On Thursday, Oakland is throwing a celebration in honor of hometown hero Alysa Liu: the first American to win gold in women’s figure skating at the Winter Olympics in 24 years.
And after just a few days, the event’s free tickets are already sold out.
“The love for Alysa is real,” commented the official Instagram account for the city of Oakland.
Liu — who gained global attention for her bright, carefree skating performance, distinct style and love for the Bay — will be present at what Oakland is calling the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally, where she’s expected to speak to the crowd at the event.
This homecoming party is expected to be packed. So if you were lucky enough to reserve a spot at the much-anticipated event on Thursday, here’s what to know.
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Unfortunately, yes. Anyone without a registration will not be able to attend the event as it is “at capacity and no more admission is available,” according to a spokesperson from the city of Oakland.
When and where is the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?
The event is on Thursday, at 12 p.m. at Frank Ogawa Plaza near Oakland’s City Hall. Doors open at 9 a.m.
The City of Oakland’s website recommends people arrive early in order to secure a good viewing spot.
The event starts at 12 p.m. and will end around 1:30 p.m., according to the city.
What kind of venue is Frank Ogawa Plaza?
Frank Ogawa Plaza is an open-air venue, similar to an amphitheater, which is right outside City Hall.
The Oakland weather forecast predicts a sunny, bright day on Thursday afternoon, so be sure to bring water to drink and wear sunscreen.
Are children welcome at the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?
Yes: the city is characterizing the rally as a“family-friendly community celebration welcoming fans of all ages.”
Children under 5 years old don’t need their own ticket to attend the event, but must be accompanied by an adult with a registered ticket.
Strollers are allowed at the event but will be subjected to a security search (see below.)
There will be security screening for all entrants to Frank Ogawa Plaza.
Items you cannot bring to the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally include:
The city recommends that attendees bring clear bags, as they would to a concert venue, to speed up security screenings.
Any bag you bring cannot be bigger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. Hard-sided containers like coolers, liquids, unsealed beverages and glass bottles (excluding medical needs and infant needs) are also not allowed.
How can I get to Frank Ogawa Plaza using public transportation?
Guests are encouraged by the city to use public transportation to reachthe homecoming celebration.
BART
Take a BART Yellow, Orange, or Red line train and exit at 12th Street/Oakland City Center Station. After that, it’s a quick 2-3 minute walk to the plaza.
If you’re coming from a Blue or Green line train, you would need to transfer at the Lake Merritt Station and jump on an Orange Line train. You can also use BART’s Trip Planner to customize your route.
AC Transit
The following lines will take you right to downtown Oakland: Tempo 1T, 6, 12, 14, 18, 19, 22, 30, 40, 51A, 72, 72L, 72M, 88, and 96.
You can use AC Transit’s Trip Planner to map out your route.
If you would rather drive to the plaza, you can check out this Google Map of parking structures in downtown Oakland.
City-run parking garages include:
Expect these garages to fill up quickly ahead of the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally.
There will also be street parking, but it will likely be difficult during the celebration due to the number of people attending the event.
Will there be food at the Alysa Liu Celebration Rally?
Yes, there will be food trucks and nonalcoholic beverages sold at the event. Remember: bringing your own alcohol into the venue is not permitted.
It’s also Oakland Restaurant Week, if you’d rather get something to eat after the event and take advantage of the special deals in the city.
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