Donald Trump will stop by the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs on Friday for a campaign event.

The Republican presidential nominee will be at Gallogly Events Center at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at donaldjtrump.com/schedule. The center can hold about 1,500 people, according to the university.

“Trump understands the political map better than mainstream pundits give him credit for,” Jeff Hays, chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party, said in a statement. “The national election could easily come down to Colorado. The election in Colorado will certainly come down to Republican turnout in El Paso County. Trump gets it. That’s why we’re among his first stops after the convention in Cleveland.”

UCCS Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak said in a letter on the school’s website that the university will have no control over ticket distribution and received no tickets for the event.

“As a university, we do not endorse a specific campaign or political agenda,” Shockley-Zalabak wrote. “As you know, we make our facilities available for lease when they are not being used for educational or athletic purposes.”

That comment didn’t stop criticism of UCCS for hosting the event.

Crystal Cravens said on Facebook she is organizing a peaceful protest of the event to “demonstrate that our community does not welcome Trump’s divisive message of hatred.”

“In Colorado Springs, we embrace individuals from every demographic, gender, race and religion,” she said. “Trump has a history of making racially charged and discriminatory statements, which is not what makes America great.”

More than 100 people pledged on Facebook to attend a “love trumps hate” protest. That slogan is part of the Democratic National Convention this week in Philadelphia as Hillary Clinton secures the party nomination.

The protest is scheduled to occur on campus.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors can expect tight security and a large number of people on campus Friday.

The university noted the following closures or changes:

– The University Center Upper Plaza and Upper Plaza east and west access will be closed from 7 a.m. to mid-afternoon Friday. The Bookstore, Clyde’s, the Copy Center and Sanatorium Grounds Coffee will operate normally.

– The pedestrian spine walkway through the University Center will be closed most of Friday. Students, faculty and staff who need to traverse between the east and west sides of campus will need to find an alternate route.

– Those holding tickets for the Trump event likely will line up on the pedestrian spine in front of Dwire Hall and Main Hall. People without tickets will be directed to the Cragmor Green or to outdoor space on the first floor of the University Center.

– Parking in Lot 222 in front of Centennial Hall will be restricted to media and drivers with disability placards. Visitors will be directed to the Alpine Valley garage, which has paid parking.

Trump speaks in Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

RJ Sangosti