The Warriors said that they will be "seeking input from fans on whether they should change their name after announcing earlier this week they'd purchased a 12-acre property" in Mission Bay that they plan to use for a new arena, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. The franchise "will keep the Warriors moniker they've used since they were founded in Philadelphia in 1946 but could readopt the name for which they were known when they played" in S.F. from '62-'71. Warriors President & COO Rick Welts said, "We're very curious what our fans think of that. I couldn't imagine making that decision in the very near future, but we definitely want to see what our fans prefer" (ESPN.com, 4/25).
REAPING POSTSEASON REWARDS: Warriors execs said that they expect to "net in the middle-six figures in additional sponsorship revenue for every two playoff games the team hosts." Team CMO Chip Bowers said that several of the team’s "biggest sponsors -- called Gold Alliance partners who pony up at least $1 million during the regular season -- have signed deals for promotions in the postseason." In S.F., Eric Young noted Kaiser Permanente is the "presenting sponsor of the playoffs, putting its name on shirts, tickets and the healthcare giant will have other promotional opportunities in the postseason." Other big sponsors like Clorox and Esurance also have "planned promotions tied to the Warriors playoff games" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/24).
ON THE HOOK: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority Dir Deena McClain said that the Warriors' lease at Oracle Arena calls for the team to continue paying up to $7.4M a year until '27 "whether the team stays or leaves." But the Warriors said that they "don't owe anything beyond 2017, when the team's lease expires." Warriors VP/PR Raymond Ridder said, "Our rent, debt and other payment obligations expire after the 2017 season. We have the option to extend the lease, but not the obligation." Sources said that the dispute "is likely to end in litigation." Oakland City Council member Desley Brooks said, "The contract speaks for itself. The Warriors are choosing to leave, but they should not forget that they still have a large fan base in Oakland, and they need to do what's right for those fans and the taxpayers" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/25).
THE RIGHT CALL: In S.F., Bruce Jenkins writes of the Warriors' arena plan, "I'm delighted the Piers 30/32 project fell apart, for it spoke of arrogance and callous disregard. Traffic, sight lines, aesthetics -- all those issues were properly argued and defended." Mission Bay "makes more sense in a thousand ways." The Warriors "should use Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the marvelous facility in Indianapolis, as a model" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/25).
