KCBS In Depth: No Turning Back On Warriors Move To SF

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - With eyes wide open as to the cost and length of the process, the head of the Golden State Warriors confirmed to KCBS Radio that the team is fully committed to building a new home on San Francisco's waterfront.

In short, President and CEO Rick Welts said there was nothing the City of Oakland could do - or offer - to keep the Warriors from moving across San Francisco Bay, stressing that the organization is intent on some crumbling piers.

"We have five years remaining on our lease in Oakland," he said. "And, we certainly intend to fulfill the obligations of that lease and we'll be playing there for five more great seasons, we're in fact continuing to invest in the arena there to make sure that both the team and the fan experience continues to get better over that next five year period."

"But," he continued, "we are 100% focused on Piers 30 and 32 in San Francisco."

KCBS In Depth: Warriors President and CEO Rick Welts talks to KCBS:

It's a pricey plan, to be sure, but the iconic location and the view make it well worth the cost, insisted Welts.

"$100 million-plus of infrastructure improvement, just to make the site buildable," he revealed.

That is actually just a starting figure, with plenty more costs to come.

"Probably $400 or $500 million for the arena itself," Welts speculated.

The Warriors hope to open the San Francisco arena in the fall of 2017.

You can hear KCBS In Depth, a weekly half-hour news interview, Saturdays at 5:30a.m. and Sundays at 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM.

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