The NBA champion(!) Denver Nuggets have done everything they needed to do on the hardwood. Now Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Co. are ready to celebrate the first title in franchise history with hundreds of thousands of their closest friends.
Players, coaches and management from Denver’s unforgettable 2022-23 squad will hop aboard firetrucks Thursday and float through downtown for the team’s first-ever championship parade.
Last year’s Colorado Avalanche celebration brought an estimated half-million people to the streets of Denver and this one could be even more packed — though city officials don’t have a firm number. The Broncos, during their 2016 Super Bowl parade, drew an estimated 1 million fans.
Here’s everything you need to know about Thursday’s festivities:
The events
9 a.m.: Pre-rally activities at Civic Center will kick off with live music, Nuggets season highlight reels and live video from the parade.
10 a.m.: The parade! The route begins at Union Station (17th and Wynkoop streets). From there, the floats will cruise down 17th, turning south at Broadway and ending at Civic Center.
Noon: Rally at Civic Center, featuring players, coaches and management. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock will be there, as will the Nuggets’ dancers, a drumline, Supermascot Rocky, a hype squad and other civic leaders.
The rally is expected to last an hour, with all festivities finished by 2 p.m.
There will be multiple designated areas for individuals with disabilities who wish to take in the festivities:
- 17th and Wynkoop on the southwest side of the street in front of Union Station — accessible by public transportation at Union Station
- Southeast corner of 17th and Curtis Street — accessible by public transportation at the Convention Center Station
There will be accessible parking via designated blue-bagged meters in the 1800 and 1900 blocks of Curtis. The Denver Performing Arts Complex’s parking garage will be the closest accessible parking lot (Arapahoe Street between 13th and 14th streets).
What to bring, what not to bring
Event organizers encourage everyone to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. And, of course, all your Nuggets gear.
The following should be left at home:
- Alcohol, marijuana and illegal drugs
- Weapons (i.e., knives, pepper spray, stun guns, any concealed weapons, firearms, etc.)
- Anything that could take up a lot of space (blankets, tarps, beach towels, etc.)
- Air horns, whistles and vuvuzelas
- Grills or propane
- Large backpacks, suitcases, etc.
- Inflatable objects (beach balls, etc.)
- Fireworks, smoke bombs
- Drones, laser pointers and police scanners
- Skateboards, rollerblades
- Audio/video recording devices (including large cameras and tripods)
Road closures
The following roads will be closed (and parking unavailable) during the specified timeframes:
Wednesday, June 14
- Bannock Street from Colfax Avenue to 14th Avenue, 6 a.m. to midnight
Thursday, June 15
- 14th between Delaware Street and Broadway, 6 a.m. to midnight
- Bannock from 13th Avenue to Colfax, 6 a.m. to midnight
- Cherokee Street from Colfax to 13th, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- 17th Street from Wynkoop to Broadway, 7 a.m. to noon
- Broadway from 17th to 13th, 7 a.m. to noon
Public transportation
Thursday’s parade will impact numerous RTD routes in the downtown area. Riders should use the Next Ride web app to plan their trip and receive service alerts.
- Northbound D and H lines will terminate at Theatre District-Convention Center station during the parade
- L Line service will be suspended beginning at 7 a.m.
- Many bus routes will be detouring beginning at 7 a.m., including routes 0, 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 15L, 16, 19, 20, 28, 32, 38, 43, 44, 48, 52, 83L
- Civic Center Station will be closed during the parade (beginning no later than 8 a.m.)
- Free MallRide service will be suspended beginning at 7 a.m.
The city also will be staging scooter/bike parking at the Wellington Webb Building Plaza, 201 W. Colfax Ave., beginning at 8 a.m.
Weather
Thursday’s weather is forecasted to be quite pleasant as fans line up in the morning. Temperatures are expected to be in the high 60s and low 70s before noon under mostly sunny, partly cloudy skies with light winds.
There’s a “pretty good chance” of showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon, said Chad Gimmestad, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
More information
Visit nba.com/nuggets/celebration for all the pertinent details.
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