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This story was updated on Jan. 14.
The San Antonio Spurs made NBA history Friday night, with a record crowd of 68,323 in the Alamodome for their game against the Golden State Warriors, in which the defending champions won 144-113.
The Spurs were celebrating their 50th anniversary at their former home from 1993 to 2002.
The Spurs broke the 25-year-old single-game regular season attendance record of 62,046 people set by Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls vs. the Atlanta Hawks at the Georgia Dome on March 27, 1998.
“I think it’s awesome. I think it’s a great way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Spurs,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who played in the 1998 game with Jordan and the Bulls.
“It should be a really fun atmosphere. I think our players are really looking forward to it as none of them have played in the Alamodome.”
While Friday night’s game should set a new mark for regular season games, it won’t come near the sport’s record of 108,713 that was set by the 2010 All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium.
If you don’t count that game, this should be the fourth game in NBA history to boast 50,000 attendees, according to ESPN.
- Bulls-Hawks (Georgia Dome/1998): 62,046.
- Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons (Pontiac Silverdome/1988): 61,983.
- Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers (Pontiac Silverdome/1987): 52,745.
- Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome/1990): 49,551.
ESPN televised the Spurs-Warriors nationally, with Ryan Ruocco, JJ Redick, and Cassidy Hubbarth on the call.
“It is going to be electric,” said Hubbarth in a video from the Alamodome.
The network had a mobile Sky Cam on a cable looking down on the court.
ESPN also had drones flying outside the stadium as the record crowd streams in. This week, the network flew drones inside the Alamodome to capture footage that will be utilized on tonight’s telecast.
