Krewe of Bacchus needs bigger throne for Shaquille O’Neal to ride in parade

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — This year’s Bacchus parade will have basketball star Shaquille O’Neal reigning as its Celebrity Monarch, but with O’Neal being over 7-feet tall, Bacchus needed a bigger throne.

It is a big deal that former LSU Tiger and 4-time NBA Champion, O’Neal is reigning as King Bacchus.

“I truly felt Shaq would be a perfect king because of his Louisiana ties with LSU. He’s a great ambassador and role model for our young kids today to do the right thing,” Clark Brennan, Captain of the Krewe of Bacchus said.

Brennan said they knew they needed to do something big for the big man with the big heart.

“Barry Kern’s company built a new throne so a big man like Shaq could fit and feel comfortable and safe,” Brennan said.

The new throne is at least 48 inches wide and about 8 feet tall. This is the first time Bacchus ever made a bigger throne on their King’s float, fit for a Shaq!

During the parade, O’Neal will throw around 250,000 doubloons with his face on them, and he will even be throwing 1,000 basketballs.

“It will be the catch this year if you catch one,” Brennan said.

Brennan went on to say, “There will be 2 to 3 million people looking to see Shaq.”

Oh you know, you’ll see him!

Bacchus rolls on Sunday, March 2, on the Uptown parade route, starting at 5:15 p.m. on Tchoupitoulas Street and Napoleon Avenue.

This year’s theme will be “Louisiana Fairs and Festivals.”

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