5 worst DNC Invesco Mistakes

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From a blogger on the Denver Post:

5. They did not use the stadium’s sound system; all sound came from speakers placed on the floor of the stadium. They weren’t loud enough, and this made it hard to hear the speakers over all the cheering.

4. The fireworks. They came without warning and startled a lot of people sitting in the top rows of level 5 (like me). They also filled the stadium with smoke and released loads of carbon into the atmosphere.

3. Stevie Wonder gave a lame performance. And Joe Biden’s speech was dull.

2. The stadium did not fill up. There were still plenty of seats left in level 5. You can see them in this picture I took in the middle of Obama’s speech:

1. They did not serve beer during the event. I think this was an affront to the working men and women (many of whom are union members) who make and transport the beer.

Oreo here with his own #1: This guy is a whiner that would find a reason to complain if somebody gave him a million dollars. While the fireworks were a bit startling (Michelle Obama jumped) what are they supposed to do? Yell "OK EVERYBODY!!! HERE COMES THE FIREWORKS?" Idiot.

Get ready for confetti

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It will be shot up in the air, and then come down. Remember, no balloons.

And fireworks!

And the winner is

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City of Blinding Lights - U2

Congrats to Roehl in the comments for predicting this.

Over 84,000 in Invesco

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More than 84,000 people have jammed into Invesco Field at Mile High stadium to hear Barack Obama's historic acceptance speech, city officials say.

Nancy Kuhn of Denver's public works department says the figure is based on the number of credentials that were scanned as delegates, individuals and news media entered the football stadium where Obama was accepting the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night.

The stadium normally holds 76,125 people, but additional seats were placed on the football field where the Denver Broncos play. - AP

CNN: 85,000 - 90,000 expected

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Working with Fire Marshall to get everyone in.

Update: And the other guy?

McCain arrived here tonight to news reports that free tickets are still available to his rally tomorrow at a basketball arena at Wright State University. The Nutter Center has a capacity of about 12,000.

While McCain aides have mocked as grandiose Obama's plan to give his acceptance speech before more than 75,000 at the stadium where the Denver Broncos play, McCain's events Saturday and Sunday on his "Road to the Convention" tour are also at stadiums.

Minor league stadiums. Home to the Washington (Pa.) Wild Things of the Frontier League, and the River City Rascals of O'Fallon, Mo. - Washington Post

Long lines

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This picture was from a while ago.

Also, the Obama campaign put an American flag at every seat in the stadium. That's a nice contract for a flag manufacturer somewhere.

Update:

The first three days of the convention felt like the internal party gatherings they were; the giant venue feels like a rally or a sporting event. They're doing the wave in the upper deck. The effect that the campaign was shooting for — an open, rather than a closed gathering — comes through in the stadium, though I'm not sure how it will translate on television.

As at most of Obama's large events, the crowd is strikingly diverse, by race and by age. Martin Luther King III drew their applause for telling them that his father would be proud of the party that nominated Obama and of the country that would elect him.

They're seated unevenly, because a large share of the seats in the stadium are obstructed — behind the stage, or behind the press risers facing it. The seats in front of the stage each had the name of an ordinary supporter taped to it, and they've filed in to fill the inner ring. Beyond them, the seats for delegates on the floor of the convention are almost entirely taken. - Politico

Invesco Phone Bank in Progress

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They couldn't 50,000 cell phone callers - the network couldn't support it, so the Obama folks are holding a lottery:

In the halls of Invesco Field at Mile High here, volunteers are making calls, lured with the promise that if they complete a dozen, their name would be entered in a lottery to win a seat on the field to hear Obama's speech.

And they just started a text message contest to see which state's cell phones could send the most messages

Podium(s)

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You'll notice there are 3 podiums at Invesco - two on the sides and the main one in the center. Word is that only Gore and Obama will speak from the center podium.

The upper decks are half full - I would bet everyone will be inside in plenty of time:

From Invesco, 3:30 Denver Time

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Ed Espinoza has has heard from colleagues on line that it has now grown to 2 - 3 miles.

Also note the program was supposed to start at 3 MT, 5 ET. Clearly it has not. It remains to be seen if they had buffer built in, or if things will be canceled.

Update: CNN says program is starting at 4:10 MT, 6:10 ET.

Update: Revised schedule has just been posted above. The 4:10 start was for Pelosi to officially open the convention, which she did at 4:05. So they are on schedule. Jennifer Hudson doing a great job on the anthem.

