Thousands Celebrate Super Bowl City Opening Night
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Thousands gathered along San Francisco's waterfront Saturday night to celebrate the opening of Super Bowl City – the kickoff of Super Bowl 50 week in the Bay Area.
The evening began with the relighting of the Bay Bridge Lights.
The unique art installation on the western span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was installed in 2013 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of opening of the span.
Designed by artist Leo Villareal, the work includes some 25,000 white LED lights along the 1.8-mile span of the bridge between Yerba Buena Island and San Francisco.
"I couldn't be happier," Villareal told KPIX moments before hitting the switch to turn the lights on. "I'm excited and thrilled to be unveiling this piece of monumental public art."
The project initially was not intended to be a permanent display and was turned off last year. But funding and the public demand for its return gave new life to the display.
As the lights began their choreographed dance among the cables, the thousands cheered loudly.
But that was merely a prelude to what was ahead.
Moments later, one of the most magnificent fireworks displays in the history of the city.
The show's producers were the same ones behind the fireworks spectacular in New York City for the 2015 4th of July.
And they did not disappoint.
Saturday's show was a synchronized display set to music including football anthems and music from past halftime performers.
The high point was when the thunderous display lit up the sky during "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" followed by the coup de grace finale.
"It's the Countdown to Gold, and gold is going to come to life. 50 bursts in 50 seconds… a grand finale like none other," said the show's Executive Producer Amy Kule.
The evening was capped by a standing room only performance by San Francisco rockabilly star Chris Isaak.
Images: Chris Isaak Rocks Super Bowl City
Brought to the stage by 99.7 Now's Fernando and Greg, Isaak did not disappoint as he sang his hits "Wicked Game," "Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing" and "Somebody's Crying."
