San Antonio sets record attendance for an NBA regular-season game with 68,323, beating the previous record set in 1998 as the Spurs return to the Alamodome to face the Warriors (and even a heavy loss can’t dampen the party atmosphere!) .
- The Spurs returned to the Alamodome for their 50th anniversary season on Friday
- San Antonio announced an attendance of 68,323, setting a new NBA record
- It broke the previous record of who had gathered to see Michael Jordan in 1998
- The Spurs finally lost 144-113 to the reigning NBA champion on Friday night
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The San Antonio Spurs game against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night broke the attendance record for an NBA regular-season game.
Announcing an attendance of 68,323 at the Alamodome, the Spurs returned to their former home to face the Warriors to celebrate their 50th anniversary season.
It broke the previous record of 62,046 who gathered to watch Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls play the Atlanta Hawks at the Georgia Dome on March 27, 1998.
The Spurs-Warriors game surpassed the attendance for an NBA regular-season game
Spurs announced an attendance of 68,323 as they returned to their former home on Friday
Spurs Hall of Famer David Robinson officially announced attendance at the end of the third quarter. Robinson said: “Spurs fans have once again set the standard for the league.”
Fans began chanting, “Go Spurs Go! Go, spurs, go!’ after the announcement.
“Yeah, that’s quite different,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said of the record crowd. “It’s a situation where you know… do they sell alcohol? I think people will be pretty excited.
“It’s just an exciting moment for everyone. It’s nostalgic for everyone. Having so many people in one building to play in front of them is actually pretty darn exciting. We hope it will be a good game.”
Spurs Hall of Famer David Robinson announced the record at the end of the third quarter
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said everyone at the Alamodome was ‘fired up’
San Antonio now plays its home games at the AT&T Center, but returned to the Alamodome as part of the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
But the Warriors rained down on Spurs’ save, beating the hosts 144-113 to spoil the celebrations.
While the Spurs (13-30) are having one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the chance to play at the Alamodome gave fans a chance to relive an earlier era for the team.
“Having my son here with me to share a past and present memory will be cherished by both of us for years to come,” said Spurs fan Eric Hernandez, who previously attended games at the Alamodome.
San Antonio returned to the Alamodome as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations
San Antonio began at the HemisFair Arena in 1973, but it was at the Alamodome that the team took its first steps toward 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 held its championship celebration downtown.
The Alamodome also hosted the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, where Michael Jordan was booed for winning MVP against former San Antonio resident Shaquille O’Neal.
At the Alamodome, Spurs became one of the most respected NBA franchises
“It’s crazy,” said Taro Kotani, a Spurs fan visiting from Japan. ‘The amount of people here. I’ve never been to the Dome, so just imagining what it was like here during the 1996 All-Star Game and 1999 Finals is so nostalgic. I wasn’t there, but that brings back a lot of memories.”
Kotani planned his annual trip to San Antonio around Friday’s game because he wanted to be a part of the story.
The Alamodome is now the home of UTSA Roadrunners football.