Downtown Parade for the Lakers Today

A large crowd--perhaps numbering 200,000, officials said--is expected to attend the Laker parade today in downtown Los Angeles celebrating their first NBA championship since 1988.

The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. at the Department of Water and Power building, 111 N. Hope Street, with a short ceremony presided over by Mayor Richard Riordan.

Laker players, their families and team personnel then will board double-decker buses for the parade, which will begin at 11:15 a.m. at 2nd Street and Figueroa and proceed south nine blocks to Staples Center.

The Lakers will be escorted to the balcony of the City View Grill for another ceremony while spectators are directed to watch from parking lots 2 and 3 across from the arena on 11th Street.

Riordan said during a news conference Tuesday that he expects no repeat during today’s festivities of the violence in downtown Los Angeles Monday after the Lakers’ title-clinching victory at Staples Center.

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Street Closures

Portions of the parade route will be closed temporarily, beginning at 11 a.m. and reopening as the parade progresses. Streets affected: Dewap Road from Temple to 1st Street; Figueroa northbound ramp to 1st Street; Figueroa from 1st to 12th Streets; 1st Street from Fremont Avenue to Grand Avenue; Temple and 12th Street; Temple to 3rd Street; Georgia Street from 9th to 11th Street; Byram Street; 1st Street from Fremont to Grand Avenue; 2nd Street at Grand Avenue; West General Kosciuszko Way at Grand Avenue; 3rd from Flower to Beaudry; 110 Freeway North at Figueroa exit; 110 Freeway Financial District Exit at 6th Street; 4th Street at Figueroa Connector; 5th Street from Flower to Beaudry; 6th Street at Flower and 110 Freeway entrance; Wilshire at Beaudry; 7th Street at Flower; 8th Street from Flower and Francisco Street; 9th Street from Flower and Francisco Street; 8th Place at Francisco; Olympic from Flower to Sunbury Street; 11th Street from Flower and Cherry Street.