Watch CBS News

Warriors Look To Sponsor Basketball Courts At Bayview School

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The Golden State Warriors are trying to make another big play in San Francisco by sponsoring basketball courts at the new Willie Brown Jr. Middle School in the Bayview.

But a rule that prohibits branding in San Francisco schools could derail the plan.

The basketball court at Willie Brown Junior middle school currently has blank back boards and no names on the asphalt.

Pretty much the only paint anywhere are the white lines.

But if the Warriors have it their way, the team will brand the court with its logo.

The Warriors have done it dozens of times before at other Bay Area schools when the team donates to redo a court.

But in San Francisco, they could be blocked from branding the court.

"We do not want to have a 'quid pro quo;' you pay, you get," said San Francisco School Board member Jill Wynns.

Wynns co-authored the 1999 act that prohibits corporate branding at schools. She says such commercialization can influence young minds.

But the San Francisco School Board is now considering making an exception at Willie Brown Jr. Middle School and allowing the branding.

"I do not believe that we should lightly allow that influence that we have on students. That when schools tell them something, 'Ok, that's my school. That's from whom I'm supposed to be learning,'" said Wynns.

A representative with the Warriors told KPIX 5 that even if the board votes down the team's plan to brand the court, the Warriors will still go through with resurfacing the basketball court.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.