The Warriors are moving across the bay to San Francisco, and when that happens, Oracle Arena will be no more. The new arena already has a sponsor name attached, via ESPN:
The Golden State Warriors announced Thursday that they have agreed with JP Morgan Chase on a 20-year naming rights deal for their arena that is scheduled to open in 2019.The 18,000-seat privately funded facility in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood will be called the Chase Center.
Source: Golden State Warriors' new arena to be called Chase Center.
That's an OK name, nothing wrong with it, I'm sure the money is nice. But it's going to be a sad day when the Warriors leave Oracle. Besides the name -- and the great "Roaracle" nickname that has come with it -- Oracle Arena itself has really come to be one of the NBA's really special venues. It's got a fanbase that's absolutely rabid; it's the loudest arena in the NBA (no disrespect to OKC). Part of that was the mix of tech folks and blue collar, long-time season ticket holders from all across Northern California.
During the Finals last year, I talked to a cop who would drive from 40 minutes East for games, as well as tech workers from Santa Cruz and people from all over. It was a different atmosphere. Moving the arena makes absolute financial sense, it's going to make owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber insanely rich... well, OK, even more so. Having a new commercial district around the arena will make going to games more fun for fans. But something will be lost when they leave Oracle. When you have a special environment, trying to recreate it in a new building is difficult.
But hey, by that time they may need to make more room for their banners if the Warriors keep this up.
