US: NBA-team Lakers participates in Rose Parade

The Los Angeles Lakers today announced their participation in the 127th Rose Parade, designing a float titled Every Second is an Adventure for the annual celebration. The theme of the float represents the importance of each moment in basketball, capturing the excitement of last-second shots and dramatic finishes Lakers fans have and will experience.

The 30-foot-tall, 18-foot-wide and 55-foot-long float will feature more than 20,000 Florigene Moonlite carnations grown especially for this entry and Kerio roses, perfectly matching the Lakers purple and gold team colors. Adding to the vivacity of the entry, Calypso mokara orchids, cattleya orchids and blue vanda orchids will accent the purple tones while oncidium orchids, forsythia, gerbera daisies, Asiatic lilies and button chrysanthemums will accentuate the gold.

Continuing with the floral arrangements, red lentil provides the orange of the giant basketball, and the hot oranges of the exploding fireworks are created with Corvette, Voodoo and High and Magic roses. Casino anthurium and miniature gourds will provide added orange accents.

Timeless
“The Rose Parade is a timeless tradition on New Year’s Day and the Lakers are enthusiastic to celebrate the start of 2016 with the rest of the country in this fashion,” said Lakers President Jeanie Buss. “Our entry into the Rose Parade is the first of its kind for an NBA team, and we’re looking forward to joining the spirited festivities.”

Designed by Charles Meier and built by Paradiso Parade Floats, the show-stopping entry reflects the excitement and energy of the Lakers franchise. Framed inside of a gigantic Lakers logo, at the front of the float will ride special Lakers guests with a replica of the NBA championship trophy, while the Laker Girls will perform alongside the float. Centered on the float will be a ground-breaking, innovatively designed giant animated basketball that spins while circling a rim, recreating the moment of ultimate suspense in the final seconds of a closely contested basketball game. Adding to the excitement, real fireworks and a burst of streamers will be fired from the base of the hoop. The giant hoop will also have 16 stars encircling it to symbolize the organization’s championships, while the rear of the float will have 10 jerseys of Laker greats. Lastly, the shape of the rear platform is engineered in such a way to suggest rippling water, paying homage to the Lakers’ Minnesota origins.