Do Relocation Hurdles Mean Golden State Warriors Consider Staying in Oakland?

The Golden State Warriors’ potential move to San Francisco might be slipping through the cracks, as relocation hurdles have hindered that vision and kept hope alive in Oakland.  The original vision brought out NBA Commissioner David Stern, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Warriors’ brass and PF David Lee.

The revised arena renderings have been tweeted out to the public, and they are visually and artistically stunning.

However, San Francisco is a mecca for people to protest, especially in an eco-sensitive place like the Bay.  Warriors owner Joe Lacob has most of the political powers on his side, but the San Francisco Waterfront Alliance, which includes former Mayor Art Agnos, strongly dislikes the new plan.

While the two sides and East Bay residents fight it out in the court of public opinion, Lacob and company are still shooting for the 2017 opening date.  However, the current cost has been driven up, starting with the rehabilitation of Piers 30 to 32, which has doubled to $120 million.

In May 2012, the price for the waterfront arena was calculated at $500 million.  Recent reports have now forecast the cost to complete the arena at more than a billion dollars. 

With the cost overruns and the potential political pressures, is the new waterfront arena really worth it?  Is there still hope in the City of Oakland?

Let’s go back in time when the Warriors first moved from the city of Philadelphia to become the San Francisco Warriors, and they rocked the oh-so-cool The City jerseys.  The San Francisco Warriors played at the Cow Palace and the Civic Auditorium until the Oakland Coliseum-Arena was built in 1966.

The Warriors were the team from the City, and they chose to move to the Town because of a better and more updated facility that could handle fans from all around Northern California.  However, the arena was built in 1966 (the oldest in the NBA) and upgraded in June 1996 in order to expand seating, add luxury suites and build three exclusive clubs.

The fans make it a great arena, as judged by the outpour of fans during the “We Believe” playoff run and last season’s success.  It is arguably the loudest arena in the NBA during the playoffs, but will that loyalty travel from the Coliseum complex over to San Francisco?

The Warriors' current lease ends at the end of the 2016-17 season, which is why the 2017 date is so important.  Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, recently tweeted out that even though Lacob is confident about the arena’s progress, the potential building is running behind the critical path.

There is no doubt Lacob wants the Bayside presence in the City of San Francisco.  His goal is to make the Warriors’ home a preferred spot for free agents and a place where people enjoy congregating. 

If this project stalls, he has the option to renew the lease for a five-year period or pay a premium to negotiate it down to two or three years.  Is Oakland still an option at this point? 

I don’t consider Oakland to be a legitimate option, unless the Coliseum area goes under the recently proposed massive transformation.  Yes, BART is an easy-access route to and from games, but the area needs new facilities with multi-residential housing and commercial businesses.

The allure of San Francisco and its brand image is a loftier sight for Lacob and Co. than a revitalized home in Oakland.  The Warriors have established themselves in Oakland, and Oakland would like to have its chance to keep its NBA team.

If he can put a successful product on the floor annually, fans will come to the game, whether they play in Oakland or San Francisco.  The move will be very similar to when the San Francisco Giants moved from Candlestick Park to then PacBell Park in 2000.

A different type of fan attended the game compared to the Croix du Candlestick veterans.  I know, because I regularly attended games at the Stick and was amazed to see the change in customers with the new park.

There will be a big adjustment, as money will definitely have its weight in the new waterfront arena.  Unless the costs triple or significant environmental problems prevent the arena from being built, the Warriors will be on the way across town in the next five years or so.

I compare it to the local star who makes it big.  Does he or she stay close to home and appease fans, or go to the big time where more money and more recognition awaits?

That is the current decision in the hands of Joe Lacob and Co.   

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