Donald Trump has been drawing large crowds at events throughout the country, but his next event in Alabama could draw his largest gathering yet.
Trump is holding a Friday night “pep rally” in Mobile, Alabama, and because of increased expected attendance, a last minute venue change is taking place, the campaign said Thursday.
Previously planned for the nearby Civic Center – which can hold up to 4,000 people – the event is now being moved to the 43,000-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium, normally home to high school football games.
“It’s because of Mr. Trump’s message of making America great again which is why people want to come out and hear that message,” Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told CNN.
As of Thursday morning, 35,000 tickets to the event have been distributed, according to the Trump Campaign. Tickets are being made available on an Eventbrite page for free. Local police spokesman Terence Perkins confirmed to CNN that the City of Mobile Police Department is expecting at least 30,000 people to turn out.
Ed Behm, director of operations with Ladd-Peebles Stadium says that they don’t know exactly how many people will actually turn out, so they’re operating under the assumption of maximum capacity. They plan to hire additional staff, he says.
“The venue is a lot bigger, so obviously it’s a lot harder to have personal interaction,” Lewandowski says. Trump is expected to mainly focus on immigration, and “talk about a number of things that he always talks about,” said Lewandowski.
Mobile Police say they will have 50 to 60 officers working the event, in addition to Mr. Trump’s private security detail and event security.
As for any unexpected surprise guests, celebrity, or bald eagle appearances, according to Trump’s campaign manager, “you’re gonna have to wait and see.”