The Warriors are "raising ticket prices once again" with increases between 15-25%, "depending on location," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. The cheapest seats for season-ticket holders "will increase from $32 to $40 a game, while the best courtside seats will rise from $625 to $715, or $30,745 for the season, not counting the playoffs." At the start of the Warriors' "recent run of success," the '14-15 season, which ended with a title, the "cheapest season-ticket price seat was $18, while courtside was $450 a game." The Warriors currently have "more than 32,000 people on their season-ticket holder waiting list." The Warriors have "sold out 214 consecutive home games dating back to Dec. 18, 2012" (ESPN.com, 2/7). Warriors co-Owner Joe Lacob said of the price increase, "It is the cost of doing business. We have a great product and we have to pay for that product. We all know we’ve been in the luxury tax, we’re probably going to be in the luxury tax again. As long as our fans want that product and we can deliver it, we’re going to do what we can. We are cognizant of pricing, though. We don’t want to price people out of the market." Meanwhile, Lacob said he thought at some point the team "might consider changing" its name to the S.F. Warriors upon moving to its new arena in '19. Lacob: "We were debating it. (But) Golden State Warriors have become a big brand." Lacob: "I’m not going to say it will stay that way forever, but I think we’d be kind of crazy to change it now." He added, "I’m sensitive about the fact that people in Oakland think we’re leaving Oakland. ... It would be rubbing it in their faces if were to change that right now" (“The Afternoon Delight with Greg Papa,” KGMZ-FM, 2/7).
