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Work is underway on a $7 million temporary re-model of Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte in preparation for the Democratic National Convention this September. The arena will be closed to all events for the next seven weeks.
Just moments after DNC organizers got the keys to Time Warner Cable Arena, workers were already busy gutting the corporate suites to convert them into TV studios. "We've got more than 20 miles of cable going in" to upgrade electricity capabilities in the suites, explains Theo LaCompte, Chief Operating Officer of the Democratic National Convention Committee.
The DNC will pay the Charlotte Bobcats $5 million for exclusive access to the city-owned arena over the next seven weeks. Bobcats Executive Vice President Bill Duffy says that's a fair price for an event of such importance to the city. Funds to rent and renovate the arena come out of the $36.6 million the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee has promised to raise. Charlotte-based Rodgers Builders is handling the temporary arena remodel. CEO Pat Rodgers says many of the contractors are unionized, but all are being compensated according to union wages and conditions.
The DNCC has pledged to put everything at Time Warner Cable Arena back the way they found it once the convention is over.