SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco is gearing up for NBA All-Star Weekend, with the city’s businesses, hotels, and new venues ready to welcome thousands of visitors. 

The NBA’s 2025 All-Star signage has been placed all around Thrive City, signaling the city’s biggest sports event since the pandemic.

The newly opened Splash at Thrive City is preparing for a busy weekend, offering a two-level space with more than 75 TVs, a massive video wall, a DJ booth, and games.  

“Our philosophy is give everybody what they want when they come to a sports bar, but elevate it,” said Andy Chun, partner at Splash at Thrive City. 

He added the venue will host both private events and public activations during the weekend, showcasing a unique experience for the city.

“This is something special – something we can really be proud of. It’s an experience that doesn’t exist in San Francisco today, and it shows another side of what the city can be,” said Chun.

For small businesses like Senor Sisig, the event offers a chance to introduce their Filipino street food to a broader audience.

“We’re super excited. Being a basketball fan, it’s one of my dreams to not only be here around the All-Star game but also to have my business, Senor Sisig, and be a part of the Warriors… and put it out to the masses,” said Gil Payumo, chef and co-owner of Senor Sisig.

Fikscue Craft Barbecue, an Indonesian-Texas fusion restaurant known for long lines at its Alameda location, will also open a pop-up at Thrive City during the event. 

“It means so much to us to showcase our craft not only to the San Francisco Bay Area community but also abroad, because it’s going to be on a different level. So we’re very excited in what we can bring to the table,” said Reka Saleh, owner of Fikscue Craft Barbecue.

With an expected 100,000-plus visitors, officials project the economic impact of the event could reach up to $350 million. 

The buzz is already extending downtown, where hotels are seeing high demand. 

“We’re always excited to see guests coming in for big events, especially for sports,” said Moni Escobar, front desk agent at Chancellor Hotel. 

The St. Regis Hotel on Third Street is fully booked from Thursday through Sunday.

The economic boost stretches beyond San Francisco, as the Warriors’ original home in Oakland is also hosting events, including the celebrity basketball game on Friday. Local businesses there are anticipating an uptick in traffic as well.