Sioux Falls Convention Center Prepares for Bernie Sanders
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http://www.keloland.com/news/article/politics/convention-center-prepares-for-bernie-sanders
Sioux Falls, SD
Staff members with the Convention Center at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center say Bernie Sanders's visit is no small feat. This caliber of event usually takes about a year to plan, but workers have to squeeze all of the preparations into just a couple of days.
The room where he will speak to his supporters was empty on Wednesday. The Convention Center is expecting thousands of people to attend. Whether you are Democrat or Republican, this type of event in Sioux Falls doesn't happen every day.
"It's so exciting. It's unbelievable to have a presidential campaign in our building," Stuart Webber, Director of Sales at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, said. "Really there's no room for error with this thing. The window is so tight to put something like this on."
Webber says a Bernie Sanders campaign representative called a few days ago. They and the Secret Service visited the site the next day.
"Anytime you have the Secret Service involved, it's a whole other level of security," Webber said.
Speaking of the Secret Service, security will be tight Thursday for Sanders's visit. Rather than using the newly installed metal detectors at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, agents will be using their own detectors and equipment. Webber says get here early.
"This is a big deal. Every event we have here is so important to us, but to have a presidential campaign come in and say, 'We choose this building for this very important event,' it just means a lot to us. We're very excited," Webber said.
Sanders is expected to go on stage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Doors to the Convention Center open at 5 p.m. Webber says to speed up the process of getting in, do not bring any bags. Any kind of weapon is banned. He also says you can bring signs, but they cannot have sticks on them.
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