Why DNC's Travis Dredd has nightmares about balloons

Travis Dredd is an ex-Marine, so not much scares him - except the thought of a failed balloon drop at the Democratic National Convention's climactic moment Thursday night.

"Since 2004, that's been my nightmare," said Dredd, 45, deputy chief executive for the Democratic National Convention operations. "In 2004, they didn't fall right away. I have nightmares about that happening again."

As much as Dredd supports Hillary Clinton, his current gig is anything but political.

Dredd is in charge, on behalf of the entire Democratic party, of making sure that everything is set up for the convention at the Wells Fargo arena.

For an idea of what's involved, consider that over the last four conventions, it cost $13 million to $15 million to convert each arena into a political convention hall - for wiring, tents, a stage, seat removal, and the essential balloon drop.

That's the same amount it might take to build 46-unit apartment building, a local builder estimated.

But, it would take 15 months to construct the apartment building, and the entire convention goes up and out in just under 12 weeks.

How's it going?

Better than expected. Because the Wells Fargo Center team had put on a national convention in 2000 [when the Republicans nominated George W. Bush in Philadelphia], we were able to get a head start. You usually spend a lot of time with an arena like this, getting them to understand what's coming.

What don't they realize?

Most of the time people don't understand the total complexity in terms of the amount of construction. You have to take seats out. We gut the suites. They are turned into studios for the media.

Do you get sick of people here talking about the GOP convention Philadelphia hosted in 2000?

Convention planning is not so much political. It's very operational. Even our friends on the RNC, on the operational side, have been great. We talk to each other. We share stories. We help each other.

Here, the arena folks, because of their experience, can say, 'We ran wires through this wall.'

If you look there - those are chillers, 250 tons worth of extra air-conditioning brought into the arena, because in 2000, they had some heat issues on peak nights.

You've worked on several DNC conventions, including Charlotte, N.C., in 2012. It's a high-stakes gig. How do you cope with the stress?

It's really the basics. You have to make sure you get enough sleep. You have to make sure you get enough water. Sleep, water, and surrounding yourself with good positive people.

How are the unions getting along at the Wells Fargo?

Our friends in labor have been great partners with us. Is it an opportunity for an education to learn about jurisdictions and figure out how to weave all the different folks together? Absolutely.

Can you give me an example of a sticking point you had to learn?

One thing I learned is there are two different jurisdictions about who can actually drive a forklift inside the arena. I think it's Laborers and Teamsters. They both have jurisdiction to do it and we had to come in and figure out which one was going to be able to do it.

You are from Los Angeles, but you've been here since June 2015. What surprised you about Philadelphia?

I had never been to Philadelphia and didn't know much about it. It feels like a small town in a big city and that's been really good.

Is there a special moment for you at the convention?

The magic moment is when the energy is the highest, which is usually the fourth night of the convention, just before the nominee comes out to speak. The intensity is amazing, just to stand in the middle of it for a moment.

Everyone clears out pretty quickly once the convention is over. How about you?

First, we have about 19 days to restore this place, so I'll be here. But right after that, the fantasy I have is me and my wife sitting on a beach and having a margarita.

Interview questions and answers have been edited for space.

jvonbergen@phillynews.com

215-854-2769@JaneVonBergen

StartText

Title: Deputy chief executive for the Democratic National Convention operations.

Home: Los Angeles, with his wife, Emily.

Here: Center City, since June 2015.

Resume: A Marine vet, he was a campaign staffer for Al Gore, John Kerry, and Barack Obama. Worked on three past conventions, serving as chief of staff for the 2012 convention in Charlotte, N.C.

Diploma: UCLA, political science, public policy.

Philly haunts: Dandelion for drinks, runs along the Schuylkill.

Cheesesteak: Wit whiz.

EndText

StartText

Where: Wells Fargo arena, Philadelphia.

Cost to build: Arena build-out averages $13 million to $15 million.

Size: 750,000 square feet.

Wired: 750 miles of cable, 125 miles of fiber, plus 300 wireless access points to boost communication.

Seats: 2,170 seats removed to build the stage; 1,324 added to the floor for delegates.

Media space: 120,000 square feet of room was created in media pavilions.

EndText