Golden State Warriors: The Chase Center alone is worth the trip

The Golden State Warriors debuted a brand new arena, the Chase Center, this season. Find out what that experience is like from one fan’s firsthand account

Kevin Durant is gone. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are injured. The Golden State Warriors might actually be the worst team in the NBA. But seeing them in person this year is still worth it…if you see them at home in their brand new arena in San Francisco.

Attending a game at the Chase Center is an experience – and a first-class one at that. Their previous home in Oakland, Oracle Arena, had character and the fan base was rabid. But it was also old, cramped, and in need of a modern facelift. Seeing a game at the Chase Center is very different but also very impressive.

As you walk up to the arena, you will likely immediately stop in your tracks as you lay eyes on it, just as I did. The entire front of the building is a video screen. Projections of snowflakes and the Northern Lights dance across the facade. There is a giant Christmas tree that must be at least 100-feet tall. The massive, 74-foot by 42-foot video monitor above the main entrance is showing video clips of all the major performing artists that will be coming through soon. During the game, fans without a ticket can hang here and watch what’s happening inside on the court.

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My experience was extra memorable because I attended “Star Wars Night” and the Warriors organization spared no expense to properly celebrate such an occasion. Just inside the front doors was a video screen with lightsabers and clips of hyperspace travel for photo opportunities. Costumed Darth Vader and Princess Leia impersonators strolled through the concourses. Every fan was also given a Kevon Looney Stormtrooper bobblehead.

Maybe most impressive was the diversity of food options, many of which you would not expect to find at a sporting venue. Tony G’s has pizza and City Bistro has chicken tenders, pretty standard stuff. Sam’s Chowder House offers options like a $22 lobster roll, $9.50 clam chowder, or $20 crab fries.

Tacolicious is pretty self-explanatory. Hot Dog Bills is home to San Francisco’s World Famous Burgerdog. Sadie’s Delicatessan offered turkey or brisket sandwiches. And that’s just to name a few. You could literally spend the three hours eating your way across the arena.

The main video monitor, which is nearly 10,000 square feet, is the most impressive screen I have ever seen. It might be the most impressive thing I have ever seen in general. I had actual chills watching the team introductions, which begins with a clip of the Golden Gate Bridge barely peeking out from above a wall of fog. I would encourage you all to try to find this on Youtube. I am by no means a Warriors fan but even I was hyped to see a sub .500 team by the time the game started.

During the game, this center screen shows both the game and a pretty comprehensive box score. There are also secondary monitors in the arena that show shot charts for each team and other key statistics. Behind one section is a monitor that just displays social media photos from fans who used the hashtag “#warriorsground.”

During the game, there were multiple Star Wars-related dance routines with the entire troupe in full costume. Artist Joe Everson, who also performed the national anthem, painted an amazing portrait of Yoda during a timeout. There were giveaways, trivia, and all of the other routine things you expect during an NBA game. But somehow it all just seemed more impressive in this basketball palace.

The on-court product left a lot to be desired as the Warriors lost in overtime to the Knicks on this particular night. That previously rabid fan base seemed more subdued than I would have expected but perhaps that is attributable to lowered expectations for this season. Or perhaps it’s the result of being in downtown San Francisco compared to downtown Oakland. Whatever the reason, the energy level that became synonymous with attending a game in Oracle was absent this time.

After the game, as you exit the arena you end up in a nice courtyard area where a live band is entertaining anyone who lingers. The main video screen on the front of the building displays public transit information to help fans figure out the best way to get home. This is especially important because there is less parking nearby than at any sports venue I’ve ever seen. Perhaps part of the deal they made with the city is to encourage the use of public transit. Unless you are willing to shell out a pretty penny, do not expect to park within a one-mile radius.

Overall, if you get the opportunity, this is something worth checking out. But maybe wait until next year in hopes that the Warriors’ team will once again be as impressive as the Warriors’ new arena.