SAN FRANCISCO — Sitting along the shore and staring at one of the world’s most majestic metropolitan views, Joe Lacob leaned over to hear fellow Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber whisper in his ear. SAN FRANCISCO — Sitting along
SAN FRANCISCO — Sitting along the shore and staring at one of the world’s most majestic metropolitan views, Joe Lacob leaned over to hear fellow Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber whisper in his ear.
“Man,” Guber said, “we got to do this.”
And with that, the franchise’s new vision started to come into focus.
The Warriors, NBA Commissioner David Stern and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee officially announced Tuesday that the Bay Area’s only NBA team will try to move back to scenic San Francisco. The earliest the team could leave Oakland would be 2017, when it can escape its lease at Oracle Arena.
“We can turn this dream into a goal by giving it urgency,” said Guber, the movie mogul and Mandalay Entertainment’s chief executive. “We will play here in 2017. Take that as a promise that we will fulfill. There will be a world-class entertainment venue. We’re all-in.”
The still-in-the-works project has a spot picked out that few can match.
The Warriors unveiled some of the plans for the estimated $500 million, privately funded arena on a sun-soaked day at Piers 30-32. The waterfront site near the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge — one of the most beautiful views in one of the world’s most beautiful cities — is just blocks from the Giants’ ballpark and the downtown financial district.
“This natural amphitheater is second to none anywhere in the world,” California Lt. Gov. and former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said.
A city fire department boat shot off water cannons, and San Francisco-themed songs blared in the background at the end of an event that was all about smiles — and not shovels — with the project several years and road blocks away from reality.
Under the proposed deal, the city will provide the site and the Warriors will repair the crumbling piers at a cost of $75-100 million. There will be no new taxes and no money from the city’s general fund.
“Absolutely, they have the money to do it,” Stern said of Golden State’s ownership group.
Little else about the financing plan has been announced — mostly because it’s still in its infancy.
Renderings of the building on display show an arena with near floor-to-ceiling windows on the main concourse overlooking the towering Bay Bridge.
The team and the city also hope the proposed arena will attract NCAA tournament games, concerts and other major events.
