It's Official: Obama Will Give Convention Speech At Stadium

Obama will accept the Democratic nomination at Denver's Invesco field -- which can hold over 75,000.

"The Democratic Party is nominating a true change candidate this August, and it is only fitting that we make some big changes in how we put on the Convention," DNC Chairman Howard Dean says. "By bringing the last night of the Convention out to the people, we will be able to showcase Barack Obama's positive, people-centered vision for our country in a big way."

"Barack Obama's campaign for change has inspired millions of Americans and brought people into the political process who might never have been involved," said Convention Co-Chair Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. "This change in the Convention program will allow thousands of first-time participants a chance to take part. I can't think of a better Convention finale for our nominee who has made reaching out to voters a hallmark of his campaign."

"Senator Obama and the DNCC have truly brought the community into the Convention," said Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. "This decision will enable thousands of residents from Colorado, the Rocky Mountain West and across the nation to witness history first hand. What a way to fire up our grassroots activists as we head into the fall campaign."

Rumors of the switch surfaced on Thursday.

The move from the Pepsi Center convention hall means "accepting the party's designation, historic as it may be, will not be the central focus of his remarks," The Nation says. "Rather, Obama will be putting the convention -- and the Democratic party -- behind him as he launches . . . outreach to Americans who don't usually vote and Americans who don't usually vote Democratic."

Comments

[wayoutleft]

12:19 AM on 07/09/2008

i desperately want to go- but i don't want to use the port-a-potty.

[TN60]

08:07 AM on 07/08/2008

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6466448

Priceless.

Catch Nancy Greggs' article while there entitled "Check"

[SeanGardner]

02:41 AM on 07/08/2008

Because Obama is doing his speech on the 45th anniversary of the '63 March on Washington, can't you see how powerful it would be if he picked Webb?

Webb's wife (Asian-American)
Obama's sister (half-Asian, who is, coincidentally, married to a Chinese-Canadian)
Obama's five Indonesian step brothers
Obama's African grandmother and other Kenyan family
Obama's Caucasian Grandmother
Obama's Caucasian family in Kansas

Then, have a picture of his mother on the big jumbo tron, the one where she is holding him as a little boy. I love that one.

Man. That would be awesome to have them all on stage with him, at the end of his nominating speech, on the March on Washington anniversary. Its powerful because King spent his last birthday (Jan. 15, 1968) in the basement of Ebernezer Baptist Church, with civil rights activists from major groups: blacks, latino activists, white activists from appalachia, asian-american activists, and jewish activists. And that was 40 years ago this year.

There is no way McCain would be able to recover.

[closetodemfection]

03:18 AM on 07/08/2008

Um, Webb turned down the VP today. Sorry you worked so long on your post.

[SeanGardner]

05:19 AM on 07/08/2008

Um, I didn't work "so long" on my post. I typed it in one minute, for your information.

As for Webb turning it down, I know. But I still believe he's ideal.

[keepemhonest]

12:59 AM on 07/08/2008

To the Karl Rove paid Trolls,

John F. Kennedy gave his acceptance speech in front of 40,000 people at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles ... Many people, including President Kennedy's family say Obama is very similar to John F. Kennedy ... one of the greatest presidents of all time.

[closetodemfection]

03:01 AM on 07/08/2008

Um. NO. JFK served 6 years in the house, then 8 years in the Senate before running. Not the same at all.

[lily31]

07:58 AM on 07/08/2008

Don't you wish!!!

[portateck]

12:37 AM on 07/08/2008

The ego of this campaign. It reminds me of the old bloom county comics. The obamamaniacs have given obama such a swelled head that he wants to be worshipped by a larger audience. An egomaniac with an inferiority complex.

[Mercurial]

12:57 AM on 07/08/2008

I might understand you if I knew wtf old bloom county comics were. And I'm not an Obamamanicac....I am an Obamacan.... Now run along and play with your Sean Hannity doll if you can't make nice.

[Youth4Obama]

12:35 AM on 07/08/2008

I WANNA GO!!!!! Im sure it'll be an epic moment in American history.

