After playing for 47 years in Oakland at the Oracle Arena, reigning NBA champions Golden State Warriors will move to San Francisco’s Chase Center next season. This fact is now being used by Warriors’ players as a motivation to get their third consecutive title this year. They want to leave Oracle Arena with a bang and move to the new place in style.
“We want to do it for the fans of Oakland,” – Warriors’ shooting guard Klay Thompson told reporters after Sunday’s practice. “Been so loyal to us for 40-plus years, whatever it’s been since they’ve been in Oracle. So that definitely helps with this season. It’s leaving a big legacy behind in Oakland because people might not get to see us as much in San Francisco. And just enjoying this every night.”
While they will play in a modern arena next year that will be more comfortable for both the players and the fans, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that the team has mixed feelings about the move.
“It is bittersweet,” – said Kerr. “The new arena’s going to be amazing, and we’re all excited about that, but we’re all bummed to be moving on from Oracle. So we would love to finish it the right way. It’s hard to replicate an atmosphere like Oracle’s. I think back to the Boston Garden, going to the new Garden. The old Chicago Stadium where I played to the new one. It’s hard to create that same sort of intimacy when you’re building a new arena with suites and concourses and everything else.“
Oracle Arena is currently the oldest arena in the NBA, being opened in 1966. It became the permanent home of Golden State Warriors in 1971–72 season and hosted 1975, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals.
“This last year is going to be special,” – added Warriors’ superstar Curry. “This is — how many years we’ve played at Oracle — the journey, from some pretty down years to some really entertaining basketball but didn’t win much to now having won three out of the last four. All that happened in Oracle Arena.“
