DENVER — The finalists to host the Republican National Convention in 2016 are expected to be announced Wednesday by the Republican National Committee.

Four cities are in the running: Denver, Dallas, Cleveland and Kansas City, Mo.

Earlier this month, the site selection committee spent three days looking over venues, security and transportation in Denver and the other cities to determine their viability in hosting the event, which will draw thousands of convention-goers to the four-day event that will formally nominate the party’s candidate for president.

The Pepsi Center, Colorado Convention Center and Coors Field are expected to be major venues for the event.

The bid has the backing of Gov. John Hickenlooper and Mayor Michael Hancock, both Democrats.

Denver’s main competition appears to be with Dallas, which hosted the Republican National Convention in 2016.

Denver hosted a very successful Democratic National Convention in 2008, when then-candidate Barack Obama was formally nominated and gave his acceptance speech at then-Invesco Field at Mile High.

The only other time Denver hosted a major party convention was in 1908 when Democrats were in town.

Kansas City has hosted three conventions since 1900 (Democrats in 1900, and Republicans in 1928 and 1976). Cleveland hosted Republicans in 1924 and 1936. And Dallas was home for the Republican Convention in 1984.