CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Democratic officials announced today that President Barack Obama’s nomination acceptance speech scheduled for Thursday has been moved from Bank of America Stadium to Time Warner Cable Arena because of anticipated thunderstorms.

The Obama campaign had hoped to re-create the strong visual of a football stadium filled with cheering supporters that was one of the most enduring images of 2008. But projected severe thunderstorms slated to hit North Carolina forced organizers here to make a preemptive decision to move Thursday’s festivities indoors, where the first two days of the Democrats’ three-day convention were scheduled. The NFL’s Carolina Panthers play home games in Bank of America Stadium; the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats call Time Warner Cable Arena home.

“We have been monitoring weather forecasts closely and several reports predict thunderstorms in the area, therefore we have decided to move Thursday’s proceedings to Time Warner Cable Arena to ensure the safety and security of our delegates and convention guests,” Democratic National Convention Committee CEO Steve Kerrigan said in a statement. “The energy and enthusiasm for our convention in Charlotte has been overwhelming and we share the disappointment of over 65,000 people who signed up for community credentials to be there with the President in person.  We encourage our community credential holders and Americans across the country to continue to come together with their friends and neighbors to watch and participate in history.  The President will speak to these credential holders on a national conference call tomorrow afternoon, and we will work with the campaign to ensure that those unable to attend tomorrow’s event will be invited to see the President between now and election day.”

This program change means Vice President Joseph Biden also will deliver his renomination acceptance speech indoors, rather than at the football stadium as previously scheduled.