UNIONDALE, N.Y. (PIX11) – Thousands of supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump gathered for the former president’s rally at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island Wednesday.
Trump’s rally in Uniondale was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. The doors opened at Nassau Coliseum at 3 p.m.
The Nassau Coliseum parking lot quickly started filling up when it opened Wednesday morning. Trump supporters waiting to line up for the rally could be heard celebrating and chanting his name.
Vendors sold Trump hats, T-shirts, shoes and other merchandise. See photos of the scenes outside Nassau Coliseum before the rally started in the gallery below.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump are ready and waiting outside the Nassau Coliseum for Trump's rally in Long Island, New York, United States on September 18, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Nassau County Police officers patrol during a Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of former President Donald Trump are ready and waiting outside the Nassau Coliseum for Trump's rally in Long Island, New York, United States on September 18, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of former President Donald Trump are ready and waiting outside the Nassau Coliseum for Trump's rally in Long Island, New York, United States on September 18, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Supporters of former President Donald Trump are ready and waiting outside the Nassau Coliseum for Trump's rally in Long Island, New York, United States on September 18, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of former President Donald Trump are ready and waiting outside the Nassau Coliseum for Trump's rally in Long Island, New York, United States on September 18, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of former President Donald Trump are ready and waiting outside the Nassau Coliseum for Trump's rally in Long Island, New York, United States on September 18, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
A pair of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump sneakers are seen on display during a campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Nassau County Police officers patrol during a Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump wait for the start of his campaign rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Trump supporters reserved more than 60,000 tickets to attend the rally inside an arena that only fits around 16,000 people, according to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Entry into the arena was first come, first served.
“The outpouring of support for President Trump’s visit to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is even greater than anticipated. New York State has not seen so many people in one place in a peaceful and festive atmosphere since Woodstock!” Blakeman posted on X.
People who couldn’t get into the arena were able to watch the rally on big-screen TVs in the parking lot outside Nassau Coliseum.
“If people want the rally experience and they can’t actually get inside … it’ll be like tailgating for a football game,” Blakeman said.
Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.
