Thought Theater

There is a surge of speculation in Denver that Barack Obama is considering the possibility of accepting the Democratic Party's nomination at Invesco Field at Mile High, the 76,000 seat home of the Denver Broncos rather than at the Pepsi Center. While there has been no official announcement or confirmation, there appears to be some validity to the rumor.

From 9News:

DENVER - Sen. Barack Obama's campaign is considering having the Democratic presidential nominee make his acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High instead of the Pepsi Center, according to two people in a position to know details of the idea.

News of the potential relocation of the key event was first mentioned on the DemConWatch blog.

The two people told The Associated Press on Thursday that the plan is under consideration, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

NBC officials involved with convention coverage preparations tell 9NEWS that all indications are that the event will be held at Invesco. Those officials stressed that the move was not official until the DNC makes its final decision which is not expected until at least Monday.

Democratic National Convention Committee spokeswoman Natalie Wyeth did not offer confirmation.

"We have nothing to announce on that," Wyeth said.

Offered a chance to deny published reports of the move, Wyeth referred a reporter to her original statement.

Obama campaign spokeswoman Shannon Gilson, who is based in Chicago, told 9NEWS no decisions have been made.

Denver 2008 Host Committee spokesman Chris Lopez declined comment when reached by 9NEWS.

"We'll wait for the announcement," Lopez said. "We don't have any comment on anything."

The tenor of the responses and the absence of definitive denials certainly suggest that the idea is receiving serious consideration. In recent years, the major networks have opted for less and less convention coverage. An event of this magnitude would clearly be a means to enliven what has become a rather stilted four days of canned propaganda. The cat may be out of the bag but I guess we'll have to wait and see.