It is a day Bay Area basketball fans have waited 40 years for: the NBA Championship victory parade for the Golden State Warriors.
CSN estimates that around 500,000 packed the parade route, some arriving as early as 5 a.m. to get a prime viewing spot. In some areas, fans were standing 15 rows deep.
Players appeared to be soaking-in their moment as they rode atop double-decker buses freshly wrapped with blue and gold “2015 NBA Champions” decals. Many alternated between filming the crowds on their smartphones, taking selfies (sometimes with selfie sticks) and throwing their hands out in celebration.
The biggest cheers went to league MVP Stephen Curry and series MVP Andre Iguodala, who shared a bus toward the end of the parade. Curry’s daughter, Riley, who has gained a following of her own after making an appearance at a post-game press conference, was also on the float waving to fans.
But it was Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and MC Hammer who may have been riding the most memorable vehicle — a giant, flaming snail car that was once used at Burning Man. Schaaf also appeared in the car the day after winning the mayoral race last November.
The massive crowd was full of energy — dancing, cheering, applauding and waving signs — all along the 2-mile parade route.
After the parade, the party shifted to the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center for a victory rally where thousands of diehard fans had been waiting since the as early as 5 a.m. Friday morning.
Local politicians, like Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, team owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, team officials Rick Welts and Bob Myers all gave brief speeches. Players were introduced and a few of them took the podium to addresses the large crowd. Draymond Green give a standout performance.
Update, 9:30 a.m.:
BART said that by 9 a.m. 153,431 riders had entered the system.
“I wanted to get the best view. This is once in a lifetime,” says Sal Salazar. His family drove from Vacaville at 3:30 a.m. to get here by 5 a.m.
“I’ve never seen a parade,” says Tito Barragan, who traveled from Hayward. “I’m not a Giants fan. I’m an A’s fan. So I had to come.”
“We all planned it right after the game. We didn’t care if we had anything to do,” said Gian Montes, a student in San Francisco who is attending the parade with friends. “We just stopped everything to come out here and support.”
Check back for photos, video and live updates from the parade.
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