How Warriors are working hard to have fans at Chase Center next season

Share

The NBA's tentative plan at this point is for the 2020-21 season to begin at some point in December.

So does this mean the Warriors will be playing games at Chase Center with fans in the building?

"We're putting every foot forward to make sure we can have fans and it can be safe," Golden State general manager Bob Myers said Friday morning on 95.7 The Game's "Joe, Lo & Dibs" show. "We're probably in a great market with all the technology we have and all the medical affiliates in the city. It's a lot of conversation but it's hard to make any conclusions right now.

"It's hard to say 'definitely' to anything, but that's the stuff we're kicking around."

The reality is that the league doesn't yet know what the logistics of next season will look like. If there is no vaccine for COVID-19, will teams really be flying around the country and staying in hotels like normal?

"In a recent meeting with team presidents, sources said deputy commissioner Mark Tatum shared that the NBA's current plan is to allow local governments to regulate crowds at sporting events," ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps reported last week. "That opens the possibility that revenue could be disproportionately influenced by the policy views of politicians."

[RUNNIN' PLAYS PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]

Myers mentioned the Warriors are in a great market when it comes to technology and medicine, but the city of San Francisco likely will be quite strict with guidelines and protocol.

The franchise is aware of this, and already is deep in preparation.

"In recent weeks, the organization has explored several proactive ideas," sources told The Athletic's Anthony Slater in late June. "Could they set up at-the-door coronavirus tests for every fan? What would be the protocol if someone’s temperature was over 100?

"What’s the best layout if the building could only fill 25 percent capacity? Fifty percent? What are the different legal and financial ramifications of each choice?"

Myers touched on safety measures during his 95.7 conversation.

"A lot of our focus has been on testing safely -- making sure our players are safe, making sure fans are safe, making sure our arena is safe," the two-time NBA Executive of the Year said. "Luckily we've got a brand new arena, which is up to all the latest standards.

"So we have some advantages, but it's a daunting deal."

[RELATED: Watch Klay drain some 3s with Sam Darnold, other NFL QBs]

Myers also said something that everybody should agree with.

"Sports is the dessert of life and we miss it. It's not that we can't function without it, but life just isn't as enjoyable," he declared. "We need it and we want it, but not to the degree where it's unsafe.

"So the challenge is (figuring out) how to provide this form of entertainment that brings communities together -- and gives people a lot of joy -- but do it safely."

Follow @DrewShiller on Twitter and Instagram

Contact Us