The Charlotte Bobcats’ arena is now fully set up for the Democratic National Convention, and Charlotte-area residents were invited to take a free first look Friday.
The Time Warner Cable Arena looks like it’s ready for a multi-million dollar rock concert.
Head of the convention Steve Kerrigan showed off the main stage Friday morning to middle and high school students from the North Carolina School for the Deaf.
"There’s going to be a podium that comes up right out of the floor, which is going to be amazing," Kerrigan said.
An interpreter used sign language to tell the deaf students what Kerrigan was saying. As they looked up at the giant stage and lights, their faces showed they shared Kerrigan’s excitement about the basketball-arena-turned-convention-hall.
And outside, a line of people waiting to see it for themselves wrapped around one side of the arena. Carolyn Buford said she couldn’t get tickets to attend the actual convention, so coming by today was the next best thing.
"Just curiosity and to be able to document a little bit of history for my grandchildren," Buford said. "There are eleven of them, so this is the closest I can get to that."
Another person in line, Janice Jones, did get a ticket to the convention next week. But she said she came today for a preview.
"Just to see how it’s going to be set up, and it’s making history, so I’m just going to be a part of it," Jones said.
Organizers said thousands of people signed up to see Friday's open house.