Kobe Bryant Boulevard

Kobe Bryant Boulevard is a proposed renaming of a stretch of Figueroa Street by former President of the Los Angeles City Council Herb Wesson and council member Curren Price on August 24, 2020.[1][2] It would be renamed in honor of professional basketball player Kobe Bryant, who along with his daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.[3][4]

Kobe Bryant Boulevard
The Crypto.com Arena(pictured here as Staples Center), which is included in the stretch of Figueroa that would be renamed.
Former name(s)Figueroa Street
Part ofFigueroa Street
NamesakeKobe Bryant
Length3 mi (4.8 km)
North endOlympic Boulevard
South endMartin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Construction
CommissionedAugust 24, 2020
Other
StatusPostponed since October 21, 2020

The renamed street would span from Olympic Boulevard to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.[5] It would also include the Crypto.com Arena, which is home to the Los Angeles Lakers who Bryant played with throughout his entire 20-year career and is dubbed the "House that Kobe built".[6][7]

On October 21, 2020, the vote to consider the proposal was delayed by the council, and a new date has yet to be stated as of July 2022.[8]

History

On August 24, 2020, Kobe Bryant Day, then-council member Herb Wesson announced that the 3 miles (4.8 km) stretch of Figueroa Street, between Olympic and Martin Luther King Jr., would be renamed to Kobe Bryant Boulevard on Twitter.[9] Wesson said that Bryant's "legacy [was] bigger than basketball" and that the street would be a reminder that "there is no obstacle too big and that with the #Mambamentality, anything is possible."[10][11][12]

On October 15, the Figueroa Corridor Bid stated that they would vote to reject the bill, with their founder Darryl Holzer stating that he was "disappointed that Curren Price and Herb Wesson didn’t discuss this proposal with any oil the leaders of the Figueroa Corridor Bid."[13]

On October 21, 2020, the Los Angeles City Council's Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee considered moving forward with a vote to send it for consideration,[14] but was delayed due to an extended meeting of the council.[15][16] As of July 2022, the committee has not given a new date for the vote with Councilmember Price stating that the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles had stalled the votes.[17]

Route

The renamed section would run down by the campus of the University of Southern California (USC) and past L.A. Live, putting the Crypto.com Arena at 1111 Kobe Bryant Boulevard.[18] It would also include the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Galen Center.[19] The street would intersect with Chick Hearn Court, a section of 11th Street renamed for Lakers announcer Chick Hearn in 2002.[20][21]

Reactions

The reaction towards the announcement was mostly positive. Several USC students reacted positively to the announcement on Twitter.[22] Many also liked how it would intersect Chick Hearn Court and MLK Boulevard.[23] Some have criticized the move to rename because it would erase some of the street's history with it, as it would be renaming a part of José Figueroa's history as a governor of Alta California.[24]

References
  1. "Kobe Bryant Boulevard: LA City Council to consider naming downtown street in honor of Lakers legend". MSN. October 21, 2020.
  2. Juliano, Michael (August 24, 2020). "A Downtown L.A. street might be renamed Kobe Bryant Boulevard". Time Out.
  3. MaGee, Na (August 25, 2020). "Street Next to Staples Center to Be Renamed 'Kobe Bryant Blvd'". Electronic Urban Report.
  4. Martin, Erika; Abovian, Ellina (August 24, 2020). "Stretch of road from Crypto.com Arena to Coliseum expected to be renamed Kobe Bryant Blvd". KTLA.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Sherry, Max (August 26, 2020). "Los Angeles Street Outside Staples Center To Be Renamed 'Kobe Bryant Boulevard'". SPORTbible.
  6. Walsh, Erin (24 August 2020). "Street Staples Center is located on to be renamed 'Kobe Bryant Boulevard'". Yardbarker.
  7. "City Council Proposal Would Rename Street Near Staples Center After Kobe Bryant". KCBS-TV. August 24, 2020.
  8. "Move to Name "Kobe Bryant Boulevard" Downtown Delayed". Spectrum News 1. October 21, 2020.
  9. "Street Outside Staples Center To Be Renamed 'Kobe Bryant Boulevard'". Life Without Andy.
  10. VanHoose, Benjamin (August 25, 2020). "Street Near Staples Center to Be Renamed Kobe Bryant Boulevard: His 'Legacy Is Bigger Than Basketball'". People.
  11. Bieler, Des (August 24, 2020). "On Kobe Bryant Day, L.A. council members promise to rename road outside Staples Center". The Washington Post.
  12. Antounian, Nicole; Brand, Ava; Lee, Pilar; Fuchs, Emmett; Odgers, Isabelle; Valle-Riestra, Chichi (September 14, 2020). "The City of Los Angeles honors Kobe Bryant, names street near Staples Center for the late superstar". USC Annenberg Media.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. "FIGUEROA CORRIDOR BID OPPOSES RENAMING OF FIGUEROA TO KOBE BRYANT BOULEVARD". Los Angeles Sentinel. October 15, 2020.
  14. "Kobe Bryant Boulevard: LA City Council to consider naming downtown street in honor of Lakers legend". KABC-TV. October 21, 2020.
  15. "LA City Council Delays Vote On Renaming Downtown Street After Kobe Bryant". KCBS-TV. October 21, 2020.
  16. Martinez, Taylor (October 21, 2020). "L.A. COUNCIL COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER NAMING 'KOBE BRYANT BOULEVARD' DOWNTOWN". KMIR-TV.
  17. Gonzalez, Christina (January 26, 2022). "2 years later: Fans wonder why no statue or street has been renamed to honor Kobe Bryant". KTTV.
  18. Kalland, Robby (August 24, 2020). "Los Angeles Will Rename The Road Outside Staples Center 'Kobe Bryant Boulevard'". Uproxx.
  19. Wolf, Scott (August 24, 2020). "Figueroa St. To Become Kobe Bryant Blvd. Around USC". Sports Illustrated.
  20. Gutterman, Ron (August 24, 2020). "Lakers News: Section Of Figueroa Street Re-Named Kobe Bryant Blvd". Lakers Nation.
  21. McMenamin, Dave (August 24, 2020). "Street outside Staples Center will be renamed Kobe Bryant Boulevard, Los Angeles City Council says". ESPN.
  22. Trevino, Chris (August 25, 2020). "Several Trojans react to change to Kobe Bryant Boulevard". 247Sports.com.
  23. Faigen, Harrison (24 August 2020). "Los Angeles renaming street that holds Lakers championship parades to Kobe Bryant Blvd". Silver Screen and Roll.
  24. Holter, Darryl; Estrada, William; Echeveste, John (December 6, 2020). "Op-Ed: Why L.A. shouldn't rename a stretch of Figueroa Street for Kobe Bryant". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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