Saturday, March 7, 2024–5:32 p.m.
-City of Rome/WRGA Staff reports-
Chris Fincher with Floyd County Emergency Management and Kelly Madden, Public Information Officer with the Rome Police Department, share the latest on parking and security for the Trump campaign rally as well as traffic issues that could impact the area on Saturday.
Officials in Rome, Georgia were informed by campaign staff earlier this week that former President and Presidential Campaign candidate Donald J. Trump will hold a campaign rally at the Forum River Center on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
Event Area & Access
The Forum River Center is located at 301 Tribune Street in downtown Rome, Georgia. Rome’s Town Green is located just outside of The Forum, between the center and the adjacent parking deck. Tickets to the event are available in advance through the campaign’s website.
Entry to the event is via pedestrian traffic only and begins at 1 pm; the main event begins at 5 pm. All attendees will enter from Broad Street through Mitchell Plaza (3rd Avenue at Broad Street) and will be screened prior to entry into the Town Green and Forum River Center.
Safety Protocols
Attendees are asked to prepare for the event much like visiting an airport prior to arriving at security checkpoints – no sticks, no umbrellas, no liquids, no chairs, no cigarette lighters nor any weapons of any type will be permitted past the event entry screening area. No overnight camping is permitted at the Town Green or in the downtown Rome area.
Parking & Restricted Areas
Parking will be prohibited at the Forum River Center parking deck as well as at the Historic Floyd County Courthouse. The Forum River Center parking deck (also known as 3rd Avenue parking deck) closes Friday, March 8 at NOON. There will be no access to your vehicle after the deck closes. Parking deck permit holders, please check your email for additional details.
Parking areas will be open at Barron Stadium, Ridge Ferry Park, and behind the levee at Heritage Park. Please exercise caution when parking on any private property as many businesses have regulations regarding long-term parking.
W. 1st Street and Tribune Street will close at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 9. Portions of Tribune Street will close Thursday evening. All trails between the Historic Courthouse at N 5th Ave and Hawthorne Suites Hotel will be closed beginning at 9:30 am Saturday, March 9. The trail that crosses the John Ross Pedestrian Bridge will also be closed from the Courtyard Marriott hotel to the Forum River Center.
All vendors in the City of Rome should possess a vendor license which can be obtained from the City Clerk’s office. Vendors are not allowed to do business within the city limits without a vending license and cannot set up on public property including public parks. Overnight camping is not allowed at the Forum River Center, Town Green, Broad Street, or Downtown Rome.
Plan for Traffic
Please plan for traffic delays around Second Avenue and Broad Street as the westbound outside lane of Second Avenue at Hawthorne Suites will be shut down from 9 am through 7 pm Saturday.
If not traveling to the campaign event in Downtown Rome, utilize GA Loop 1 to travel around centralized locations, or consider alternative timing. Expect delays and/or traffic changes as a campaign motorcade travels through Rome.
