CHARLOTTE, NC (WIS) -
Perhaps
no one's feeling the financial pains of moving President Obama's speech more
than Robert Tyson.
He had a
golden spot right inside one of the main pedestrian entrances, a block away
from the Bank of America Stadium.
"Kind of slowed us down," Tyson said. "Where we're at now, we're real slow, but we're trying to make things
happen."
After
the DNC decided to move Obama's speech inside the Time Warner Cable Arena because of the threat of severe weather, that
put all the foot traffic blocks away from Tyson's souvenir stand.
Tyson shares his disappointment with Sharon Himes, one of the 50,000 people who wont get a chance to see the president deliver his nomination speech.
"They told us, 'Sorry, we
can't let you in because of the attendance. Delegates are going to come first,' and I was so upset," said Himes. "So heartbroken.
Himes
says she worked hard for her ticket.
"I stood in line for 6
hours, waiting to get this ticket, was one of the fourth people in line to get
a ticket. Low and behold, can't even use it," Himes said.
"We stand behind the
call, said DNC CEO Steve Kerrigan. "We're confident it was the right decision to make. We can't risk anybody's safety."
DNC officials expected around 70,000 to fill the stadium, but now have to
figure out how and who to squeeze into the 20,000 capacity arena.
Himes knows she probably won't get in. "Still a little sad, but I
understand," she said.
People like Tyson are working to figure out how to break even.
"It's the best part about
it is sticking together," said Tyson. "We stay together, we'll be together."
President Obama did a phone conference with the people who won't see him Thursday night.
The
president is set to speak just after 10 p.m.
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