The magnet that is a championship trophy drew the gold and purple jerseys walking from all directions toward University Park and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park.
Call me a skeptic. I just didn't think it would be that bad. But I rode my bike from Leimert Park to work just in case.
250,00 are supposed to line the route and 95,000 will be squezzd into the Coliseum - which is already about 2/3 fulls - the the Lakers wood basketball court is in the middle of the Trojans football fields..
The California Science Center, the Natural History Museum and the California African American Museum are all closed today.
I first spotted them before Normandie and 39th. These are die hard fans. And they all have a jersey. Many live in the Expo Park and University Park neighborhoods. And most will never get to see the LA Lakers at the Staples Center.
They love the team, buy their merchandise and this is a chance to be a part of the championship - something they helped make happen because of their support.
According to USC: Street Closures
*Figueroa Street will be closed from Olympic to Exposition Park from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
*Cherry Street will be closed from Pico to Olympic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
*Exposition Boulevard, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Adams and Olympic exits from the 110 Freeway will be closed from 10 a.m. until the end of the parade.
Parking Information
Because of expected crowds, Parking Structures 1, 2 and the Parking Center will be opened to the general public. These structures may fill up rapidly in the morning. University employees are asked to park in other parking structures if there is not room in these facilities. However, Parking Structure X will be closed for much of the day.
Beginning at 11 a.m., double-decker buses carrying the players, coaching staff, Lakers executives and city officials will depart from the Staples Center at Figueroa Street and Chick Hearn Court and travel a nearly two-mile parade route along Figueroa to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where the official championship ceremony will take place beginning at noon.
Coach Phil Jackson and several players are supposed to give speaches.
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