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A fabulous fête went down in Mission Bay on Tuesday. The Golden State Warriors’ arena held their official groundbreaking media gala, ushering in the long-awaited and embattled Chase Center as the future home of the championship-winning basketball team.
In glorious form, the event was hardly a stuffy affair. In addition to a cameo by Kevin Durant, the media affair was punctuated by a synchronized backhoe dancing act featuring, among other things, fireworks and construction equipment coming to life.
A fitting start to what promised to be the city’s premiere sports entertainment center.
The Chase Center, a 18,000-plus seat arena that will move the Warriors from Oakland to San Francisco, had to leap through many legal hurdles before officially breaking ground. Neighborhood group Mission Bay Alliance and former UCSF board members tried to halt construction for fear of increased traffic congestion, hindered access to the new Children’s Hospital, and an overall increase in San Francisco construction.
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After a few rounds in court, the California Superior Court and the California State Court of Appeal granted the Chase Center a green light.
And now the process begins. And begin it did with this seamless choreographed routine set to Mozart. Behold.
Heavy equipment operators perform synchronized dance moves at groundbreaking ceremony for Golden State Warriors' new arena in San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/HI6b8T2k4d
— ABC News (@ABC) January 18, 2017
The famed GLIDE Ensemble was also on hand to welcome back the Warriors with a rousing performance.
@warriors celebrate groundbreaking with characteristic style. @warriorsworld @GLIDEsf pic.twitter.com/AxB3sLqdL1
— J.K. Dineen (@SFjkdineen) January 17, 2017
Warriors President Rick Welts , majority owner Joe Lacob, and co-owner Peter Guber were also introduced, along with a gaggle of local politicians trying to grab hold of what promises to be a wildly successful indoor arena.
San Francisco mayor Ed Lee and a host of other notables took part in the official breaking of the ground care of a gold-plated shovels.
The groundbreaking of @ChaseCenter will bring @warriors back home to #SF & create thousands of jobs for our residents. #DubNation pic.twitter.com/RAf61WWf5k
— Mayor Ed Lee (@mayoredlee) January 17, 2017
With an anticipated completion for the 2019 season, the Chase Center will boast 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, as well as five-plus acres of public waterfront park.
- Warriors’ S.F. arena: pomp, circumstance and Kevin Durant [SFGate]
- As expected, Warriors win Mission Bay arena battle [Curbed SF]
- Now former California governor Pete Wilson will fight SF Warriors arena [Curbed SF]
- Opponents Appeal Golden State Warriors’ Arena Victory [Curbed SF]
- Warriors arena construction could start any day, but it won't [Curbed SF]
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