T?? About "American Idol" Denver Auditions (Center: 2013, amusement park)

[Newsboy]

Out the window behind the celebrity judges was the Denver skyline ... and people riding carnival rides?! What was that?!

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Out the window behind the celebrity judges was the Denver skyline ... and people riding carnival rides?! What was that?!

Elitch Gardens is downtown:

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Elitch Gardens is downtown:

Thanks never knew about that. How come it's never shown on national images of Denver more often?

[flamadiddle]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Thanks never knew about that. How come it's never shown on national images of Denver more often?

It's just an amusement park like every city has, only Denver's is very close to the downtown area.

https://www.elitchgardens.com/

[PDF]

Originally Posted by flamadiddle

It's just an amusement park like every city has, only Denver's is very close to the downtown area.

https://www.elitchgardens.com/

And that fact makes it impressive...so you would think they would want to show it off.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by PDF

And that fact makes it impressive...so you would think they would want to show it off.

I agree we really should show it off. It had a lot more press when it was Six Flags.

I don't think Denver ppl appreciate it honestly.

[Newsboy]

Well then, the next obvious question is: Where were the AI auditions held to provide that view? Or was it just a green-screen background (didn't look like it).

The Atlanta auditions (which shared the Denver episode) were at the W Hotel in Midtown, but the image behind the celebs was a photo of the Midtown skyline taken from Piedmont Park. The holding area for the contestants was on the top floor, and they rode an elevator down to the ballroom for their auditions. Point being, the ATL skyline behind the celebs was not real. But Denver's, you could actually see people RIDING RIDES. Kinda cool.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

In order to see the skyline of Denver behind Elitch's, the photo has to be taken looking from west to east. Most of the photos that advertise Denver look from east to west, which showcases the beautiful Rocky Mountains behind the downtown skyline. Much more impressive than some amusement park that could be in any city anywhere.

[davidv]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Well then, the next obvious question is: Where were the AI auditions held to provide that view? Or was it just a green-screen background (didn't look like it).

The Atlanta auditions (which shared the Denver episode) were at the W Hotel in Midtown, but the image behind the celebs was a photo of the Midtown skyline taken from Piedmont Park. The holding area for the contestants was on the top floor, and they rode an elevator down to the ballroom for their auditions. Point being, the ATL skyline behind the celebs was not real. But Denver's, you could actually see people RIDING RIDES. Kinda cool.

This is an assumption because I don't watch the show.

Auditions were probably held at Sports Authority Field. The east side of the stadium overlooks downtown Denver and with Elitch Gardens between the two. The amusement park and the stadium are on either side of I-25 and within close walking distance of each other.

ETA: The AI site lists the Denver Coliseum as the audition site, but that is definitely not the Coliseum. I am going stand by my original assertion for the audition in front of the judges. The holding area / first auditions were probably held at the Coliseum with finalists bused to Sports Authority Field. It makes sense largely because the stadium would have all the necessary production facilities to host the auditions.

In case you are wondering:

- The view is looking from west to east, ie. the mountains cannot be seen because they are behind the contestant, not the judges.
- The prominent white domed building is the Pepsi Center, it is adjacent to Elitch Gardens.
- The yellow tents seen only when the camera is on Harry Connick Jr. are the Cirque du Soliel tents that are set up in the Pepsi Center Parking lots when they are in town.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by davidv

This is an assumption because I don't watch the show.

Auditions were probably held at Sports Authority Field. The east side of the stadium overlooks downtown Denver and with Elitch Gardens between the two. The amusement park and the stadium are on either side of I-25 and within close walking distance of each other.

ETA: The AI site lists the Denver Coliseum as the audition site, but that is definitely not the Coliseum. I am going stand by my original assertion for the audition in front of the judges. The holding area / first auditions were probably held at the Coliseum with finalists bused to Sports Authority Field. It makes sense largely because the stadium would have all the necessary production facilities to host the auditions.

In case you are wondering:

- The view is looking from west to east, ie. the mountains cannot be seen because they are behind the contestant, not the judges.
- The prominent white domed building is the Pepsi Center, it is adjacent to Elitch Gardens.
- The yellow tents seen only when the camera is on Harry Connick Jr. are the Cirque du Soliel tents that are set up in the Pepsi Center Parking lots when they are in town.

THANK YOU! This answers all my meaningless geeky questions. And knowing that the park is WEST of downtown explains why it's never seen in photos of the Denver skyline. I agree that the Rocky Mountains as a background is far more impressive.