Convention CEO Steve Kerrigan addresses the media Tuesday at Bank of America Stadium where President Barack Obama will give his acceptance speech on the final night of the Democrats' convention. (Photo: Glenn Burkins for Qcitymetro.com)
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By Steve Harrison and Jim Morrill
jmorrill@charlotteobserver.com

This year's Democratic National Convention will shrink from four days to three, and include public events at the Charlotte area's two largest venues -- Bank of America Stadium and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Officials announced the changes this morning at a news conference on the sidelines of Bank of America Stadium, which featured the convention logo on its electronic scoreboards.

President Obama will deliver his acceptance speech at the 74,000-seat stadium on Sept. 6, the last night of the convention, just as he did four years ago in Denver.

"From the start, this convention has been about engaging more people in the process," said U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee. "We saw in Denver in 2008 how holding the president's acceptance speech at Invesco Field allowed more people to be part of the process....

"We wanted the convention to be about more than the pageantry and speeches you see on TV."

In lieu of the convention opening on Monday, Sept. 3 -- Labor Day -- organizers plan to hold an event at the speedway to showcase not only the Charlotte region but the South. What exactly that will entail is unclear.

Several speakers, including Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, appeared to go out of their way to say the event would "celebrate North Carolina and Virginia" as well as the South. Obama carried both states in 2008.

Convention CEO Steve Kerrigan said the speedway event will be dedicated to "families and the community hosting the convention."

Organizers said it also will help recruit volunteers and energize Obama supporters.

In response to questions, Kerrigan said shortening the convention by a day wouldn't reduce the cost. He also declined to say how organizers are doing on their goal of raising nearly $37 million.

"We're right on track," he said.

Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, who watched the news conference, told reporters later that the team is not charging rent for the stadium. The team also will have to make its first regular season game an away game.

In this case," he said, "we were willing to do it."

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