The iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign will light up purple and gold on Wednesday, beginning at 11 AM, according to Clark County Commissioners.
Purple and gold are the colors of Bryant’s longtime NBA basketball team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The sign’s lights are to signify and pay respects to the nine victims killed Sunday near Calabasas, California. Legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among those lost in the LA County helicopter crash.
Foggy weather conditions and low-flying levels were major factors behind Bryant’s chartered Sikorsky S-76B helicopter going down over a hillside in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas. Those aboard were on their way to a basketball tournament in which Gianna was playing, and Bryant was coaching.
The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign has previously lit up to honor tragedies and different causes, including the 2017 Route 66 Festival shooting that claimed the lives of 58 people.
Las Vegas Valley Honors the NBA Legend
In addition to the sign lighting, the Women of Color Coalition, a student group at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy, will hold a vigil to remember Bryant at 8 PM outside the student union on campus.
The Eclipse Theaters, 814 S. 3rd Street, are also inviting fans to gather at the free event they’re hosting to honor Bryant. The theater will be screening the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers game this Friday, the first Lakers game since Bryant’s passing.
Multiple Las Vegas landmarks also paid tribute to Kobe Bryant’s life Sunday night. The LINQ’s famous 550-foot-tall Ferris wheel, the High Roller, lit up purple and gold. Fremont Street, a historic Downtown Las Vegas attraction, also glowed purple in honor of the famed basketball legend. One Summerlin, a prominent office building in the Downtown Summerlin shopping center, also paid its tribute by beaming purpl. They also tweeted the following:
ONE Summerlin is PURPLE tonight for a legend gone way too soon. Our hearts go out to the Bryant family and the families of all who perished in this tragedy. RIP Kobe & Gigi 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/0Fq5nWb25D
— Downtown Summerlin (@DTSummerlin) January 27, 2020
Las Vegas Postpones New Slogan Amidst Tragedy
While Las Vegas aired its new advertising slogan during Sunday night’s 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, it postponed rolling it out across the city as initially planned.
“We were prepared to launch the newest advertising campaign for Las Vegas during the Grammys telecast on Sunday, Jan. 26,” Steve Hill, CEO and president of the LVCVA said in a statement. “In light of today’s tragic accident that claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and others on board, we are postponing any activity planned on the Las Vegas Strip until a future date. The hearts of everyone in Las Vegas are with the families and friends of those lost, with all of Los Angeles and with his fans around the world.”
The Las Vegas Sun reported that several marquees along the Las Vegas Strip and historic downtown area read, “LA, our hearts go out to you…RIP Kobe,” instead of the new “What happens here, only happens here,” advertising slogan.
But the LVCVA was unable to withdraw their new advertising because it had already been submitted into the rotation. Nevertheless, the LVCVA honored the victims of the helicopter crash on the Las Vegas Strip as well as on its official website with the following message:
“We are saddened by the loss of Kobe and Gianna. Our hearts go out to those lost in the crash, their families and to all of Los Angeles.”