HOUSTON-- Thousands of people are already lined up outside Houston's Toyota Center ahead of President Trump's visit. They are waiting and hoping to attend President Trump's Make America Great Again rally Monday night. Many Trump supporters camped out overnight and the line seems to keep growing outside the arena. Because ticket requests for the event exceeded 100,000 and the Toyota Center only holds 18,000 people, the Trump campaign organized a tailgate ahead of the rally. The tailgate includes food trucks, live music and appearances by Trump campaign spokespeople. Trump's speech will also be shown on big screens outside the arena.<doc-sep>The Houston Police Department will be "fully mobilized" for President Donald Trump's Monday downtown rally, for which at least 70,000 people have signed up despite the venue's roughly 18,000-person capacity, Chief Art Acevedo said Friday. Police began closing off streets around the Toyota Center Sunday evening, with closures on Bell, Jackson, La Branch and Polk streets near the arena. BACKERS: Abbott, Patrick to speak at Trump rally in Houston By 7 a.m. Friday, 77,854 people had signed up for the rally, according to a person familiar with the matter. Attendees must have tickets to enter and will be admitted in the order in which they line up. "Keep in mind that once the capacity is met, you won't get in whether you have a ticket or not," Acevedo said. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign was not considering moving to a bigger venue, the person familiar with the event said. Trump is holding the rally with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who is facing a re-election challenge from U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso. Acevedo said HPD had heard unconfirmed reports of a separate nearby rally for O'Rourke that could draw thousands more people. "We will have many many officers out and about," Acevedo said. "We will have officers on the high ground, low ground, in the air. We will have officers in plainclothes, we will have undercover officers, we will have react teams." He added that officers from the federal, state and county levels would lend support, with the usual Secret Service presence accompanying Trump. The police department expects people to "exercise their First Amendment rights in a lawful manner," Acevedo said, including protesters and counter-protesters. "You would be foolish not to," he said. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Trump's Texas campaign chairman, will also speak at the rally. Trump is set to begin speaking at 6:30. People will likely line up overnight for the rally, Acevedo said, adding that the department expects large crowds around the Toyota Center and downtown. He advised people who work downtown to plan accordingly for delays. The event will start around 5 p.m., Acevedo said, with doors opening two to three hours before then. The department will post specific road closures Friday night or over the weekend, he said. Rain is expected Monday, with projected temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s.<doc-sep>EMBED >More News Videos Trump moves Houston rally to Toyota Center after 'unprecedented' demand HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Monday's "Make America Great Again" rally will bring a lot of traffic snarls for people who work and live in downtown Houston, and the crowd at the evening event is expected to be "huge. "The Trump re-election campaign, which sponsors the MAGA events held across the country, reported that 100,000 requests for tickets had been received by Sunday afternoon. Only 18,000 seats are available inside the venue. "Texas is big and so will be the turnout," read a statement from the chief operating officer of the campaign. "That's why we organized the Big Texas Tailgater outside Toyota Center. Food trucks will be on site, and large screens to watch the rally for the spillover crowd. "A sidewalk across from the center became the overnight camping spot for those who want to have good seats Monday. "My wife and sons are coming down and we just want to see history," said a man from Katy.Law enforcement will be blanketing the area Monday, and those who have to be inside the 'secure zone' will be checked as well as their vehicles.Monday's MAGA rally will be the first to be held in Texas.<doc-sep>UPDATE: Full street closures in and around the area of the Houston Toyota Center for President Trump’s MAGA Rally will go into effect at 8:30 p.m. TONIGHT. Plan accordingly as delays may be expected for travel into downtown during the morning commute. #hounews #houtraffic https://t.co/15uDSE4nZh — Houston Police (@houstonpolice) October 22, 2018 Polk Street between Austin Street & Chartres Street Clay Street between Austin Street & Hamilton Street Bell Street between Austin Street & Chenevert Street La Branch Street between Dallas Street & Leeland Street Crawford Street between Dallas Street & Polk Street Jackson Street between Polk Street & Leeland Street Chartres Street northbound Capitol Street westbound Caroline Street southbound Leeland Street eastbound HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- With President Trump set to hold a campaign rally for Republican Sen. Ted Cruz at Toyota Center today, Houston police say full street closures in and around the area are in effect.If you're not going to the rally, and you don't live or work nearby, you're advised to avoid the area.The following street closures for Trump's visit started at 8:30 p.m. Sunday and will take place until 10:30 p.m. today:All ride-share vehicles and private drop-offs/pick-ups will be at Caroline Street @ Leeland Street.Metro buses 40, 41, Orange & Green Links will be re-routed for the event. Please check the Metro App or Houston Metro's website for schedules. Metro Rail services will operate on a regular schedule.The line to enter the event will start on Crawford Street @ Dallas Street. The line will be directed by security at the Toyota Center.Check out the City of Houston interactive map<doc-sep>
On Monday, President Trump will hold a rally for Sen. Ted Cruz. Big crowds are expected, as are traffic troubles and protests. HOUSTON - Houston city leaders and police are scrambling to get ready for President Donald Trump’s visit to Houston next week. On Monday, President Trump will hold a rally for Sen. Ted Cruz. Big crowds are expected, as are traffic troubles and protests. The rally was moved from the 8,000-seat NRG Arena to the 18,000-seat Toyota Center. Police say organizers told them 70,000 tickets have been requested. "We expect people to exercise their First Amendment rights in a lawful manner,” said Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo. “There is a very distinct line that is crossed between lawful first amendment protective activities which will facilitate and we will support." Big delays on the roads are expected beginning early Monday morning. Closures begin at 5:30 a.m. Monday until 10:30 p.m. and include: Polk Street between Austin Street & Chartres Street Clay Street between Austin Street & Hamilton Street Bell Street between Austin Street & Chenevert Street La Branch Street between Dallas Street & Leeland Street Crawford Street between Dallas Street & Polk Street Jackson Street between Polk Street & Leeland Street City officials suggest these detour routes: Chartres Street northbound Capitol Street westbound Caroline Street southbound Leeland Street eastbound Ride-share drop-offs and pick-ups will be at Caroline Street and Leeland Street. Everyone going inside Toyota Center will go through a security check. Police recommend those attending do not bring backpacks or purses. The line to enter the rally starts on Crawford Street at Dallas Street.