The 2011 Dallas Mavericks NBA Championship Victory Parade is set for 10 a.m. Thursday, June 16, 2011. The parade will begin near City Hall at Griffin and Young Street. The parade route will travel west on Young Street, turn north on Houston Street, jogging west over to Continental and north to Victory Avenue, ending at Victory Plaza. A special event is planned inside the American Airlines Center; it is reserved for season ticketholders only.
DART will run trains every 10 minutes until 10 a.m. Fans can line up behind the barricades beginning at 7 a.m. The streets will be closed for the parade route at about 8 a.m. Plan to get to work early if you work in the downtown Dallas area.
At Tuesday's press conference, Mayor Dwaine Caraway made the official announcement about the event. He said that the downtown Dallas is expecting a very large crowd. More than 250,000 is expected to fill downtown Dallas to cheer on the Mavs.
Safety First
The first goal is public safety. DART is working on a transportation plan to help people get in and out of downtown.
"We cannot stress enough how important it is for people to come downtown early," Caraway said. "The DART system has a maximum capacity and we encourage you to take the public transportation -- but we also encourage all of you that are coming to carpool. Bring your patience with you to this celebration."Bring Your Patience
"If you're going to take DART, ride early, bring your patience, there will be some waiting involved, the Mayor continued. "DART will also have DART busses available after the event. The busses will be to the west of the AAC, pulling up along Victory Avenue as needed.""When you have a celebration of this magnitude, we must get this word out. We must keep this a fun and safe event," Caraway continued. He also encouraged everyone to visit www.dallascityhall.com for parade routes and more event details.
Ensuring Public Safety
Police Chief David Brown said, "One of the things we are emphasizing is the class of the Dallas citizens and the way they celebrate. Sunday night they exhibited the most classy behavior. They celebrated with exuberance and they exited in a fashion that was orderly -- and we really appreciate the citizens and how they celebrate. We expect that same type of behavior (at the parade) Thursday," the chief said.
Brown said that police presence will include Dallas officers, officers with the Dallas County Sherriff's Office, and officers from adjoining cities for a strong visibility. Officers will be on horses, in plain clothes, on traffic posts, DART and throughout downtown Dallas.
Dallas Mavs fans attending the event are encouraged to follow the Dallas Police Department on Twitter for live updates on parking issues, traffic congestion issues, parking information, and capacity issues at the Plaza. About 3,000 will be allowed on the plaza itself and then there is a spillover into the street for a total of about 10,000 in the plaza area and on the street adjoining the area.
Prepare to 'Beat the Heat' Again
It's going to be hot at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning. "And we're not talking about the Miami Heat. We're talking about the heat upstairs," Mayor Caraway joked.
There are risks of heat exposure and fans need to be aware. Temperatures are expected to be near 100 degrees on Thursday. Parade goers are encouraged to wear light-weight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing. Don't forget to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water. Fans are encouraged to start hydrating the day before the parade. It's also a good idea to rely on the buddy system. Find someone to be accountable for you in case you suddenly feel faint. Hand-held misting fans would be beneficial too.
Be a Good Citizen
Although the city is planning for a safe and secure event, fans are encouraged to be aware of the surroundings and report anything suspicious or out of place."We are proud of our team. And we are a shining example, and the spotlight is on our city. So honestly, we could not even begin to pay the price for all of the recognition and positive publicity that the city of Dallas is receiving," Caraway continued.
Dallas Mavs Putting Dallas, Texas on the International Map
Ambassador Jim Oberwetter of the Dallas Regional Chamber said, "The Dallas Mavericks have now become Dallas' newest ambassadors to the world. In their sterling display of athletic grace under fire, the Dallas Mavericks have put Dallas on the international stage in ways which greatly benefit this city. A winning team in a winning arena in a winning city with fans who live victory and who are loyal to the end. The players were fantastic. And the team owner, (Mark Cuban) handled himself with diplomatic skills that most of us in Dallas didn't even know he had. Who will ever forget how gracious he was to the Mavericks founder Don Carter?"
He continued, "Our hats are off to you for placing us on the international stage and for drawing attention to what we know is the most desirable place in all of the USA to live, to work, and to play winning NBA Championship basketball. Keep 'em going Mavs."
Parade Suggestions
Who's Paying for the Parade?
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is paying for all costs associated with the Dallas Mavericks Victory Parade.
Where to Watch the Parade on TV
If you can't make it to the parade, WFAA Channel 8 is televising the Victory Parade with coverage beginning at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Fox Sports Southwest is also broadcasting it live. It's channel 676 on Direct TV.
