Large crowds of elated fans flooding the streets, and heavy vehicular traffic around Ball Arena have forced road closures across the downtown Denver area following the Nuggets’ first NBA Championship win.
“Officers are around @BallArenaDenver & downtown to help large crowds & heavy vehicular traffic with exiting the realm. Starting now, access to downtown will probably be limited because of road closures,” the Denver Police Department alerted the general public on Twitter.
Residents who have to access the downtown area have been instructed to talk with officers across Denver to search out the very best access points as the town erupts in celebration.
Fans were climbing street posts and igniting fireworks in the midst of a big crowd at twentieth and Market — even running through and pushing one another over the pyrotechnics in pure excitement.
The Denver Police Department has been preparing for the rambunctious celebration following crowd control challenges with city faced after last 12 months’s Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup win.
“It’s going to be much like what we’ve planned before and prior events that we’ve had, you realize, like last 12 months with the Avs. In order that’s type of what we’re working towards we can have different plans depending on different situations,” Denver Police Public Information Officer Jay Casillas told Fox 31. “We’re hoping that folks rejoice and rejoice responsibly and never get themselves into any type of trouble.”
The department’s spokesperson said their officers will probably be on high alert throughout the post-game celebration.
“We will probably be keeping an eye fixed out, so we hope people don’t drive drunk or under the influence of any substance,” Casillas told the outlet.
The Nuggets were in a position to thrill their fans with a 4-1 series home win over the Miami Heat on Monday night, with a 94-89 Game 5 victory — the primary within the franchise’s history.
Center and two-time league MVP Nikola Jokic earned NBA Finals MVP honors, leading his team to victory with 28 points and 16 rebounds during Game 5.
“It’s why basketball is a fun sport, It’s a live thing. You possibly can’t say that is going to occur until it happens,” the Serbian baller said afterward on ABC after the win. “It’s good, the job is finished and we are able to go home now.”
