Work begins on floats for Warriors' victory parade
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KTVU) - Preparations are underway in Oakland and San Francisco for the victory parade and rally. Along the waterfront in San Francisco, six floats are being built to honor the team and their fans. Crews are using tools such as a staple gun to create the floats.
The predominant colors are blue and gold for the Warriors; and orange for basketball.
For some workers, building a float for the team is a matter of civic pride. "I really feel like I'm a part of the community by being here and helping out," said L. Hernandez, an artist who lives in Oakland.
For weeks, workers had been building floats for San Francisco's Gay Pride Parade that takes place at the end of the month. But then the call came Wednesday night confirming that floats are needed first for a Warriors Victory parade. That means some of the floats are doing double duty.
"We just immediately changed directions and started going towards basketball and that will be our main focus for the next two days. But then it'll be back to pride right after," said Stephanie Mufson, the float builder.
Also revving up for the parade, the company "Ride the Ducks" is providing six cable cars and five "duck" vehicles.
"I'm personally just so excited for the Warriors. I'm a big fan myself," said Brett Stiff, operations manager for "Ride the Ducks."
Victory parades are not new to this company. They've provided vehicles for all three of the San Francisco Giants' World Series Championship celebrations.
"But with the Warriors, it's been so long," said Stiff. He tells KTVU there will be a driver and a host in each vehicle and that there's no shortage of people who want to work the parade.
"Our cell phones haven't stopped ringing from employees trying to drive in the parade. I mean everybody wants to be in this. It's going to be a big show," said Stiff.
In Oakland at the Henry J. Kaiser Center, the stage is being set for a rally that follows the parade.
Barricades are going up...all to celebrate pride in the Warriors. "We expect all of Oakland and the whole Bay Area to come to the shores of Lake Merritt to celebrate this incredible team," said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.
Back in San Francisco, floats have to be completed by midnight and towed across the Bay Bridge at 4 a.m. Friday. The parade starts at 10 a.m.