Only a select few athletes can talk about playing in front of a record crowd. Since participating in the 2010 All-Star Game, the legendary LeBron James has been part of this exclusive group. While 'King James' is certainly no stranger to breaking records, being involved in this historic moment truly stood out for the reigning MVP.
"To be in front of 108,000 fans, that was actually what it was; that was not a false number. You could look up in the stands, and there was not a seat open. To be part of history is something that you always wish and dream for, " remarked Bron, per the Seattle Times.
Texas-sized spectacle
The saying "Everything is bigger in Texas" certainly rang true during the 2010 All-Star Game, which set the record for the highest attendance at a basketball game ever. Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones, the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Cowboys owners at the time, respectively, had the initial idea behind this impressive spectacle.
"When he (Cuban) said we can do this, I immediately brought in," commented Jones, who still owns the NFL franchise.
Thanks to their combined efforts, Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, hosted that year's edition. The previous All-Star game attendance record had been set at 44,735 in Texas at the Houston Astrodome in 1989. That this number was far exceeded surprised many expectations, including those of Steve Nash.
"Everyone, I think would have been thrilled if there were 75,000 or 80,000 people," the point guard legend remarked. "To have 108,000 people, for it to be an entertaining game, for it to go without a hitch...it was a phenomenal experience."
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Attendance records
The contest began with Cuban shouting, "Does Dallas, Texas, know how to throw a party or what?" and it certainly lived up to the hype. The atmosphere was electric, and the game was a nail-biter, finishing with a score of 141-139 in favor of the East, led by the MVP of the game, Dwyane Wade.
Nevertheless, the most remarkable aspect of the game was the record attendance set—which, when compared to the top five largest crowds ever at a sports event in a stadium, falls well short.
That top list is mainly dominated by soccer matches, starting with a July 1997 matchup between Indian rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, which drew 134,900 fans. At the very top is the 1950 World Cup Final between home team Brazil and Uruguay, where an incredible 199,854 spectators packed into the iconic Maracanã Stadium.
The NBA, currently led by commissioner Adam Silver, is unlikely to ever reach such high attendance numbers, mainly because of the different logistics involved in basketball compared to sports like soccer.
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