What to Know
- President Donald Trump's rally Tuesday night at the Wildwoods Convention Center is already drawing a crowd.
- What appeared to be thousands of people lined, some as early as Sunday, to ensure they get one of the 7,000 seats inside the rally.
- Having a ticket to the Keep America Great Rally doesn't ensure a supporters get into the event hall.
The line of people, tents and blankets wrapped outside the Wildwoods Convention Center looked like something reserved for a rock concert, as sausages cooked on the grill and people cheered, but this event is all about President Donald Trump.
Tuesday night’s reelection event in the shore town of Wildwood, New Jersey, is ticketed, but also first-come, first-serve. The people in line, snaking through multiple corrals, wanted to make sure they have one of the 7,000 or so seats for the Keep America Great Rally featuring Democrat-turned-Republican U.S. Congressman Jeff Van Drew.
By early afternoon, Wildwood officials estimated that around 12,500 people were already in line, far exceeding the amount of space available in the venue.
Drivers passing by Monday honked horns at folks in line, some waving Trump flags.
“For as cold as the weather is – and it’s been freezing – the people surrounding us are as warm as it’s been cold,” a bundled-up Nicki Micciche said. “We’ve found family.”
Micciche made the trip down to the Jersey Shore from Long Island to meet up with her sister, Mercedes Nunez, who came from North Carolina. They weren’t alone.
Some supporters claimed their spot in line on Sunday.
Van Drew estimated that about 100,000 tickets have been requested, so the line is only expected to grow before doors open at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The entire Trump rally is giving a business boost to the Wildwoods during the normally slow winter season. Food trucks and vendors are selling items to the people in line. Portable toilets are set up and traffic restrictions will be in place.
NBC10 will continue to have full coverage of Trump’s rally on air and in our app.
