Delegates have twin goals in Cleveland during the Republican National Convention: nominate a Presidential candidate to run against Hillary Clinton and catch lots of Pokemon.
The Quicken Loans arena is crawling with the digital creatures, and the RNC stage is itself a Pokemon gym. It’s guarded by a pretty powerful Vaporeon – but it could represent the only chance the anti-Trump coalition has to actually dominate the convention stage.
The RNC is hitting at a critical time for Pokemon players, just as some using the app have helped their digital creatures reach the pinnacle of Pokemon success. A few weeks in, top level Pokemon are well trained, but plenty of smaller Pokemon are required to keep them strong and at the top of their game.
Which is why RNC Pokemon players, like yours truly, are willing to risk life, limb and iPhone to chase Clefairies across secure perimeters.
The RNC, according to some players, provides a unique opportunity to do things Pokemon trainers not charged with electing the next President of the United States can do. Empty space between security checkpoints at the Quicken Loans arena is crawling with Pokemon that only Republican delegates can nab successfully, and the walk between parties is the perfect time to hatch Pokemon eggs, which only appear when users have walked enough steps at a pace lower than 12 miles per hour.
There is a Haunter haunting the #RNCinCLE in Cleveland right now. #gopconvention #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/9rpEd8HlIA
— Katrina Tulloch (@katrinatulloch) July 18, 2016
Just avoid the protests: anti-Trump activists, apparently, snap up Pokemon faster than community copies of the Communist Manifesto. Protester camp-outs and stationary gatherings are very valuable, according one Pokemon Go playing delegate we caught in Cleveland’s Patriot Square. Apparently, while protesters aren’t generous with tolerance toward the presumptive Republican nominee, they’re very generous with Pokemon lures.
There are, of course, a few drawbacks to playing Pokemon at the RNC. One Secret Service agent told Heat Street that he’s caught more than a few Pokemon Go players wandering perilously close to restricted areas. Although the Secret Service is familiar with the app, they’re currently warning players to keep their heads up – they’ll risk certain arrest if they chase Pikachu into the Quicken Loans arena parking garage.
There’s also an interesting slate of Pokemon following Republicans around Cleveland. A common complaint among RNC players is that the downtown area is crawling with “Drowzee,” a “psychic,” less-than-powerful Pokemon with a lazy approach to doing battle. Metaphors to the Trump campaign, we believe, might be purely coincidental.
But Republican Pokemon Go players are a catered-to audience. Bars in the area are offering the typical Pokemon discounts people across the country are finding in their local areas. But in Cleveland, Pokemon Go players can also find themed swag.
Story on Pokemon buttons at the RNC, but the Trump-as-Rosie-the-Riveter one is also notable: https://t.co/LOoPjapH3V pic.twitter.com/RCUIegOTpT
— Katie Lannan (@katielannan) July 19, 2016
And when Republicans need to go to work on the convention floor at the Quicken Loans Arena, they’re heading straight into a Pokemon gym that’s being dominated – no surprise – by the “red” Pokemon Team, Team Valor (and was temporarily home to a small orange creature with an unnatural shock of gold hair).
I won several #PokemonGo battles on the convention floor at the #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/Yn2dEiRoIU
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) July 15, 2016
And, luckily, the convention floor is home to hundreds Pokemon.
Announcing the future Poké @POTUS — NIDORAN! Caught on the floor of the #RNCinCLE #PokemonGO @PokemonGoApp pic.twitter.com/pHuiG8C2O4
— youthradio (@youthradio) July 18, 2016
The hunt will continue through Thursday night and then, Pokemon Go players will have to return to their home turf. Until then, Pokemon trainers, good luck.
