Most Bay-Area Arena talk these days is centered on new stadiums for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Athletics, and the Golden State Warriors. Specifically, the NBA franchise has been peppered by news reports and questions surrounding the proposed timetable for their project along the San Francisco waterfront.
But that’s taken a backseat recently after the team announced plans to improve fan experiences at , which the team will continue to call home for at least the next 4 seasons.
For the 2013-2014 season the Warriors are adding 16 “Theater Boxes,” in addition to more floor seating and a VIP Club, according to the team’s release on its website.
While the new Arena in San Francisco waits, this seems to be the Warriors’ attempt to class up their current home. The new amenities and opportunities are aimed at the richer end of its fan base, as these changes will do little to improve Oracle for fans with more modest seating.
The new boxes will feature Chef’s table dining and charging stations for Apple products, in addition to private seating for up to 4 people.
The extended courtside seating adds 114 seats to the existing 150, and gives those privileged enough to sit there access to the new VIP Club, which will be serving complimentary food and drinks throughout the game.
Despite a renovation in 1996, Oracle is growing increasingly outdated as the Warriors try to move across the Bay. It seems only natural that the team would do it’s best to preview the experience it hopes it can give fans as soon as 2017.
More than half the teams in the NBA have opened a new arena in the 17 years since the Oakland facility was upgraded, and it remains the oldest arena in the league still in use (built in 1966).
While the common Warriors fan likely won’t feel the impact of these changes, they shouldn’t feel ignored. Just last season, the team introduced its new Fan App, which was a resounding success. It’s possible the team could add on to that or even continue with other innovative ideas to improve fan experience this season.
More than anything, this is just another sign that the team is ready to move forward, and that they’re doing their best to make lemonade out of arena they likely consider a lemon.
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