A proposed new Golden State Warriors arena is back on track after Gov. Jerry Brown signed enabling legislation to give team owners a clear path toward obtaining Piers 30 and 32 on the waterfront.
It’s been a long road for the Warriors in their search for a Oracle Arena replacement: the bad economy and the breathtaking audacity of a plan to build a new Golden State Warriors arena on two dilapidated piers has not put many fans in the team’s corner. But San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee is a fan, and he’s been running political interference for the Warriors, to the point where the skids are greased for the state to approve the use of public space for a private use. From the San Francisco Chronicle:
“It just continues to get better,” Warriors President and CEO Rick Welts said. “I think the design has gotten even more exciting, and the site is even better. We picked the most-regulated piece of real estate in the universe in which to build the most special arena that has ever been conceived. When we signed up for this, we signed up for the most special site imaginable and the process that goes with that.”
A new version of the arena design is expected in November. In the meantime, the Warriors front office and owners will be in Beijing to a) see the Warriors play a foreign exhibition and b) check out the iconic Beijing National Stadium, known informally as the Bird’s Nest for its breathtaking design.