[Sparty1]

11:09 PM on 07/07/2008

I'm buying tickets right now! We will definitely be among the 75,000 spectators.

Obama '08

[rosal]

11:31 PM on 07/07/2008

You should see my face all green with envy. I wish I could go. Have a great time!

[happypup]

12:13 AM on 07/08/2008

I'm jealous! Please be sure to let all your buddies here on HuffPo know what it was like, okay?

[bosshogg]

10:27 PM on 07/07/2008

since they wont be able to drop balloons how about fireworks or is that a lil too much

[wayoutleft]

09:52 PM on 07/07/2008

production concept is a very serious issue. the wembley di tribute was absolutely first class- best i've seen- but wembley's not for american football. wembley looked full of people deleriously having fun. sometimes you've got 75,000 ppl in a stadium and the thing still looks big and cavernous- still empty- like a lot of state university graduations. if there's wind- all your acoustics change. what's the stage configuration and who will be on it? will anybody else speak first- a very good idea since it lets all the sound and camera stations get directed before barack's on. but whom? at this point he will have a vp picked. does this event change who that will be? do you let the college cuties rush the stage? what about vending licensing? make up for close camera looks weird on diamondvision. do you film the event for cinema release? they should. pennebaker, robert frank and the "ladies and gentlemen, the rolling stones" guys - or "last waltz" guys are the best. a star is born. don't have roadies crawling around testing stuff for 20" either. get a jib to go maybe 240d while he's speaking. what's the backround? arial from blimps- commercial exposure on blimps? any professionals with insights? please?

[thinklib]

10:18 PM on 07/07/2008

Don't forget free bottled water. Then Obama could turn it into wine.

[doctorwang]

12:06 AM on 07/08/2008

Just like the PUMA-ites turned Hillary's loss into whine.......

[happypup]

12:14 AM on 07/08/2008

Something tells me your might not be a Obama supporter? Could it be your cocky sarcasm? Yah, that is it.

[wayoutleft]

10:43 PM on 07/07/2008

i can't help it. could dnc commission a dedicated new mix from jay-z to set up the crowd? that would be so awesome!!! you can't use stock stadium pa!? can you? is it 70 volts?
how far do you want to go with support musical artists? there is absolutely nobody in the world too big to warm up for barack. what kind of event this could be boggles the mind. whitney houston or celine dion could close.

[doctorwang]

12:59 AM on 07/08/2008

I take it you're in the entertainment business......

[thinklib]

09:03 PM on 07/07/2008

It's all theater.

The larger venue means there will be room for a healing station and a pond for Obama to walk across.

[jpcline004]

09:20 PM on 07/07/2008

and he will cap the evening by kicking your head 50 yards through the uprights

[thinklib]

09:30 PM on 07/07/2008

Sense of humor. Get one.

[NeoLiberal]

10:38 PM on 07/07/2008

Ouch.

Apparently bringing apathetic voters back into active duty is a bad thing???

That's the problem. Cynics are bemoaning their powerlessness while berating those who are taking charge of their own destinies.

Smacks a tad hypocritical, wouldn't you think...?

Some just aren't used to believing, because they've been bilked and abused by the GOP for so long.

Wake up, little one, and wipe your eyes. You're about to get a crash course in real Americanism.

[Tropiholic]

08:06 PM on 07/07/2008

great idea, he continues to inject fresh new scenarios into this campaign.

[JJK]

07:20 PM on 07/07/2008

I am sure that many others have pointed this out already, but, to my knowledge, the last Democratic Party Presidential Nominee to deliver his Acceptance Speech at a different venue than the Convention itself was John Kennedy at Memorial Colliseum in Los Angeles in 1960.

[patmancando]

07:41 PM on 07/07/2008

And MO dresses like Jackie...........can't wait to see the pillbox.

[Janemas]

07:57 PM on 07/07/2008

Really? Did Jackie's dresses cost her $135.00? Nope. Jackie's taste was too rich. Michele shops at JC Penny and Target for her casuals and sometimes evenings. It is the press who is comparing her to Jackie but in a light way so don't get your pants in a hot seat. They can't help what the pundits say... the media your paying attention are of course only news gossip-entertainment personalities... not the creme de la creme in journalism. So sit back and relax... Jackie will live on as the lady who spent a lot of money (bless her heart). At least Michelle is not dressing up in outfits for 20 year olds like Mrs. McCain.

