The Chase Center flagship store will be Fanatics' largest retail footprint and will be open year-roundFANATICS
Fanatics today officially announced a "10-year merchandising rights deal" with the Warriors, according to Terry Lefton in this week's SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL. As part of the deal, Fanatics will "run a 10,000-square-foot 'Warriors Shop' team store just outside the soon-to-open Chase Center." Fanatics will also "administer 4,000 square feet of retail space within the new arena" and run three local fan shops. Fanatics' 10,000-square-foot flagship store will "open in September and be the first to operate within the 'Thrive City' retail sector of the Chase Center mixed-use development." The store will be Fanatics' "largest retail footprint," and will be "open year-round." Fanatics also will "handle e-commerce sales for the Warriors, who have led the NBA in licensed merchandise sales four of the past five seasons." Levy Restaurants' Rank + Rally merchandising division "previously held" the Warriors' merchandising rights (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/22 issue).
ADDING TO THE ROSTER: In S.F., Shwanika Narayan noted Fanatics runs the "online and store operations for most Bay Area sports teams, recently signing" the Giants in April. Fanatics already handled merchandising for the 49ers, Earthquakes and Sharks. Under the new Warriors deal, fans will be able to "order gear online and pick it up in stores." Fans can also "buy an item in a store -- or at a kiosk at Chase Center" -- and have it "delivered to their homes." Other than the Warriors holding the leases, "all other aspects of the stores, including stocking gear and hiring employees," will be handled by Fanatics (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/22).
