Chase Center Nearing Finish Line As Warriors Hold Ribbon Cutting
Today's ribbon cutting is about more than just the opening of a world-class arena. We are celebrating the local residents who built this facility, the small businesses & artists that it supports, and the community that led this process at every step along the way. pic.twitter.com/P8ln5AUKLv
— London Breed (@LondonBreed) September 3, 2019
The Warriors yesterday held the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Chase Center, the "culmination of almost eight years of hurdles," according to Logan Murdock of NBCSPORTSBAYAREA.com. After the Warriors announced plans for a privately financed, multi-purpose arena on Piers 30-32 along S.F.'s waterfront in '12, city officials "pushed back on the plan, prompting the Warriors to shift plans to the current site" in the Mission Bay district. After "years of setbacks, the project finally broke ground" in '17. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the "first of a string of events at the site this month, including a performance by rock band Metallica, who will open the venue Friday evening." A month later, the Warriors will "follow suit, playing their first game inside the arena Oct. 5 for a preseason game" against the Lakers (NBCSPORTSBAYAREA.com, 9/3).
MUSICAL CHAIRS: In S.F., Ann Killion notes how many variables "changed on the journey" to yesterday’s ceremony. Then-Warriors adviser Jerry West and then-coach Mark Jackson were on-hand for the original announcement in '12. When ground finally broke in January '17, the player "holding the gold-plated shovel amid dancing cranes was Kevin Durant." S.F. now "finally has a world-class arena for music and other events." To Warriors co-Owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber’s credit, from the "moment they bought the team, they were honest about their intentions of moving to San Francisco, so none of this comes as some bait and switch, or a surprise" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/4).
NEW NAME IN OAKLAND: In San Jose, Jim Harrington notes the new name for the building formerly known as Oracle Arena is Oakland Arena, a change that has "been expected." The main Oracle signage and other corporate signage at the arena "has come down" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 9/4).