As a tribute to the late Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant, the Santa Monica Pier will illuminate in shades of purple and gold on Thursday evening.
The towering 90-foot Ferris wheel at Pacific Park will be adorned with illuminated messages of 'LA + heart + 24' and 'LA + heart + 8', accompanied by alternating patterns and transitions of gold and purple colors.
Kobe Bryant Day, observed on 8/24, also referred to as Black Mamba Day or Mamba Day, commemorates the two jersey numbers that Bryant wore throughout his remarkable 20-year NBA career. This date holds significance as it falls on August 24, the day following his birthday. In 2017, Bryant became the first player in NBA history to have both his jersey numbers retired by the same team.
The Pacific Wheel's intricate lighting system comprises 174,000 LED lights intricately integrated into the structure, encompassing the 40 spokes and two hubs of the Ferris wheel. This distinctive solar-powered Ferris wheel boasts the capacity to display an impressive 16.7 million color combinations. With its advanced programming and display software, the lighting setup can present captivating visual effects at a rapid pace of up to 24 frames per second. Remarkably, the eco-friendly LED lighting is considerably more energy-efficient, resulting in a remarkable 81 percent increase in energy savings when compared to conventional incandescent bulbs commonly used in Ferris wheels.