EXCLUSIVE: Officials From Wells Fargo Center React To Democratic National Convention News
By Noel McLaren
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Before the Wells Fargo Center welcomes hundreds of thousands of democrats in 2016, managers have a lot of work to do.
"It's going to be a long preparation period we're going to be out now 15 months or so," said General Manager Matt Homan.
In an exclusive TV interview with Eyewitness News, Homan says his team hit the ground running the second he got the news Thursday morning. He says the first step is to make sure he has extra staff on hand.
"Probably double that for something like the DNC," he said. "It's just the magnitude of the event and there's so many different moving parts."
Homan says they'll have to work closely with the secret service and city to orchestrate a seamless security team. Transportation from surrounding sports complex parking areas will also be a top priority.
The Wells Fargo Center is no stranger to hosting political conventions. Back in 2000 it hosted the RNC, but Homan says new upgrades will be an improvement.
"We have an HD WiFi system in the building now with over 400 access points in the building versus what we used to have in 2000 probably didn't have any because it was all hard wired," he said.
The DNC will land at the arena just in time for the building's 20th anniversary. Like Homan, many on staff were around for the RNC 15 years ago, and getting a second chance at a once in a lifetime opportunity is one they say they'll never forget.