[msmaggie]

08:58 PM on 07/07/2008

Oh not at all. She (Michele) has the raw material but needs some serious designer help
Se'll get there and then watch out.

[patmancando]

07:42 PM on 07/07/2008

He loves those JFK parallels

[ChicagoPunk]

08:43 PM on 07/07/2008

There's no hate like conservative hate.

[pupbayer]

11:54 PM on 07/07/2008

Yes, he does. It's just creepy. It's like he's not really a candidate who can stand on his own...he has to keep copying Kennedy like he thinks he's in a movie or something.

[doctorwang]

06:50 PM on 07/07/2008

On Thursday, August 28th, Barack's scheduled to formally accept the Democratic nomination in a speech at the convention hall in front of the assembled delegates.

Instead, Barack will leave the convention hall and join more than 75,000 people for a huge, free, open-air event where he will deliver his acceptance speech to the American people.

It's going to be an amazing event, and Barack would like you to join him. Free tickets will become available as the date approaches, but we've reserved a special place for a few of the people who brought us this far and who continue to drive this campaign.

If you make a donation of $5 or more between now and midnight on July 31st, you could be one of 10 supporters chosen to fly to Denver and spend two days and nights at the convention, meet Barack backstage, and watch his acceptance speech in person. Each of the ten supporters who are selected will be able to bring one guest to join them.

Make a donation now and you could have a front row seat to history:

https://donate.barackobama.com/yourconvention

We'll follow up with more details on this and other convention activities as we get closer, but please take a moment and pass this note to someone you know who might like to be there.

It will be an event you'll never forget.

Thank you,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

[patmancando]

07:52 PM on 07/07/2008

They are using this as a campaign fund raiser...........only $5 dollars......for a 1 of 4 chance.......no how many $5 donations it takes to make $87 million?....hey, maybe they can have HBO put it on pay per view and make a few million. What a crass way to get campaign donations. Just five dollars............and a one in a few million chance to sit in the front row of this history making event.
And what if it is rained out............or has a tornado go through?

[doctorwang]

08:30 PM on 07/07/2008

"maybe they can have HBO put it on pay per view and make a few million"

Great idea patmancando! I'd be willing to spend $5 and watch it on HBO. Better still, I'd pay $5 to watch it on a large screen in an arena (think of the media opportunity!). I'm sure other Obama supporters would too! I'm going to email your idea to the Obama camp right away! You're a genuis!!!

[happypup]

12:32 AM on 07/08/2008

Perhaps you BFF Hillary could try something similar for her campaign debt.

[Mercurial]

07:54 PM on 07/07/2008

I'm on my way to donate and waiting for the spoilers to start trashing him for this also. Its pathetic. Wonder who will be first?

[kitty3363]

08:07 PM on 07/07/2008

Pick Me! Pick Me! I love trashing his Emptysuitness! Okay so this is so gross and meglomaniacal. What a scary self involved lying creep! He needs 75,000 adoring fans to fawn and faint for the Precious. YUK. I'd sooner drink from a burning lake of fire than vote for that manipulating whining baby. GO PUMAS!

[bosshogg]

06:28 PM on 07/07/2008

obama announce this the same day mcsame was in denver, obama also did something similar when he got beat in west virgina by having john edwards endorse him a few days later to take away his opponent momentum they may receive................ very smart

[XME]

11:52 PM on 07/07/2008

Date we get our hopes up that our next president will be one who actually thinks before acting?

[XME]

12:26 AM on 07/08/2008

Uh...make that "DARE we". = )

[wayoutleft]

06:27 PM on 07/07/2008

who's producing? showco does a real nice job for the few mega-rockers who can book like this... or in house bronco-related grips... the wembley guys pulled off the princess di memorial event in real good shape this spring. they could consult... where are the relevant unions at with this. is union staffing a deal-breaker? this is high risk for barack. diamondvision isn't exactly the warmest most flattering medium to convey an engaging personality.