January 2016 gives Brooklyn an even better chance.

“The DNC wants a stable commitment and agreement moving forward, and we are excited about the possibility,” Adams said.

The 2016 DNC will take place the week of July 18, July 25 or Aug. 22.

Lucas Vazquez contributed to this report.