Stadium and arena naming deals usually aren't struck until ground has at least been broken for the venue, but the Warriors Arena planned for Mission Bay has inked a deal well before construction gets underway. The arena, which is scheduled to open for the 2019-2020 basketball season, will be called the Chase Center. According to SFGate, the deal was likely the most valuable ever negotiated in the NBA, beating out the $200 million that Barclays paid for naming rights at the Brooklyn Nets arena.
The impetus for such an quick naming deal was likely the Warriors' private financing plans for the arena. The early funds will give lenders confidence and, according to Warriors President Rick Welts, "set the right tone" for discussions with subsequent sponsors. Of course, there are still opponents against the stadium. The Mission Bay Alliance, a group of UCSF donors currently in the middle of lawsuits against the arena over concerns about traffic and parking, called the naming premature in a press release.
· Warriors' Arena to be Named Chase Center--Bank Buys Naming Rights [SFGate]
· Lawsuit Filed Against Warriors' Planned Mission Bay Arena [Curbed SF]
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