Santa Monica Pier Illuminates in Purple and Gold to Honor Kobe Bryant’s Legacy
In a heartfelt tribute to the late Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant, the iconic Santa Monica Pier is set to light up in purple and gold on Thursday night. The focal point of this memorial will be Pacific Park’s towering 90-foot Ferris wheel, adorned with the iconic numbers ‘LA + heart + 24’ and ‘LA + heart + 8.’
These numbers hold significant meaning, representing the jersey numbers that Bryant sported during his illustrious 20-year NBA career. The display will also feature a captivating array of gold and purple colors, elegantly transitioning through various patterns.
The commemorative event takes place on August 24, known as Kobe Bryant Day, Black Mamba Day, or Mamba Day.
This date holds a dual significance as it falls one day after his birthday, August 23. In 2017, Bryant achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first NBA player to have two jersey numbers retired by a single team.
The Pacific Wheel, a unique solar-powered Ferris wheel, will serve as the canvas for this luminous tribute. Adorned with an astounding 174,000 LED lights meticulously placed across its structure, including its 40 spokes and two hubs, the Ferris wheel boasts a lighting system capable of producing 16.7 million color combinations.
The programming and display software enhance this spectacle by presenting images at a remarkable rate of up to 24 frames per second, resulting in dynamic, computer-generated lighting displays.
Notably eco-friendly, this advanced LED lighting system offers a remarkable 81 percent improvement in energy efficiency compared to traditional incandescent bulbs typically used in Ferris wheels.
The statement released about the event emphasized Bryant’s lasting impact on basketball and the hearts of millions of fans. The celebration will be a retrospective of some of Bryant’s most exceptional and unforgettable moments throughout his storied career.
The tribute will encompass his astonishing 81-point game in January 2006, his heroic performance in Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals, and his unforgettable farewell in his final NBA game in April 2016.
Kobe Bryant, a legendary figure with five NBA championships under his belt and a revered member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, tragically passed away on January 26, 2020. The helicopter crash in Calabasas claimed the lives of Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others.
The impact of his legacy has been widely recognized and celebrated, with countless tributes flooding social media platforms on what would have been his 45th birthday.
Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife, took to Instagram to share her affectionate sentiments, posting intimate photos capturing their love story. The Lakers owner, Jeanie Buss, also expressed her admiration, characterizing their bond as a timeless and inspiring love story.
As the Santa Monica Pier transforms into a radiant canvas of remembrance, it encapsulates the enduring impact of Kobe Bryant’s legacy on the world of basketball and beyond.
