The championship parade is not exclusive to the NBA. The sports championship parade in the United States is defined as "a city that has a team in the four major professional sports leagues in North America and has won the championship will hold a championship parade centered on the team in the city. ".
In addition to the NBA, after other leagues win championships, it is also customary to hold a championship parade in the city where the team is located.
The plan for the championship parade has been prepared long before the championship. As soon as the championship is won, the plan will be implemented and the preparation staff will start to be busy.
Miami also had a championship parade plan, but their plan was useless.
The championship parade is not a loss-making business, it can greatly enhance the relationship between the team and the fans.
The Thunder's playoff ticket revenue this year is as high as 100 million U.S. dollars. According to NBA rules, the Thunder can get a profit of 30 million U.S. dollars.
The NBA understands from top to bottom that the team's income and the players' high salaries are based on fans.
After the team wins the championship, holding a grand parade to bring the team's stars and fans into close contact and making the atmosphere between the team and the fans more harmonious will be beneficial to future development.
This is the same as wool coming from a sheep.
The championship parade can also increase fans' sense of identification with the team.
If the fans are not enthusiastic enough about the team, the team may move. For example, the Thunder moved from Seattle to Oklahoma and changed its name. This was partly because the Thunder owner was an Oklahoman, and partly because of Seattle's ball market. Unfortunately, the fans are not enthusiastic enough about the team, which means not many people go to watch the home games, and eventually they have to move.
There is much more to the importance of the championship parade...
After Zhao Chen arrived at the arena, he got on the open-top bus and waited for arrangements.
"Segi, what were you doing last night?" Zhao Chen asked when he saw Ibaka coming to the car topless.
"Hehe." Ibaka smiled but said nothing.
"This guy was drunk yesterday and slept in a nightclub all night. I drove to pick him up in the morning. When I picked him up, his clothes were taken off," Adams said.
"Hahahaha" everyone laughed.
Ibaka is still the craziest one.
After joking about Ibaka for a while.
The open-top bus started to move.
There was not just one car in the parade, there were as many as eight cars.
In addition to the players, there are also Thunder management, family members, local Oklahoma City officials, etc.
After the open-top bus drove out of the arena, Zhao Chen was also shocked by the scene.
The huge crowds and the 20,000 people in the home arena are simply weak compared to now.
Zhao Chen suspected that the whole city came out to participate in this carnival.
It is difficult for Zhao Chen to understand Americans' enthusiasm for such parties.
Zhao Chen just saw the police officers desperately trying to maintain order.
Many police cordons were also set up along the main roads along the parade route.
Oklahoma City citizens kept chanting OKC!
Zhao Chen couldn't even see the end of the crowd in his eyes.
Watching the championship parade on TV or the news is far less impactful than reality.
This is a real carnival all over the city! !
Zhao Chen feels that the biggest difference between basketball at home and here is the atmosphere.
Of course, there is no good or bad, it is just a difference in culture and habits.
Zhao Chen's personality still prefers relatively quiet celebrations, and he doesn't like this kind of crazy celebration parties very much.
After all, the time before he traveled through time was 2021.
"Not gathering" is a better living habit.
The media are different from the fans. They are within the warning range and have a dedicated area where they can follow the parade floats for live coverage.
Reporters from local Oklahoma City TV stations, ESPN, Fox Sports, and even CCTV and Penguin also came.
They are all old acquaintances.
The reporters also greeted Zhao Chen and expressed their congratulations.
Zhao Chen has provided them with a lot of material this season.
As long as you write about Zhao Chen in the news title, the traffic will skyrocket. This is an important reason why reporters like to deal with Zhao Chen.
"we are the champion!"
"we are the champion!"
"we are the champion!"
Soon, the atmosphere was ignited, and tens of thousands of people cheered at the same time, making the atmosphere lively.
It was approaching noon and the weather was a little hot, but it couldn't stop the enthusiasm of Oklahoma City fans.
In the middle section, the parade float was forced to stop by enthusiastic fans.
Zhao Chen, Westbrook, Durant and others all came down to appease the fans, high-fived them, signed autographs, took photos, etc.
The atmosphere is great.
Zhao Chen was surrounded by a group of female fans.
After going around, there were a lot of kiss marks and lip prints on Zhao Chen's face.
Zhao Chen couldn't hide even if he wanted to.
When Zhao Chen was rescued by security personnel and returned to the float, his teammates all laughed at Zhao Chen.
Something always happens between Zhao Chen and women.
The parade lasted for more than two hours, and just before 12 o'clock, the float finally reached the central square.
The Thunder also have a brief ceremony here.
The championship song is played in unison.
Almost every player took a turn on stage to speak.
Zhao Chen was the last one to pick up the microphone.
Zhao Chen's appearance on stage also brought the scene to its climax! !
"Kakakaka!!"
Domestic reporters recorded this scene.
For a Chinese player to gain this level of respect abroad is an achievement in itself.
"Zhao, renew the contract and stay!"
"stay!"
"stay!"
"stay!"
Zhao Chen's contract expires this year. This is something Oklahoma City fans know. The cheers of more than 100,000 people brought the scene to a climax.
Zhao Chen has created too many miracles this season, and the fans here have long regarded Zhao Chen as part of the team.
The Thunder not only have Westbrook and Durant, but also Zhao Chen!
Westbrook and Durant guaranteed the Thunder's lower limit, but Zhao Chen raised the Thunder's upper limit.
Zhao Chen did not respond to the fans immediately. He was very sensible and would not make an easy promise just because so many people wanted him to stay.
Fans just respect him for what he accomplished this season.
After shouting for two minutes, Zhao Chen took the microphone and said: "I'm very lucky, really lucky, to come to OKC in the new off-season and fight with you..."
Zhao Chen's speech lasted for more than a minute, and he expressed his mood and gratitude to everyone.
But Zhao Chen never made a promise.
Looking at this scene, both Brooks and Presti felt something was wrong.
Zhao Chen is a mature player beyond his age, and every word he speaks will reveal some of his attitude.
If there is no promise in this speech about future championships or future struggles with the team, etc.
Then it will be difficult to keep Zhao Chen this summer.
After the speech, the season came to a final close.
Coach Brooks announced the disbandment of the team and officially entered the holiday season.
