Thousands of Colorado voters journeyed to their hometown stadium to witness Barack Obama make history last night, and for energized Democrats, it was far more thrilling than any football game. At our very own Mile High, where the beloved Broncos play, we sat in the stands above the floor, with its huge tangle of press people and the lively sea of delegates, and watched the colorful spectacle along with the rest of the world. Perhaps we were a bit miffed not to hear any of the event’s stars mention the lovely setting or praise their hosts, but it was a rousing evening nonetheless.

The line to get through security and into the stadium was over two miles long throughout the afternoon   and evening. The road closures and Secret Service perimeter made it much trickier to get to the stadium, and there was plenty of confusion as people piled off the light rail train and into the multitude. Once inside, was an eerie sight to look out over the city and realize that every road in a very large radius, including the ever-snarled Interstate 25 just below, was silent.

The people streaming into the stadium throughout the afternoon were pumped up as it was, and drum players from Denver East High School awakened them further as they exited the security tent. After being exhorted to pray for rain on Obama’s big night, the followers of ultraconservative Christian group, Focus on the Family, had their faith tested as not a single cloud marred the light blue and brilliantly sunny sky.

The riot-clad police so visible earlier in the week were absent. Cops patrolled the event in numbers, but they wore their normal uniforms and looked entirely less frightening. And it was rather titillating to see the sharpshooters stationed with their rifles and scopes around the very top of the undulating stadium walls. Although we were not given drinking straws or plastic lids (the vendor said they could be used as weapons), thousands of little American flags on much more dangerous wooden dowels were passed out to the crowd by volunteers.

Around 3:00 p.m., Colorado’s own Yonder Mountain String Band kicked off the festivities with some Rocky Mountain bluegrass. Guitarist Adam Aijala gushed, “To say we are honored to be here is an understatement. My mom’s at home crying right now.” Following the music, members of the Colorado delegation, including a very hoarse Governor Bill Ritter, made short speeches. Rep. Diana DeGette made one of the few MLK references of the evening – despite it being the 45th anniversary of his I Have a Dream address -- closing her remarks by describing Obama as “a president who will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

As the sun set and the stadium darkened, hundreds of flashbulbs flickered like powerful fireflies. During Obama’s biography video, this rowdy audience of more than 85,000 people fell almost totally silent. Little Annison Yates (see photograph of Annison above) turned to the owner of the lap she was sitting on and whispered, “You can’t imagine how happy I am right now.” When it was all over and we were slowly filing out of the stadium, the thundering chants that had erupted in the crowd all night continued: “Yes we can!”, “Obama!”, “Sí se puede!”

For the hundreds of pedestrians walking towards downtown away from the floodlit stadium across a deserted Colfax Avenue, it was time to buy a few more buttons and reflect on what had just gone down in our hometown. A teenager in a suit and tie skipped and shouted gleefully, “We love you Obama, you the maaaaan, bro!”

It seems Denver managed to pull off a very successful event. This morning, Mayor John Hickenlooper smiled broadly and was congratulated by local TV reporters, who told him they had been digging for disgruntled convention-goers but found none. Satisfied that what happened last night in Denver will make one hell of an exciting chapter in the history books, Hickenlooper vowed to go home and take a long nap.

Davidmixner.com would like to thank Katharine Bernuth for her outstanding reporting at this week's Democratic Convention in Denver. Great job, Katharine!