Obama stage replaces goal posts at Denver's Invesco Field

By Alan Gomez, USA TODAY

DENVER — Preparing for Barack Obama's historic acceptance speech Thursday night at Invesco Field at Mile High has required an equally historic level of preparation.
More than 200 spotlights. Twenty 18-wheelers full of equipment. A crew of hundreds working nearly around the clock to prepare the stage for the Democratic National Convention's grand finale. "The magnitude of this is incomprehensible," said Bruce Crawford, the stadium crew chief overseeing the preparations.

Crawford has been sleeping in an office at the stadium since Friday night, when the Denver Broncos completed a pre-season game and the work began.

Crews cleared the field of benches, goal posts and rain tarps. The next morning, they began moving in massive components to build elevated platforms for journalists and the main stage — complete with faux-marble columns to mimic Washington's iconic architecture.

Crawford has overseen events at the stadium since it opened in 2001 and has produced concerts and music festivals for 30 years. He said none of that, however, has compared to this week's preparation, with workers for news organizations and stagehands marching up and down while he struggles to protect the $1.5 million field — a complex blend of synthetic grass and real bluegrass.

Obama stage replaces goal posts at Denver's Invesco Field....

Obama to Give Nomination Acceptance Speech in Football Stadium Before Over 75,000 People

By: Michael H. Cottman

Anticipating record crowds, the Democratic National Convention Committee announced Monday that Sen. Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination for president of the United States at Denver's INVESCO Field at Mile High, which can accommodate more than 75,000 people.

Breaking with tradition, Democrats said, Obama will speak at the expansive football stadium -- home of the Denver Broncos -- instead of at the Pepsi Center, the site of the national convention across town.

Obama’s speech on Aug. 28, the fourth and final night of the convention, coincides with the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963.

In a campaign of many historic moments, the Illinois senator will take his place in history in Denver as he strives to become America's first black president.

"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," Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement.

Obama to Give Nomination Acceptance Speech in Football Stadium....