The Golden State Warriors’ new home in San Francisco’s waterfront is ready for prime time.
The Chase Center was inaugurated Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and officials with the Warriors and naming rights partner JPMorgan Chase.
A ceremony at the $1.4 billion facility included fireworks, dancers and a singing group from Oakland, which was home to the Warriors’ since 1967.
“It’s been in Ohio as early as the mid-1850s at least, brought in as an ornamental plant because of its unique foliage and white flowers,” Gardner said. “It was actually planted in people’s landscaping, and it has been spreading.”
The Warriors first announced their move to San Francisco on May 22, 2012, and broke ground five years later.
The state-of-the art venue with a capacity for 18,000 people will host its first event Friday — a concert by Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony.
The Warriors’ first game at their new home will be preseason match against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 5.