SAN ANTONIO – The Spurs had their largest crowd ever for an NBA regular-season game back at the Alamodome, with 68,323 on hand for Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors.
The Spurs have returned home to celebrate their 50th anniversary season.
Spurs Hall of Famer David Robinson announced his official attendance at the end of the third quarter. “Spurs fans once again set the standard for the league,” Robinson said.
Fans began chanting “Gospurs, Go! Gospurs, Go!” After the announcement.
It broke the previous record of 62,046 people turned out to watch Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls take on the Atlanta Hawks on March 27, 1998 at the Georgia Dome.
‘It was great’ Warriors star Stephen Curry said the atmosphere. “…it was cool to see them recognizing 50 years of history and all the great moments that came into this organization, the successes and championships they had and the greats that were in the building. It takes just 64,000 to get the best road performance this year.”
After losing to the short-handed Suns, the Warriors bounced back with a 144-113 win to ruin the night for the Spurs. Curry scored 15 points in 23 minutes in his second game after returning from a long shoulder injury.
“Obviously, I hate losing. But how can you be mad at voter turnout?” Keldon Johnson Said. “The Spurs fanbase was more than we could have imagined. That’s what made tonight so special.”
Other Spurs celebrities besides Robinson were in attendance, as Becky Hammon and Tony Parker were seen sitting courtside together while Manu Ginobili was in the suite. Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who won three championships, said he was emotional in a tribute video to him before the game.
“They put on a video and introduced me, and the applause from 68,000 fans horrifies you,” Kerr said. “This was a really special night… I feel my way and know how lucky I am to be part of the Spurs.”
San Antonio currently plays its home games at the AT&T Center, but is returning to the Alamodome as part of the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Spurs (13-29) are having one of the worst seasons in franchise history, but the opportunity to play at the Alamodome gave fans a chance to relive the team’s past.
“The fans were having fun, but we were getting our butts kicked,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ”
Although the franchise began at Hemisfair Arena in 1973, the Alamodome is where the franchise took its first steps towards becoming one of the most respected NBA franchises.
The Spurs played at the Alamodome from 1993 to 2002 before moving 3.1 miles south to the AT&T Center.
San Antonio won its first NBA championship in 1999 while playing at the Alamodome and hosted a celebration at the downtown facility.
“Having my son here and sharing memories of the past and present will be cherished by both of us for years to come,” said Spurs fan Eric Hernandez, who previously attended the game at the Alamodome. said.
The Alamodome also hosted the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, and Jordan was booed for winning MVP over former San Antonio resident Shaquille O’Neal.
“It’s crazy,” said Taro Kotani, a Spurs fan visiting from Japan. “The number of people here. I’ve never been inside the dome, so just imagining what it was like here for the 1996 All-Star Game and the 1999 Finals is so nostalgic. Me wasn’t there, but this brings back a lot of “memories.” ”
Kotani wanted to be part of history, so he planned his annual trip to San Antonio before and after Friday’s game.
Associated Press and Kendra Andrews of ESPN contributed to this article.
