What you should know before Bernie Sanders’ Phoenix rally

PHOENIX – Two days after disappointing Super Tuesday results, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders looks to breathe life into his Democratic presidential campaign with a rally in Phoenix.

Sanders, who after a strong showing in the early state contests has fallen behind former Vice President Joe Biden in the delegate count, will stop Thursday evening at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sanders’ appearance at the state fairgrounds off McDowell Road and 19th Avenue:

When: The event is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets: Attendees will be admitted on first-come, first-served basis. An online RSVP is encouraged, but tickets aren’t required.

Parking: Two entries will be open for the fairgrounds lots, on 19th Avenue at Monte Vista Road and on Encanto Boulevard east of 19th Avenue. Parking will also be available at the lot on the southwest corner of 19th Avenue and Encanto.

Because there may be more cars than spaces, use of public transportation or ride sharing is recommended. Parking in surrounding neighborhoods is discouraged because many of those residential areas require permits.

Traffic: No road closures are planned, but lanes may be restricted around the fairgrounds for traffic control.

Traffic is expected to be heavy in the area on McDowell Road, 19th Avenue and Grand Avenue throughout the day, especially at rush hour.

Security: The Arizona Department of Public Safety is in charge of security inside the arena. The Phoenix Police Department is handling security and traffic control around the venue.

Here’s information for inside the Colesium. https://t.co/7gaLiBtlA6 https://t.co/LHdC8mX52w

— Dept. Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) March 4, 2020

Prohibited items: No weapons of any kind, drugs or alcohol are allowed on the property. Glass bottles, laser pointers and selfie sticks are also barred.
Signs are allowed, but they can’t have handles.

Find a full list of prohibited items here.

Free speech zone: The north side of Encanto between 19th and 17th avenues has been designated for citizens to voice their opinions.

Weather: Thursday’s forecast calls for sunny skies with a high temperature in the mid-80s. Attendees should dress accordingly, expect large crowds and long lines, and stay hydrated.

What’s next? Barring unforeseen developments, Sanders will be back in Phoenix at least one more time before Arizona’s March 17 presidential preference election. A Democratic debate is set for March 15 at Arizona Federal Theatre.

With Sen. Elizabeth Warren dropping out of the race Thursday, it’s likely to be a two-person debate between Sanders and Biden.

KTAR News will broadcast the rally live on 92.3 FM, online or via our app.

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