Other Highlights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Juan Bustamante
June 16, 2009 (213) 978-0741
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA ANNOUNCES THAT CITY HAS
SECURED FUNDING FOR LAKER PARADE
Mayor, LAPD Chief Bratton, Derek Fisher urge Angelenos
to celebrate responsibly
LOS ANGELES – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, joined by Councilmember Jan
Perry, LAPD Chief William Bratton and Los Angeles Laker Derek Fisher, today
announced that the City has secured private funding for the Lakers’ victory
parade and also urged Angelenos to participate in a safe, responsible
celebration.
“The City of Los Angeles is proud to welcome home the world champion LA
Lakers with a victory parade and a safe, orderly place to celebrate this historic
win,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “Lakers fans and all Angelenos deserve an
opportunity to cheer on their hometown heroes. Working with Tim Leiweke of
AEG and the Lakers organization, we will continue to do everything in our power
to minimize this celebration’s impact on our City’s finances and ensure that
private donations replace taxpayer funding for this event.”
At the request of Mayor Villaraigosa, the Lakers and AEG have reached out to
various civic leaders to help underwrite City services that are provided by the City
for events such as this. As of today, $900,000 has been privately raised to cover
the entire cost to the City for police, traffic and other necessary expenses.
Donations which now enable the parade and celebration to take place with no
cost to taxpayers have been made by Laura and Casey Wasserman, Margie and
Jerry Perenchio, Cheryl and Haim Saban, Edyth and Eli Broad, Sharon and Joe
Hernandez of Melissa’s Fruit’s and Vegetables, Gayle and Ed Roski and the San
Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
The Los Angeles Lakers along with AEG, owners of STAPLES Center and FSN
confirmed that the organizations will pay for all production costs, expected to
exceed $1 million, associated with Wednesday’s parade and championship
celebration taking place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The report was
confirmed by Tim Harris, Sr. Vice President, Business Operations for the 2009
NBA Champion Lakers.
“The Lakers along with our partners at AEG and FSN have agreed to cover all of
the production costs related to the parade and program at the Coliseum so that
our fans can come together to share this great moment with each other, our team
and the City at no burden to the City’s General Fund,” said Harris. “It was
important to Dr. Buss, Tim Leiweke and all of our colleagues that none of the
costs of producing this celebration be absorbed by the City’s treasury.”
“We are grateful to Mayor Villaraigosa for his leadership and determination to
help us raise nearly $1 million so that no money from the City’s general fund
would be needed for the Lakers celebration,” Leiweke said. “While these
dedicated and loyal citizens who have stepped up to underwrite this event have
done so simply out of our pride for our City have asked for no special recognition,
we owe them a debt of gratitude for this amazing gesture.”
The parade begins at 11 a.m. on Figueroa Street between 11th Street and 39th
Street and ends at 1 p.m. at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Following the
parade, a special rally featuring the players, team officials, Coach Phil Jackson
and other special players will take place in the Coliseum. The Coliseum gates
will open beginning at 9:30 a.m. for fans wishing to attend the rally. Early arriving
fans will be able to watch the parade on giant video screens. Space is limited to
the first 95,000 fans.
Parade info can be found online at http://staplescenter.com/ .
# # #
June 16, 2009 (213) 978-0741
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA ANNOUNCES THAT CITY HAS
SECURED FUNDING FOR LAKER PARADE
Mayor, LAPD Chief Bratton, Derek Fisher urge Angelenos
to celebrate responsibly
LOS ANGELES – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, joined by Councilmember Jan
Perry, LAPD Chief William Bratton and Los Angeles Laker Derek Fisher, today
announced that the City has secured private funding for the Lakers’ victory
parade and also urged Angelenos to participate in a safe, responsible
celebration.
“The City of Los Angeles is proud to welcome home the world champion LA
Lakers with a victory parade and a safe, orderly place to celebrate this historic
win,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “Lakers fans and all Angelenos deserve an
opportunity to cheer on their hometown heroes. Working with Tim Leiweke of
AEG and the Lakers organization, we will continue to do everything in our power
to minimize this celebration’s impact on our City’s finances and ensure that
private donations replace taxpayer funding for this event.”
At the request of Mayor Villaraigosa, the Lakers and AEG have reached out to
various civic leaders to help underwrite City services that are provided by the City
for events such as this. As of today, $900,000 has been privately raised to cover
the entire cost to the City for police, traffic and other necessary expenses.
Donations which now enable the parade and celebration to take place with no
cost to taxpayers have been made by Laura and Casey Wasserman, Margie and
Jerry Perenchio, Cheryl and Haim Saban, Edyth and Eli Broad, Sharon and Joe
Hernandez of Melissa’s Fruit’s and Vegetables, Gayle and Ed Roski and the San
Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
The Los Angeles Lakers along with AEG, owners of STAPLES Center and FSN
confirmed that the organizations will pay for all production costs, expected to
exceed $1 million, associated with Wednesday’s parade and championship
celebration taking place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The report was
confirmed by Tim Harris, Sr. Vice President, Business Operations for the 2009
NBA Champion Lakers.
“The Lakers along with our partners at AEG and FSN have agreed to cover all of
the production costs related to the parade and program at the Coliseum so that
our fans can come together to share this great moment with each other, our team
and the City at no burden to the City’s General Fund,” said Harris. “It was
important to Dr. Buss, Tim Leiweke and all of our colleagues that none of the
costs of producing this celebration be absorbed by the City’s treasury.”
“We are grateful to Mayor Villaraigosa for his leadership and determination to
help us raise nearly $1 million so that no money from the City’s general fund
would be needed for the Lakers celebration,” Leiweke said. “While these
dedicated and loyal citizens who have stepped up to underwrite this event have
done so simply out of our pride for our City have asked for no special recognition,
we owe them a debt of gratitude for this amazing gesture.”
The parade begins at 11 a.m. on Figueroa Street between 11th Street and 39th
Street and ends at 1 p.m. at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Following the
parade, a special rally featuring the players, team officials, Coach Phil Jackson
and other special players will take place in the Coliseum. The Coliseum gates
will open beginning at 9:30 a.m. for fans wishing to attend the rally. Early arriving
fans will be able to watch the parade on giant video screens. Space is limited to
the first 95,000 fans.
Parade info can be found online at http://staplescenter.com/ .
# # #