Oreo's Pictures from Invesco

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Gates open in less than two hours

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Gates open at Invesco in less than 2 hours, at 1:00 local time. The program starts at 3:00. Hopefully the lines won't be too long:

The good news is that the Secret Service has set up at least 50 magnetometer stations around the perimeter, which ought to speed things up. - Ambinder

For anyone's who is going, let us know if they're checking IDs for the Community Credentials.

Will Invesco work?

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The NY Times takes a look:

When Senator Barack Obama announced in early July that he would give his nomination address in an outdoor stadium in front of 75,000 people, he wowed members of both parties who saw it as an inspired stroke of campaign image making.

But as he landed here on Wednesday and prepared to become the first presidential candidate in nearly 50 years to accept his party’s nomination on such a big stage, the plan seemed as much risky as bold.

With daunting challenges of logistics, style and substance, the plan was hatched before the Republicans began a concerted drive to paint Mr. Obama as a media sensation lacking the résumé to be president. Now Obama aides are feeling all the more pressure to bring a lofty candidacy to ground level, showing that Mr. Obama grasps the concerns of everyday Americans.

On Wednesday, workers were still making changes to Invesco Field, home to the Denver Broncos, so it would feel more intimate, less like the boisterous rallies that served Mr. Obama so well early in the primaries, but also created the celebrity image that dogs him.

They were still testing camera angles, so Mr. Obama would appear among the giant crowd, not above it. They took steps to reduce the echo effect, familiar to football fans, of speaking in such a cavernous space. Planners scrapped their idea to turn the audience of 75,000 into a giant phone bank, in response to fears that the cellphone system would crash (people will instead be asked to text-message friends and neighbors to support the campaign, program aides said would be effective nonetheless.)

And workers put the finishing touches on the backdrop: faux columns intended to suggest a federal building in Washington and create an air of stateliness. (The McCain campaign named it the Temple of Obama, a label repeated by some commentators.)

Mr. Obama shared his rationale for the move when he took the stage at the Pepsi Center on Wednesday night. “We’re going to be moving to Mile High Stadium tomorrow, and I want to let you know why,” he said. “We want to open up this convention to make sure that everybody that wants to come can join in the party and join in the effort to take America back.”
...
Mr. Obama’s aides had hoped to upend the traditional convention style. But the prolonged primary fight with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton left the convention in the hands of the party’s career planners. Their flashy stage design, which has been likened to an arcade, had none of the look or feel of the more spare style of the Obama brand.

When a close circle of his top advisers presented Mr. Obama with $6 million plans to move his acceptance speech to the football stadium in early July, the candidate asked one question, said Anita Dunn, a senior strategist: “Will it rain?” The campaign produced a raft of meteorological data showing it had rained on Aug. 28 only once in 20 years.

Well it looks like the weather will cooperate. I think it will be an amazing night.

Don't drive to Invesco

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The Host Committee is telling folks going to Invesco to take public transportation, shuttle buses or bikes to Invesco for Obama's speech tonight.
Read the full advisory...

DENVER, Aug. 27, 2008 - Those who have obtained Community Credentials to the Thursday, August 28, event at Invesco Field at Mile High are strongly encouraged to use public transit, walk, bike or carpool to the event, and to arrive as early as possible.

For attendees who choose to drive and park on the neighborhood streets surrounding Mile High, the standard parking enforcement used during weekday special events will be in effect. Only vehicles with the appropriate residential permits will be able to park on surrounding neighborhood streets.

Gates to the event will open at 1 p.m. The following options to get to the stadium are recommended:

Downtown Route Shuttle:
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) will operate shuttle service from 22nd and Blake, run down Broadway to 8th to Zuni, to 13th and Decatur, to Lot MM at Invesco Field at Mile High. The free shuttles will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The last shuttles will leave for Invesco at 2 p.m. Downtown parking suggestions are found at www.experiencedowntowndenver.com.

Return shuttles also will be available to downtown stops following the event. All shuttles will be accessible for persons with disabilities. Normally scheduled weekday RTD service will operate throughout Denver during this event.

