SAN FRANCISCO -- For the last decade, the Golden State Warriors brain trust has waited anxiously for the day Chase Center opened along the shores of San Francisco.
Now, following years of construction setbacks, the organization finally saw the vision through with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the building Tuesday morning.
"It's a phenomenal day," Warriors co-chairman Joe Lacob told NBC Sports Bay Area shortly after the ceremony. "It's hard to describe on a personal note just how meaningful it is."
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Tuesday's ceremony marks the culmination of almost eight years of hurdles. After the Warriors announced plans for a privately financed, multi-purpose arena on Piers 30-32 along the city's waterfront in 2012, San Francisco officials pushed back on the plan, prompting the Warriors to shift plans to the current site in the San Francisco's Mission Bay district.
After years of setbacks, the project finally broke ground in 2017.
"It's nearly impossible to get a project done in the city of San Francisco," team president Rick Welts said. "It's just the reality of how we run our city. I think I thanked about a thousand people and there are about a thousand more that were a part of making this get to the finish line."
Golden State's move to San Franciso marks the end of the team's 47-year stay in Oakland's Oracle Arena. For the last two seasons, the organization has paid tribute to the East Bay city, donning Oakland-inspired alternate jerseys with the "The Town" stitched across the chest - a tradition that will continue in their new area. The team continued to pay tribute to their East Bay roots Tuesday afternoon, as the Oakland Interface Gospel Choir opened the ceremony. While most of the team's basketball staff, players and employees moved into the new building, the team's old practice facility will host team basketball camps and provide office space for non-profits around Alameda County.
Golden State Warriors
"We're going to have one foot planted on each side of the bay," said Welts. "We're always going to be the Bay Area's team."
The Warriors new arena comes as the team finds itself at a crossroads. Two months ago, star forward Kevin Durant opted to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, prompting a trade to acquire All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell -- one of eight new players on the roster. Additionally, Klay Thompson, who tore his ACL in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, is expected to be sidelined until midseason. Still, Lacob believes the team can continue its recent run of dominance.
"I think it's going to be a lot different for everybody. We have a lot of youth on the team this year," Lacob told NBC Sports Bay Area. "But we kept our core together: Steph, Draymond, Klay and we added a young 23-year old All-Star in D'Angelo Russell so the way I look at is we have four all-stars once Klay gets back and we have no reason to be back at 100 percent. He's never been injured, he has a strong body, he heals well. We think when he gets back we're going to be a really good team and a team that should give a lot of people pause when we get to the playoffs."
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Tuesday's marks the first of a string of events at the site this month, including a performance by rock band Metallica, who will open the venue Friday evening. A month later, the Warriors will follow suit, playing their first game inside the arena Oct. 5 for a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
"It's a really rewarding day," Lacob said. "And I think the years to come will make it that much more so."
