With something as dire as men playing sports at stake, it’s hardly a surprise that the Golden State Warriors won the battle over moving to San Francisco’s Mission Bay.
CBS SF reports: “A Superior Court judge Monday upheld the environmental impact report for the Golden State Warriors new San Francisco arena, clearing a major obstacle standing in the way of building the facility.”
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, who has championed the new arena as some sort of legacy project, had this to say following Monday’s ruling: “Today’s Superior Court decision today is an important milestone in the process of bringing the Golden State Warriors back to San Francisco and to building a state-of-the-art entertainment venue the entire San Francisco Bay Area can be proud of.”
The problem, if any, started when, after the Warriors purchased land near the new UCSF campuses, a group called the Mission Bay Alliance filed suit. Among other tidbits, they claim that the impending 18,500-seat Chase Center would impede traffic, possibly block access to UCSF medical facilities, and, as noted on SFGate, be “at odds with the cluster of life science research and health care centers that has taken root in the neighborhood.”
Osha Meserve, an environmental attorney representing the Mission Bay Alliance has this to say following the ruling: “The Alliance appreciates Judge Wong’s effort to decide this case on the extremely fast litigation timeline imposed on this case by the Legislature. The Alliance must now decide how to proceed within five days rather than the 60 days normally provided for filing an appeal.”
Another group called SaveMuni, who oppose pretty much everything including the important Central Subway project, joined in the lawsuit.
An appeal will probably happen, but little will come of it. Presumably.
Local architecture firm Gensler was plucked to design the interiors of the arena. The firm is responsible for other such sporting facilities as the Cleveland Browns’s FirstEnergy Stadium, Hohokam Stadium for the Oakland A's, and BMO Field for Toronto Football Club. It should be completed before the 2018 season.
- Warriors Arena Will Officially be Known as Chase Center [Curbed SF]
- Lawsuit Filed Against Warriors' Planned Mission Bay Arena [Curbed SF]
- Interior Design Firm Picked for New Warriors Arena [Curbed SF]
- Warriors win judgment in fight over SF Mission Bay arena [SFGate]
- Warriors Win Major Court Victory In San Francisco Arena Battle [CBS SF]