Coors Field Shuttle:
Parking will be available for $5 per vehicle in Coors Field Lots A, B and C, located northeast of Park Avenue West and Wazee St. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a free northeast shuttle service will be available from the Coors Field lots to 5th and Walnut, where people can walk across the Broncos Bridge to Invesco Field at Mile High. Accessible shuttles for people with disabilities will be available. These shuttles also will be available following the event for the return trip to Coors Field parking lots.

Auraria Higher Education Center Campus:
Parking spaces will available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Auraria campus in the vicinity of 7th St. and Walnut. Those arriving early will be able to pay and park at Auraria lots and walk to Invesco Field at Mile High.

Light Rail:
Light Rail service will operate on normal schedules. Route "C" from the southwest corridor and "E" from the southeast corridor stop at the Invesco Field Station. Other options include parking downtown and taking light rail from Denver Union Station to the Invesco Field Station, or tqaing local bus service to a light rail station then taking light rail to Invesco Field Station. All light rail vehicles and stations are accessible for the disabled.

Pedestrian Route:
Enjoy Downtown Denver and walk to the event. A pedestrian route - designated with visible signage and staffed with volunteer guides - will be available from the 16th St. Mall and Larimer St.. Signs will be placed along Larimer St. and continue through the Auraria Campus to Invesco Field at Mile High.

Taxis:
Those wishing to ride in taxis can catch them on the return route along Federal Blvd. on the west side of Invesco Field at Mile High or at 5th and Walnut.

Bicycle Routes:
Only individuals carrying credentials for Thursday, August 28, 2008, will be allowed to park their bicycles at the Rude Park Bike Depot, located immediately south of Invesco Field at Mile High. Bordering streets include Federal Boulevard, West Howard Place, West Holden Place and Decatur Street.

Access to Rude Park via bicycle will be as follows:
· From the NORTH, including Downtown Denver: ROUTE D-7 and Cherry Creek Trail to 13th Avenue and connecting to ROUTE D-10
· From the NORTHWEST: ROUTE D-3 Southbound, Detour West at 23rd Ave./Route D-6
· West, to Irving St. Southbound to 14th Avenue to Rude Park
· From the WEST: ROUTE D-8 Eastbound, Detour to Irving St. Southbound to 14th Avenue
· to Rude Park
· From the SOUTHWEST: (Unaffected) ROUTES D-3, D-5, D-10 and Knox Court Trail,
· D-12 North to Rude Park
· From the SOUTH: (Unaffected) ROUTES D-5, D-10, D-12, and D-7 connection to D-12
· From the EAST: ROUTES D-8, D-9, D-10 or D-11, connecting to Rude Park via Route D-10
· and 13th Avenue.

Announced Bicycle Route Closures:
Due to road closures and heightened security procedures in place for the Democratic National Convention, portions of ROUTES D-3, D-5, D-6, D-8 the Platte River Greenway and Gates Crescent Park will have partial closures and restrictions to bicycles as well as some temporary full closures of bike and pedestrian paths in the area immediately surrounding INVESCO Field at Mile High during the event. All Denver Bike Routes will re-open as normal on Thursday evening for bicyclists departing INVESCO Field at Mile High at the conclusion of the Convention program.

More information on access and routing to Rude Park, including the most direct and convenient Bike Routes, can be found on the following websites: www.denvergov.org; www.bikedenver.org; www.bicyclecolorado.org;
www.denverconvention2008.com.

Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities within Invesco Field:
Individuals with disabilities who have Community Credentials and who requested wheelchair-accessible seating when activating their credentials will be directed to appropriate pre-assigned seating areas with their companions upon entry and passage through security check points.

Individuals requesting Assisted Listening Devices will be directed to Guest Services inside INVESCO Field to sign out ALD equipment. In addition, the DNCC is using handheld Blackberry devices with real-time text captioning in partnership with Colorado Captioning.

Security:
Due to heightened security procedures in place for the Democratic National Convention, please be advised that entry to Invesco Field at Mile High may require lengthy wait times. Please be patient and plan your trip accordingly. The DNCC, the City of Denver and RTD will provide staff and volunteers to direct and assist all credentialed guests and persons with disabilities.

WEBSITES:
www.denvergov.com
www.demconvention.com
www.denverconvention2008.com
www.rtd-denver.com

About Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee
The Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee has four contractual partners in its work. Those partners are the Democratic National Convention Committee, the City and County of Denver, Kroenke Sports and its own Executive Committee.

