The Warriors in recent seasons have experienced a "growing number of celebrities, boldface names and 'friends of the family'" attending the team’s practices, according to Scott Cacciola of the N.Y. TIMES. For a "select few -- a group that includes authors, actors, politicians and athletes, some more notable than others -- it is a rare opportunity to peek behind the curtain." Some people get to "watch the whole practice; others are allowed in toward the end when players are working on their shooting." Some guests "sit courtside; others observe from a balcony." It "depends on the person and the day, and at many practices, there are no outsiders at all." On rare occasions, Warriors coach Steve Kerr "invites a distinguished person to attend practice and address his players," which previously has included author Malcolm Gladwell, sociologist and 49ers consultant Harry Edwards and members of the Blue Angels, a group of elite Navy pilots. Other guests have "included children from the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation." Celebs sometimes "find the Warriors when they take their show on the road." That was the case when the team visited the Nets in December, as Coldplay's Chris Martin "dined with the Warriors the night before the game and then had an opportunity" to watch G Stephen Curry’s private pregame workout at Barclays Center. Cacciola notes it was "all arranged through a mutual contact at Under Armour," which sponsors Curry (N.Y. TIMES, 6/5).
NOT RIGHT NOW: In S.F., Matier & Ross reported just days before the NBA Finals tipped off, the Oakland City Council "quietly turned its back on a deal to sell the city’s luxury box at Oracle Arena to the Warriors for $200,000 a year -- money that could be used for cash-strapped city services and programs." The Warriors had "even agreed to start the deal immediately instead of waiting until next season -- a move that would have been worth as much as $5,000 per game to the city." The idea of "selling the city’s 20-seat box was put in motion" after Council President Larry Reid and colleagues "found themselves the targets of a scathing Oakland Public Ethics Commission report in March on the lack of oversight in the handing out of free sports, concert and other tickets for the mayor and council members" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/4).
BIG THINGS COMING: The Warriors' Chase Center will open in ’19, and ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne toured the construction site with team President Rick Welts and GM & President of Basketball Operations Bob Myers in a piece that aired yesterday on "SportsCenter." Shelburne asked, "When you bring up how big this is going to be and how big it's going to feel, do you worry at all you lose some of the charm of Oracle?” Myers: “We have a vision: Make the building smaller. We have 19,500 people at Oracle Arena, only 18,000 here. People make that environment.” Myers said the new arena is going to be a "symbol of an ownership that's not satisfied, that wants to be better, that wants to transcend." Myers: "I can promise you this. When we roll into this building, there will be a lot of 'wow' moments from everybody, not just players, coaches, fans, media, us. It's going to be pretty tremendous" (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 6/4).
