I had a chance to join several thousand of my fellow Denverites today at a peek inside the Pepsi Center before the DNC begins next week. Looks pretty cool:
Inside the Pepsi Center
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Did they misspell "business" on that horizontal sign in the second photo?
amazing. what stinks is that i'll be in San Diego on a vacation as soon as it starts. So I'll miss it but i'll be laying on the beach. I'll watch the convention on t.v. Wont miss it.
Yesterday on the bus home from Boulder, two disgruntled old guys spent the entire ride talking about how they would avoid downtown like the plague during the DNC, and how "they didn't want it here in the first place."
I couldn't feel more differently. As a massive Denver dork, I'm so excited about our city being in the national spotlight. Plus, all the subtle improvements being made city-wide have been well worth it. I can't wait for the city to be flooded with journalists, politicians, and protesters. It makes me hope that we push hard to get the Winter Olympics (again), which would be this same type of thing on a much larger and more city-changing scale.
Thanks for the photos Ken, it looks awesome in there. And has anybody seen the two-story stage they've built right next to Millennium Bridge? Hot damn!
Agreed, I work/live downtown and am one of the few people at my company that is looking forward to the convention. Most of my coworkers live 20+ miles from DT and are going to work from home the entire week. They have been complaining all week about traffic etc. Serves them right for living in the burbs. I'm just worried about long lunch lines 🙁
The convention stage reminds me of something you'd find on the strip in Las Vegas.
The style is a little dated, but my guess is that they had it decorated by senior citizens because they're a group the DNC needs to reach out to.
I'll be at Invesco Field for the acceptance speech – handing out materials during the speech as a volunteer – but I'll probably miss much of the convention because my job is shipping me out to Pueblo and Fort Collins on Tuesday and Wednesday to register student voters there. SIGH.
What's exciting about this convention being in Denver is that it will probably turn out to be one of the most historic and widely-viewed conventions in American history, not only in the U.S. but around the world, since foreign interest in the U.S. election is on a high. Denver had no idea what a score this convention would be when we signed up for it!
I, too, am totally jazzed! Of course, I, too, am a "massive Denver dork!"
This has already been a great thing for Denver, and it hasn't actually happened yet. To anyone who complains about the traffic, one word… RTD!
And thanks, Ken, for making us insiders! Not exactly an "Infill" project, but certainly relevant!
Ken, thanks for the pics! Can you tell us what direction a speaker at the podium would be facing–southeast or northwest? My one obsessive trait is knowing how a structure/stage, etc. relates to the cardinal headings….
I'm excited about all of the attention this will bring to our fantastic city. I was downtown yesterday and I must say everything looks immaculate.
The stage is definitely aesthetically pleasing but it doesn't look very environmentally friendly…I wonder how much energy that thing consumes.
There's some interesting temporary infill out there . . . like the two-story Big Tent at 1536 Wynkoop, next to the Alliance Center. http://www.bigtentdenver.org/index.cfm?objectid=2D615176-1D09-317F-BB04A01884B9138A
Wow! I had no idea that American Idol was coming to town. Last I heard, it was the DNC!
The Sage building looks amazing with all the flags and it's really an eye-catcher.
All of the teletubby trashcans on the 16th street mall were removed, for safety reasons, and replaced with cardboard boxes.
The number of street vendors downtown has tripled. Most of the new ones are selling DNC related merchandise.
The police/military presence downtown has been greatly intensified. The 16th street mall is buzzing with them and the air is filled with tension…
More to come!
The RNC released a rendering of their stage in St. Paul–a fairly simple rectangular platform with steps on three sides, backed by a giant video screen of an American flag. Not unlike that famous scene with George C. Scott in the 1970 film PATTON. I usually like simplicity, but this time I'll take Vegas. I especially love how they treated the outside of the building.
Came face to face with about 40 heavily armed Denver cops on 17th St. last night!
I suppose it's comforting to know they're ready if things go south, but mildly disconcerting, to say the least.
I was driving downtown tonight, and in addition to the unusual number of cop cars, I saw a pack of at least 25 bicycle cops in City Park. Then on 15th Street, there was a pickup with cops on the running boards and in the bed. At least 10-15 cops riding on the outside of the vehicle. I sure hope none of these guys have to do anything this week.
Already two pipe bombs went off Saturday evening, a bit before the fireworks. One more found with the bomb squad coming in. In the alley near Sams. They closed off 15th for about 20 minutes and there had to be a swarm of some 50 cops down there. Crazy stuff.
There is a somewhat ridiculous number of police downtown, and I hope that doesn't entice more violence than would otherwise hit.
On a lighter note, my favorite drinking game, "Spot the Tourist" has now become so much easier.
The Las Vegas set is starting to grow on me. Perhaps the giant plasma screens could be re-used along 14th Street–someone somewhere recently mentioned using large screens to enliven the street scene around the convention center.
Now, did anyone else get a preview of the Pepsi Center? If so, could someone tell me which direction the podium faces? Not knowing is driving me nuts!
PCVH, does this help?
http://www.demconvention.com/assets/downloads/DNCC-State-Seating.pdf
pcvh, sorry for not answering your question earlier. The stage is centered on the long south side of the seating bowl, so the stage faces north (slightly northwest-ish).
Thanks vicki h! Thanks Ken! I really do appreciate the information. (Maybe this irritating facial tick will go away now-lol) I wish I had replied soon enough to get a preview ticket. I have been downtown yesterday and today. Love all the people!!
Thanks again.