Coloradans glimpse convention floor

The public experienced a lit-up Pepsi Center and the convention's patriotic theme. Workers tested lights and sound as 5,000 people toured the arena on Friday, August 22.

After several speakers from the Democratic National Convention Committee told The Washington Center students that they were “tearing down the walls” of the convention, they finally showed some proof.

On Friday, with only two days left before the convention would kick-off with an interfaith ceremony, the Pepsi Center flung open its doors and 5,000 Coloradans, media and school children were treated with a first view of the convention floor. It was the first time in Democratic National Convention history that the public got to tour the convention site before the delegates arrived. The free tickets for the event had sold out in 30 hours.

What the participants saw was history in the making — literally. Lights, cameras, sound, and seating were all being set up as the public walked through the seats, taking pictures with the podium behind them and asking questions to anyone within earshot.

“Where is Colorado sitting?” they asked. The host state will be front and center, next to Sen. Barack Obama’s Illinois delegation.

“Will the Vice-President’s state be moved up front?” they wondered. It was one day before Obama picked Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his vice-president and Delaware was posed to sit in the back of the arena.

The Arizona delegation, of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, did not receive a close placement. Instead, western states and swing states will sit near the podium.

There was one little problem: many of the inquires were aimed at the volunteer security guards who had 30 minutes inside the Pepsi Center before the public arrived. While the questions couldn’t all be answered (“Why does Ohio’s sign look different from the rest?”) the guests were still in awe. Some were pleasantly surprised that a Middle Eastern broadcasting channel, Al-Jazeera, was prominently displayed by ABC news. Others got the special treat of seeing their own faces on the big screens like they were at a pro-football game. And those who came at the very end of the tour got a glimpse of the setup for the John Legend performance on Monday.

Some came to see why their beloved Pepsi Center would be defunct until the convention teardown date on September 15 or why there was such a hoopla about the podium. But the most refreshing reason many people decided to attend the public viewing was their urge to take part in history. As each resident passed through, the air was filled with excitement. They were the among the first people to see the floor of the convention and soon the Denverites will see just how the convention will affect their city as delegates, press, and politicians descend on Monday.