Trump wants big sports stadium for Cleveland acceptance speech

Donald Trump wants to accept the GOP presidential nomination at a large outdoor sports stadium in Cleveland this summer, CNN reported Saturday.

{mosads}The Republican National Convention is in Quicken Loans Arena in July. But Trump is considering FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, and Progressive Field, home of MLB’s Cleveland Indians, for his headlining speech.

Trump, who clinched the nomination this week after surpassing 1,237 delegates, will give his speech on the final night of the convention. 

“It’s going to be a big production,” a Trump campaign adviser told CNN. “Given Trump’s profile and how he handles things, nothing is off the table.” 

Trump has criticized the 2012 GOP convention for being too boring. 

President Obama in 2008 delivered his convention speech to approximately 80,000 people at Sports Authority Field in Denver, home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos.

The move to a big stadium drew criticism from Republicans, like then-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. 

FirstEnergy Stadium has a capacity of 73,000 for football games. Progressive Field has a capacity of 37,675 for baseball games.

The campaign is closing in on signing the contract for one of the venues, the report said, adding that Trump prefers FirstEnergy Stadium. 

Trump staffers and volunteers will be sent to Cleveland soon to work with GOP officials to accelerate planning for the convention, which is thought to be behind schedule.