DNC preps underway at Pepsi Center
Story By:
Source: KOAA
The Democratic National Convention is just 6-weeks away, and today members of the media got a look inside the Pepsi Center where preparations are underway. They're expecting more than 50-thousand people to attend, including delegates, media and staff.
For the past week, crews have been working to turn the basketball court into the home court for the Convention.
They’re removing seats for the stage and media, setting up a speech rehearsal area and testing more than 300 electronic devices.
“They're making sure that cell phone calls can be made, that text messages came be made and make sure that folks can send their picture message,” said Brook Colangelo, director of technology for the Convention.
Then it's time to tackle Invesco Field. Last week, Senator Obama announced plans to give his nomination speech at the stadium because it’s a larger space.
“We can start diverting resources when necessary to Invesco Field to make sure that we have all of the services, all of the capacity everything that we need to make sure that the world can see senator Obama's acceptance speech,” said Colangelo.
Crews will be working at both places until Aug. 25, the day the convention opens - and everyone starts rolling in.
While the DNC says they’re on track to finish the construction, the Associated Press reports they’re not when it comes to money with a shortfall of about $11 million dollars.
The Democratic National Convention is from Aug. 25 – 28. The Republican National Convention is from Sept. 1 – 4 in Minneapolis.
