Staff Reports
Multiple watch parties are being held across the Charlotte region on Thursday to let people view President Barack Obama’s nomination acceptance speech.
Among the groups hosting events is The Blumenthal Center for Performing Arts. The organization is hosting a free screening at McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square, 345 North College St. in Charlotte. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and seating is first come, first served. The theatre holds about 700 people.
Another party is planned at the Knight Theater at Levine Center of the Arts, which has 1,191 seats according to the website. The event will run from 7 p.m. to midnight at the theater, which is located at 430 South Tryon St.
The parties are among hundreds of watch parties being organized by Obama campaign field offices, area organizations and businesses and private individuals.
Many of the parties are listed on the Obama For America campaign website, which can be viewed at http://bit.ly/TmNSay People are encourage to RSVP in advance for many events.
The Obama campaign has encouraged people to host viewings or block parties to watch the acceptance speeches by Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. The call was renewed Wednesday after the speeches were moved out of Bank of America Stadium, removing the chance for 65,000 people who received community credentials to attend in person. The event was moved to Time Warner Cable Arena after concerns about severe weather on Thursday.
One of the largest watch parties will be in the Crown Ballroom of the Charlotte Convention Center at 501 S. College St. — blocks from Time Warner Cable Arena where Obama will accept his renomination. The doors open at 7 p.m.
The ballroom holds about 4,200 people. Inviting supporters with credentials for the stadium, the Obama For America reelection team said in an e-mail: "We’ll watch the speeches together, cheer together, and have a blast here in Charlotte."
Here is a list of some other parties planned, including those by Obama campaign field offices:
• Burke County: 8 p.m.-11 p.m., 310 S. Sterling St., Morganton. http://bit.ly/OXjUUH
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Cabarrus: 7 p.m.-midnight; Bonfire, 970 Branchview Dr. Northeast Concord.
http://bit.ly/TmH3G2•
Lincoln: 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; Tuckers Grove Life Center, 4601 Highway 73, Iron Station.
http://bit.ly/TrsqQe•
Iredell: 8 p.m.-11 p.m.; 233 East Front Street, Statesville
http://bit.ly/OpQIGm•
Rowan: 7 p.m.-11 p.m.; 1411 W Innes St., Salisbury
http://bit.ly/NexDKh•
Union: 8 p.m.-11 p.m.; 553 S. Indian Trail Rd., Suite C, Indian Trail
http://bit.ly/TYUyHT•
Fuel Pizzaalso plans to host screenings at its eight locations in the Charlotte area, starting at 6 p.m. Anyone who shows a community credential for the original stadium speech and delegates will receive a free dessert, the company said.
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St. Peter’s Catholic Church:9-11:30 p.m., 507 S. Tryon St., Charlotte.
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City Tavern:Offering complimentary appetizer for credential holders. Parties start at about 7 p.m. at its locations — Southpark Mall, 4331 Barclay Downs Road, Charlotte; Stonecrest Shopping Center,7828 Rea Road, Charlotte; and Rivergate Shopping Center, 14142 Rivergate Parkway, Charlotte.
• The
Captain Jack Societyis hosting a dinner and screening at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in uptown. Tickets are $175 and will benefit the Charlotte in 2012 committee.
This is a partial list of watch parties being held today. More will be added as details are announced.
Compiled by April Bethea and Adam Bell
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