Smooth going early at Invesco

By Todd Hartman, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 28, 2008 at 1:50 p.m.
Updated August 28, 2008 at 1:50 p.m.

Text size  

• 0 Comments
• Email
• Print

Photo by Alan Gathright © The Rocky

Mila Gaffney and her 7-year-old daughter drove from Santa Barbara to hear Obama speak. They only scored tickets this morning.

Early arrivers at Invesco Field this afternoon report waits of 30 minutes to an hour to get in the door, but few were complaining.

A festive mood accompanied people coming to see tonight’s historic speech by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, and they shrugged off the snaking line of a quarter to a half mile, as well as a heavy security presence.

“It doesn’t matter,” said Kam Maron, 35, of Philadelphia, when asked about the long entry.

“It kept moving, we talked to people in line. They gave us water (and the entrance),” Maron said. “It went smoothly.”

Franny Mazone just scored credentials for the speech last night, and credited “putting good thoughts” out for the twist of fate that put her touch with an Obama organizer who provided extra passes when Mazone said she was interested in door-to-door work for the candidate.

The relatively stress-free entry appears to be aided by the crowd arriving so early for the 8 p.m. speech, and 15 security screening lines help keep people flowing, and not standing still in the heat.

With most everyone backing Obama, attendees have much in common, so the wait in line goes faster with all the upbeat conversation, attendees said.

Featured

• DNC in Denver

  

  Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

• The Crevasse

  

  A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.

• Deadly denial

  

  Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.

• Final Salute

  

  The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.

• 'Colorado's burning'

  

  Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.

• Columbine shootings

  

  Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.

• The Crossing

  

  Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.

• Osveli's journey

  

  Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.

• Wake for an Indian warrior

  

  Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.