Golden State Warriors announce layout for a move back to San Francisco – NBA News
The Golden State Warriors owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber announced Tuesday that they intend to move the team from the Bay area back to San Francisco before 2017.
NBA commissioner David Stern and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee were alongside the owners as they made the announcement.
“We can turn this dream into a goal by giving it urgency. We will play here in 2017. Take that as a promise that we will fulfil. There will be a world-class entertainment venue. We're all-in” said Guber.
The Golden State Warriors franchise had its home in San Francisco from 1962 to 1971 after moving all the way from Philadelphia. Ever since Lacob and Guber bought the Warriors franchise for $450 million in 2010, they had their eyes set on moving the team back to San Francisco, which is a bigger market and has the prospects of bringing in larger revenues for the team and the owners.
The Warriors also unveiled plans of building a new $500 million arena, which will be privately funded, on a water front site near the San Francisco – Oakland bay bridge. It is one of the most beautiful sites of the city, and in proximity of the financial district as well as the Giants ball park.
"This natural amphitheatre is second to none anywhere in the world” said California Lt Governor Gavin Newsom.
There were some renderings of the proposed arena available at the conference and it looked like a beautiful piece of architecture, covered in glass from base to top. Under the agreed deal, the city will provide the site for the new arena and the owners will spend around $75-100 million to repair the crumbling piers.
The Warriors are eyeing 2017 as the year they will move the team into their new home, as that is the earliest they can get out of their lease with the Oracle Arena.
Lacob also announced that the owners have no intention of changing the name of the club for the foreseeable future.
"It's the Golden State Warriors and it's going to remain the Golden State Warriors for the foreseeable future and maybe forever. It comes down to what the fans want” said Lacob.
San Francisco mayor Lee had sent a letter to the owners of the club earlier this month stating that the city and officials were willing to work with the franchise to bring it back to San Francisco. The letter was signed by 11 city supervisors and numerous business figures of the city.
Oakland mayor Jean Quan was disappointed when she heard the news, as she had also sent a letter to the owners expressing her desire to keep the franchise in Oakland.
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