Experience the Excitement: NBA All-Star Weekend Draws Global Fans to San Francisco!

The first NBA All-Star Game took place in 1951 at Boston Gardens. Celtics owner Walter Brown made it possible by covering any losses. The game drew 10,000 fans and was considered a success right from the start.

Fast forward to today, and the NBA All-Star Weekend has become a major event. People flock to the area surrounding the game, even if they don’t have tickets. At the Chase Center, excitement was in the air. Just six hours before the game, fans were already filling the Thrive City plaza.

Olivia McKinney flew from Chicago with her friend, eager to catch a glimpse of Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal outside the TNT studio. “I love All-Star weekend,” she said. “I come every year, ticket or not. The atmosphere makes it all worthwhile.”

Some fans travel from across the globe just to be close to the action. Ed and Cherry Fernandez came all the way from Bermuda. They were in New York when they decided to fly to San Francisco, even without tickets. “We just wanted to soak in the excitement,” Ed shared. “Even being outside is an experience.” Cherry added, “The vibe here is fantastic. It lifts our spirits.” The couple, proud Filipinos, stopped at Senor Sesig, a Filipino fusion restaurant, hoping to catch the game on a big screen.

However, plans changed. Shane Curran, the restaurant manager, explained that they decided against showing the game on the plaza screen to prevent overcrowding. But that didn’t stop the fans. Instead, everyone flocked to the restaurants to enjoy the festivities on TV. “The energy was incredible,” Curran said. “People cheered for every dunk and three-pointer. It created a thrilling atmosphere.”

Among the crowd were four Knicks fans from New York who hadn’t missed an All-Star game in 20 years. “Sorry to our wives and girlfriends for missing Valentine’s Day, but this is how we bond,” Bernard Hall joked. L.V. Wilson noted how the event has shifted from a casual game to an international celebration. “It’s grown so much. There are activities for everyone, including kids,” he said. “Being here during All-Star Game 2025 is such a privilege.”

Meanwhile, Hana Cluff waited to enter with her three kids, hoping they would remember this day forever. “This is going to be a special experience for them,” she said excitedly.

As the All-Star Game moves around to different cities, it’ll be a long wait until it returns to the Bay Area—at least until 2055. Here’s hoping today’s young fans will get to share the experience with their children when it comes back!

Source link

NBA All-Star Game