As San Francisco braces itself to accommodate the throngs of baseball fans expected to clog downtown streets for this morning’s World Series victory parade, at least one institution in the parade’s wake isn’t taking chances.
The University of California’s Hastings College of the Law announced Tuesday that the entire school will be closed today. The school is located on McAllister Street one block east of Civic Center Plaza–ground zero for this morning’s celebrations.
According to a statement released by the school, “the closure of the entire school, including the library, is in the interest of public safety.”
The ticker-tape parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Montgomery Street at Washington Street and will funnel down Market Street, turning onto McAllister Street as it makes its way to Civic Center Plaza.
Once there, Mayor Gavin Newsom will present the players with a key to the city during a ceremony in front of City Hall set to begin around 12:30 p.m.
Dozens of die-hard fans were already pressed up against the police barricades across the street from City Hall to claim a spot front and center for this morning’s celebrations.
Some fans said that they arrived at Civic Center at 10:30 p.m. and were ready to spend the night under the stars in the name of the team.
Those planning to attend the festivities are advised to take public transportation and several agencies are planning to ramp up service to accommodate the crowds.
The San Francisco Municipal Railway will run extra Muni Metro trains, BART will run longer trains, and Golden Gate Ferry has added two extra morning departures, according to representatives from those agencies.
The championship title is the first for the San Francisco Giants, which relocated from New York City after the close of the 1957 season.
The team, endearingly regarded by fans as a ragtag band of misfits, clinched the series with a 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday night, which sent the city into a celebratory frenzy.
Police said Tuesday that despite the number partygoers expected, they anticipate the festivities will be relatively calm in comparison.
Patricia Decker, Bay City News
