Spurs set NBA record ahead of Alamodome matchup with Golden State
The 14th-seeded Spurs (13-29) have become the hottest ticket in town and NBA history.
On Wednesday, San Antonio announced an NBA-record 63,592 tickets had been sold for Friday's matchup with Golden State at the Alamodome, the former home of the Spurs from 1993-2002.
San Antonio announced back in August that it would be playing at the venue to celebrate its 50th anniversary season.
The Spurs issued a subtle press release to make the announcement, only stating "63,592".
The single-game mark tops the previous NBA regular season attendance record of 62,046, set when Atlanta hosted Chicago at the Georgia Dome on Mar. 27, 1998. It also shatters the previous Alamodome attendance record for an NBA game when 39,554 gathered for Game 2 of the 1999 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks.
"I think it's going to be a lot of fun. I remember playing some games in there, and it's pretty weird," HC Gregg Popovich told the media ahead of his return to the Alamodome. The 73-year-old began his Spurs head coaching career calling the stadium home.
The largest crowd in NBA history assembled in Dallas for the 2010 All-Star game held at Cowboys Stadium; 108,713 attended the event.
On Thursday, San Antonio announced it would release additional tickets for the game. Roughly 3,000 standing-room-only tickets have gone on sale in addition to single-seat and seating with limited-view tickets.
The festivities on Friday will include a pregame light show, a halftime performance by 1990s rap duo "Tag Team," and a fireworks display following the game.
As a result of the record-breaking ticket sales, San Antonio has moved up from 28th in home attendance to 15th, per Pounding the Rock's Noah Magaro-George.
The Alamodome isn't San Antonio's only new homecourt this season, and it won't be the last.
On Dec. 17, the Spurs hosted Miami in Mexico City. They will host their final two regular season home games at the Moody Center, home of the University of Texas men's and women's basketball teams.
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