The Bay Area is a region with a rich sports history. Those native to the Bay will agree on one common thread — the Golden State Warriors.
In the Bay Area, sports is serious business and fandom is inculcated at an early age. If your parents were San Francisco Giants fans, you are usually raised to be one too. And, if you’re a Giants fan, you’re not an A’s fan. If you’re a 49ers fan, you better not be Raiders fan. The Warriors, however, are unique — it is the team that brings a very multicultural, diverse community together.
Photo Credit: Aundre Larrow, StoriesFromHere.com
In the Bay Area the diversity is massive. Similarly, the Golden State Warriors have managed to bring together a diverse group of players from all walks of life to form one of the most cohesive units to ever play the game. Everybody’s very different, but yet they get along and that — represents the Bay. The Bay so much diversity, but we all get along. It is one of the reasons the Bay so very special.
The Golden State Warriors are well aware of their long-suffering fanbase. Heading into the 2011 season, the Warriors missed the playoffs 29 times in 35 years. The Warriors hadn’t made the Conference Finals since 1976. The Warriors hadn’t had an All-Star since 1997. The Warriors made so many bad first-round picks and overpaid so many guys over the past 35 years that most fans, including myself, who never thought they would see a National Championship in their lifetime.
As part of an annual tradition, the Warriors dedicate their regular season finale to Dub Nation. Dub Nation, a self-named nickname the fanbase named themselves years ago, are unique fans the Warriors celebrate at every season finale.
Photo Credit: Aundre Larrow, StoriesFromHere.com
This year, to celebrate Warriors Fan Night 2018, fans attending tonight’s game at Oracle will be sporting a new shirt, designed specifically for fans and inspired by work from Aundre Larrow. Larrow, who is part of a program that gives artists, photographers, and creatives all the tools and resources needed to pursue a passion project for a year (more here).
Larrow took the assignment very seriously, intent to create something to honor not just the fans in attendance at Oracle Arena, but the fans across the Bay from Oakland to San Jose. In order to do this, Larrow made it a goal to interview fans from across the Bay. In doing so, he managed to capture the essence of Dub Nation in these (INSERT LINK) videos and images.
The Strength in Numbers T-shirt reads, “Win or lose, the Warriors are our team. Everybody plays a role. The best fans in the NBA. The Warriors bring us together. It’s not a one-man show.”
For more on Larrow’s work on the Fan Night project, check out photos and interviews transcripts in the cities/regions linked below.