Photo taken during a Golden State Warriors game at Oracle Arena.

Image Credit: Mike D (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Banking and financial services giant JPMorgan Chase have purchased the naming rights to the future home arena of the Golden State Warriors. The arena will be known as the "Chase Center" and will debut at the start of the 2019-2020 NBA season. The terms of the deal were not disclosed although many anticipate the deal to easily be in excess of $100 million. JPMorgan Chase already owns the naming rights to Chase Field, home of the MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.  

Construction of the arena has yet to begin but will be constructed in the Mission Bay neighborhood on the edge of downtown San Francisco. The arena will be located in close proximity to AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, and will have a seating capacity of 18,000 seats. An adjacent area of brand new retail space, offices, restaurants and a waterfront park will also accompany the construction of the Chase Center. Plans for a new commuter rail line that would connect the arena with downtown San Francisco are also in the works.

Since 1971, the Golden State Warriors have played their home games at Oracle Arena in nearby Oakland, California; one of the oldest arenas in the NBA. The move is expected to increase the Warriors season ticket base for years to come. No public funds or tax dollars will be used to finance the Chase Center. There have been plenty of opposition to the construction of the Chase Center since the idea was first proposed. Local officials suggest that the Mission Bay location will cause severe traffic and parking complications as well as negatively impact the San Francisco skyline. Local residents are also skeptical of the project since neither a freeway or BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) service the area. The city of Oakland now needs to address new stadiums for the Oakland Athletics and Oakland Raiders or the city should be prepared to lose them as well. 

 

Reference:

SFGate.com

 

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