here will benefit no matter their political persuasion. charlotte s hockey team is in the playoffs but the sign overhead says what everyone knows the hottest game in this arena is the coming democratic convention. all over town new places are opening, old ones are polishing up, and from his office high above it all this is a stage unlike any other one. reporter: mayor anthony fox hears opportunity knocking. it is a pretty aggressive move to go after a convention in the middle of a recession. you think that sends a signal to all sorts of businesses. they re saying charlotte s growing, charlotte s progressing, charlotte s getting ready to even be bigger and better than it already is. reporter: they say the convention will draw 35,000 visitors who will spend up to $200 million on restaurants, hotels and attractions. but local leaders believe the real value goes far beyond that, beyond politics. part of what we re going to be able to show is not only how well we do in t