In a press conference held on the Embarcadero, the Warriors slam-dunked right in the face of loyal East Bay fans.
The Warriors have made it official. They don’t care if you like it or not.
They are moving back to San Francisco. Get used to it.
In a picturesque event on Pier 30-32 on the Embarcadero, Warriors owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber were joined by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, NBA Commissioner David Stern and even Ahmad Rashad to announce the Warriors’ intentions to build a glitzy new arena in time for the 2017-18 season. David Lee was even given a seat on stage.
Everyone that spoke reiterated 2017 as the target date to open the arena on a refurbished Pier 30-32. Mayor Lee didn’t mince words on the current condition of the piers:
“This pier needs a lot of work. It needs major work.”
Despite tons of multi-million dollar work to get the site ready for an arena, Lacob was excited about the project they have ahead of them:
“We intend to build the most spectacular arena in the country.”
Lacob also mentioned the entire project will be privately financed, and used the success of the AT&T Park as an example of how well that will work. It will be interesting to see how much this complex will finally cost:
“We are pleased to be privately financing the arena, with no money from the City’s general fund and no new taxes, and look forward to providing an incredible entertainment experience for Bay Area fans.”
Guber, the entertainment mogul, spoke about the the fact that this arena will not just be home to the Warriors:
“We have one mission today, a world class venue.”
Guber also talked up making the new facility a digital marvel, and creating an interactive experience for the fans. He said fans will be able to text and tweet while at the game and have their words appear on screens around the arena.
If this venue lures concerts away from Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, then it’s just one more reason to build it.
The hope is that this arena will attract top-tier free agent talent to the Warriors that an arena in Oakland just can’t do. Although slightly biased, considering he works for the team, NBA legend and Warriors consultant Jerry West said the arena should help sign new players:
“If I were a player, this would be my resting place if I were a free agent.”
Hopefully the next generation of Warriors free agents feel exactly the same way.
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