No tailgating before Obama's big speech

Parking ban part of security plans set to be disclosed

By Kevin Flynn, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

If you're planning to be one of the 50,000 people attending Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field, don't think of holding a Broncos-style tailgate party beforehand.

Security-related transportation plans to be disclosed today include a parking ban in the huge stadium lots for the closing night event that is the highlight of the Democratic National Convention.

Officials also plan to announce other measures, including any street and transit detours, closures and restrictions, according to Ron Perea, special agent in charge of the Denver office of the U.S. Secret Service.

Perea, Denver officials and others connected with convention planning declined to detail any other plans before today's briefing. The Denver City Council will also get information on the plans at a meeting following the public announcement.

Many downtown employers, commuters, businesses and residents have been waiting to hear how security plans will affect traffic, buses and light rail during the convention, which is scheduled to run Aug. 25-28.

One of RTD's light-rail lines, serving Union Station, passes less than 100 feet from the north wall of the Pepsi Center, which will be the site of the convention.

The Obama campaign announced last week that the acceptance speech will be given at Invesco Field, which can hold nearly four times as many people as the Pepsi Center.

The switch involved changes to logistical and access plans that are still being worked out.

RTD may be involved in helping to shuttle people to the stadium, either from the Pepsi Center less than a mile away or from other places.

But Cal Marsella, RTD general manager, said Tuesday night it can't be treated as just another Broncos game, for which the agency usually runs special bus trips.

The sea of lots surrounding the stadium won't be open to the public for parking, Marsella said at an RTD board meeting Tuesday night.

Although Invesco Field can hold 76,000 people in the stands, Marsella said his understanding is that part of the stadium will be cordoned off as is frequently done for concerts and other large events, the result being that only about 50,000 people will be admitted.

Four years ago in Boston, where the last Democratic National Convention was held in the former Fleet Center, traffic and transit closures and detours had been announced much earlier.

But in Boston, an interstate freeway passed 40 feet from the wall of the Fleet Center and a major commuter rail terminal and subway lines ran underneath it. The Secret Service closed the commuter terminal, restricted the subway lines and closed the freeway from late afternoon until the evening sessions were over.

Other than the light rail line, no other transportation facilities run as close to the Pepsi Center.

flynnk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5247