Obama checks out Invesco

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Goodbye to the Pepsi Center

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We've been writing about the Pepsi Center for over two years now, and it's time to say goodbye. It's been crowded, and some thought a little small, but I think the Democrats put on a great show there. The podium, which some ridiculed when it was first shown, was never mentioned since Monday, and provided a great backdrop:



Remember that as some are already knocking the Invesco setup. It doesn't matter what it looks like from an airplane. It matters what it looks like from your TV set. And we'll see it in less than 24 hours.

Invesco Weather Forecast and Stadium First Look

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Thursday is looking great, might even want to bring a jacket:

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 9 mph becoming east.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. East wind at 10 mph becoming south.

Accuweather forecast specifically for 8:00 MT: 70, Clear.

Here's a first look at the setup (NBC is reporting that Obama is on his way there now to do a walk-through):

Invesco Podium Preview?

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There's no way to tell if this is accurate, and even if it is, no way to tell what it will actually look like on TV. But here is the first leaked information on the Invesco stage design:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's big speech on Thursday night will be delivered from an elaborate columned stage resembling a miniature Greek temple.

The stage, similar to structures used for rock concerts, has been set up at the 50-yard-line, the midpoint of Invesco Field, the stadium where the Denver Broncos' National Football League team plays.

Some 80,000 supporters will see Obama appear from between plywood columns painted off-white, reminiscent of Washington's Capitol building or even the White House, to accept the party's nomination for president.

He will stride out to a raised platform to a podium that can be raised from beneath the floor.

The show should provide a striking image for the millions of Americans watching on television as Obama delivers a speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination.

Thursday speakers announced

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Gov. Kaine finally has his speaking slot:

The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Obama for America campaign announced today some featured speakers for Thursday night’s Convention program at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

Speaking before a crowd of more than 75,000 will be former Vice President Al Gore, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., United States Senator Richard Durbin (IL) and Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Governor Howard Dean.
In addition, members of Colorado’s congressional delegation will speak to the crowd of voters from across Colorado and the critical Western area including United States Representatives Ed Perlmutter, John Salazar, Diana DeGette, and United States Senate candidate Mark Udall. More than 50 percent of the crowd at INVESCO Field at Mile High will be from the State of Colorado, a critical swing state.

Senator Dick Durbin will speak in primetime to introduce a special biographical video about Barack Obama by David Guggenheim.
Obama will communicate the urgency of the moment, highlight the struggles Americans are facing and call on Americans to come together to change the course of our nation.

Thursday, August 28 (Listed in order of appearance)
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter
Rep. John Salazar
Rep. Diana DeGette
Rep. Mark Udall
DNC Chairman Governor Howard Dean
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
Former Vice President Al Gore
U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (IL)

How will Invesco venue work out?

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We'll be getting a lot these reports as we get close to Thursday:

In a blur of 20-hour workdays, a crew nearly 300 strong is stringing cable, laying walkways and building the dais that will transform an open-air football stadium into the launching pad for the final stage of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Staging experts plan a striking backdrop for Sen. Obama to accept his Democratic Party's nomination Thursday night at the 50-yard-line of Invesco Field at Mile High, the home of the Denver Broncos football team. Details are closely held.
...
The campaign chose to stage the event at Invesco Field, rather than in the Pepsi Center indoor arena where the rest of the convention is being held, so they could accommodate bigger crowds. Tens of thousands of everyday voters will pack the stands, in addition to delegates and donors.

The potential upside: A made-for-TV moment in front of a revved-up crowd of 80,000.

The potential downside: The larger-than-life scale could aid Republicans in their quest to portray Sen. Obama as a celebrity candidate more suited to drawing adoring throngs than governing.
...
It's a gamble in part because of the weather. For now, the forecast looks good: Thursday should be sunny and in the 80s.

"Things can change," said meteorologist Eric Thaler of the National Weather Service. Denver skies, especially in late summer, are notoriously unpredictable. This weekend, five tornados hit surrounding suburbs. Four years ago, the temperature here dipped to 42 degrees on Aug. 28, the date of the speech. That date also has seen gusts of winds as strong as 53 miles per hour, thunderstorms, a lightning strike and hail three-quarters of an inch in diameter.

In 1875, a cloud of locusts descended, so thick that they darkened the sun and so hungry that they destroyed every garden in Denver.

No balloons at convention

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It's been confirmed: There will be no balloons at the Democratic Convention.

At least we won't have a repeat of the 2004 fiasco: