Lakers parade costs to reach to reach around $2 million

Following the Los Angeles Lakers 99-86 victory in Game 5 Sunday over the Orlando Magic in the 4-1 series, league MVP Kobe Bryant has captured the Lakers’ fifteenth NBA title. “This really feels like a dream,” Bryant told reporters. “This doesn’t even feel real right now. It’s unbelievable.”

As the Magic’s defeat silences Orlando, Los Angeles is preparing for a three-hour celebration leading fans from the Staples Center to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The police union and some residents, however, have complained of the celebration’s cost. “We can't afford to cover the costs,” City Councilwoman Jan Perry told the Los Angeles Times. “How could we make a decision about people's jobs and then sponsor the parade?” In spite of this, it is unlikely that these concerns will prevent the city’s many basketball fans from paying tribute to the Lakers.

The Los Angeles Times reports that expenses, split between the team and the city, are expected to reach around $2 million, part of which will go toward renting the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mark Szabo, spokesman for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced that the city would pay for police, transportation and general staff. Responding to critics of the price tag, Mayor Szabo said it was “untenable” not to have a parade. Nevertheless, some city officials have said that a victory party would cost too much at a time when the city is struggling to cut expenditures. “We can't afford to cover the costs,” City Councilwoman Jan Perry told the Los Angeles Times. “How could we make a decision about people's jobs and then sponsor the parade?

If all goes as planned, the city of Los Angeles will host a victory parade on Wednesday June 17th. An exact start time has not been set, but it will likely begin around midday