Downtown Oakland streets were packed Friday night with dancing, cheering Golden State Warriors fans celebrating the team’s third NBA championship title in four years.
Minutes before the game ended — the Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-85 — fans poured out of the Halftime bar at 14th and Webster streets and other downtown bars. Oakland police blocked off Broadway near 14th where a small group of dancing fans grew into a raging party.
Champagne was poured, music was loud, and hundreds of people were taking photos and videos with their phones.
#townbiz pic.twitter.com/2WrUNfjf5S
— Ali Tadayon (@OakTribAli) June 9, 2018
Oakland resident Donald Brooks, 23, who was one of the first people to start the festivities with his dance crew “Turf Feinz,” said the East Bay’s unique culture was on display.
“One thing we’ve got as a Bay Area is culture. We can always stick together based off the certain culture, certain music, certain things that keep us one, and that’s out tonight,” Brooks said. “That’s the driving force of why the Warriors are where they’re at today.”
For Jengiz Haas, his wife and two daughters, the party was a family affair — Madison and Poinciana, who both attend Oakland School For The Arts, were dribbling basketballs through the crowds.
“They go to Oakland schools, and we’re fans of all the Oakland sports teams, so this is the pride of Oakland here,” Haas said.
— Ali Tadayon (@OakTribAli) June 9, 2018
Around 10:30 p.m., fans were setting off sparklers, and one group even burned a LeBron James jersey. Several people brought brooms to celebrate the Warriors’ four-game sweep.
Fans burn a @KingJames jersey on Broadway in downtown Oakland as they celebrate. Game story & photos here. https://t.co/IY5IfXJf9T pic.twitter.com/NDIDoOKzH8
— Tyska (@Tyska) June 9, 2018
Oakland police officials said no violent incidents had been reported.
East Bay Times reporter Khalida Sarwari contributed to this report.