Replies

Posted: Thursday, Sep. 06, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. Charlotte authorities shut the doors of Time Warner Cable Arena again Thursday night, turning away many who were waiting to get inside for the final night of the Democratic National Convention.

Officials began admitting people a few hours later, but on a limited basis.

Rob Kinniburg, Charlotte’s fire marshal, ordered the doors closed about 7 p.m., because the arena had reached capacity. It was the second straight night he took such action.

This time, the group of those turned away included some notable names — UNC Charlotte Chancellor Phillip DuBois; former Pittsburgh Steelers running back and NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris; and Al Hunt, a Bloomberg News columnist and husband of PBS’ Judy Woodruff.

Jonathan Leonard, the city’s deputy fire marshal, said people were being admitted the arena at 9:30 p.m., but on a limited basis.

“Every building has its occupant capacity,” Leonard said. “It was closely monitored all day. The fire department has been counting in-and-out.”

The convention’s Joint Information Center issued a statement Thursday night saying, “The capacity of Time-Warner Cable Arena is dynamic and fluid, depending on the event. Fire officials are working with the DNCC to provide the safest means of entry and departure for this evening’s venues.”

A Durham police officer, one of the visiting law enforcement officers in town to help with the convention, told The Observer that the order to close the doors came about 7 p.m.

“The fire marshal came by, took a visual head count, and decided it was too full,” said the officer, declining to give his name. “Only delegates, congressmen, and (U.S.) Senators are allowed in.”

There had been speculation of a possible problem with overcrowding at the arena, especially after DNC officials decided Wednesday to move the entire Thursday evening program from Bank of America Stadium, where more than 70,000 people had been expected, to the arena, where capacity is somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000.

On Wednesday night, Kinniburg closed the arena doors for about 30 minutes, saying the arena had reached capacity. Authorities moved some of the people who were standing in hallways and aisles to their seats. When that happened, Kinniburg allowed the doors to be reopened.

On Thursday night, the doors apparently remained shut — except for delegates and members of Congress.

Not all the delegates got inside so easily.

William Pascrell III, a New Jersey delegate, said he arrived about 7:45 p.m. at the arena and spent two hours being sent to different entrances. He finally was admitted about 9:45 p.m.

“I got jerked around,” said Pascrell, who was attending his sixth convention. “There’s never been a time that the fire marshal locked down the building (at other conventions). It could have been better organized.”

It was much the same for Chris Valdez, a delegate from New York. He said he was stuck outside the arena for about 90 minutes before getting inside about 9:40 p.m.

“We were sent from one block to (another) ... to five locations,” said Valdez, fanning himself with his delegate credential as he headed to his seat. At each location, he said, “They said they would have someone waiting at the door.”