forward to a dedicated five-year joe and peter and all the warriors team. the new revenue we seek to have from this arena and this facility can be used with services for our local residents' needs and public safety. our schools. our whole repairs, public transit, programs for our youth and programs for our seniors. we look forward to working with you, all of the ownership, and i'm excited, and we are committed, and we look forward to getting this done. thank you very much. [applause] >> our next speaker led a distinguished ownership group in the purchase of the warriors had a record price of $450 million less than two years ago, and prior to owning the warriors, he served as a minority owner -- [laughter] he served as a minority owner of

the boston celtics, including when the celtics captain the nba championship. now, his vision is to build a spectacular new arena on san francisco bay. [applause] >> thank you very much. thank you come and mr.mayor. this has been a remarkable journey for us. we did pay the highest price ever paid for an nba franchise, david. [laughter] david just called me the tire kickers. i do not think he is doing that anymore to. we have had a lasting five months of interaction with the mayor of san francisco, ed and his staff. it has been a wonderful five months. incredibly positive. justa can-do attitude about the

project. there will be many challenges, but this next five years will be as big as the relationship we have had over the last five months. [applause] so, as the mayor said, we have just celebrated the 150th season in the bay area -- the warrior'' season in the bay area, and now, we embark on the next eight years. with the cost of this arena, it may take us 50 years to pay it back. we hope to be here, obviously, for a very long time, right here on this site in this very beautiful city. we put a lot of time and effort into this search. for the last 18 months, we have looked everywhere. we decided what is the best thing for our fans, where do we go, what will be best for our fans at games? how can we make this the best possible venue and team in the nba?

we decided on this site. it was not an easy decision. we looked at a number of sites, and, you know, we are faced with a pretty tight timeline. our lease expires in 2017, so we have five years, and it takes probably all of that. it will be a tight timeline, as we discussed. it will take all that to get this done in terms of getting the permits and of that and building the arena. we are very, very appreciative to the home we have had in oakland for the last 40 years or so. it has been a great community, but what people do not understand is that in fact, our fan base is really the key/50, and we do not release this information all the time, but it is 50% on the west bay and 50% on the east bay, so we are the bay area basketball team, and we had to find the best site to serve the majority of our fans

and provide that experience, and we settled at the end of the day on this site right here in this beautiful city. let me leave you with four main points as to why -- first, we intend to build the most spectacular arena in the country. for all bay area residents, not just an francisco, that they can be proud of. and architecturally significant building on truly an iconic site. it does not get any better than this. we intend to do everything in our power to have a team as well that matches the standard of what this a real is going to be, both now and over the course of the next five years. let's not forget this -- winning -- where is mark jackson? winning remains our number one priority. this army that is about winning, just like the team on the court. -- this i read at jig thisarena

-- this arena is about winning. it is important to understand we are privately funding this, and we think that is important. we know these communities are challenged by a lot of different economic issues, and we could go through those. we all know what they are. we knew we could have tried to get some public financing as has been done in other places around the country. the beautiful the stadium we have gone and seen in orlando, and others. we felt the right thing to do was if we could get the right deal on a parcel of land, a great piece, we would come in and build this arena. i want everyone to understand that it can be done and it will be done. it is going to happen. we are going to be year in 2017, and our neighbors to the south, the giants, have proven that a privately financed been you, a stadium in there is, can be done very well and work for everybody. the third point i would like to make is that we thought it was

also very important to have a venue that could be accessible via public transportation. very accessible. not just for warrior games, but for conventions and concerts' and all the other events that will be here. this is not just an urban or basketball. that is -- what? 50, 60 events? i'm not sure of the exact number. 57 or something. but also all the other events that are year. this is more than just an army that. this is a live entertainment venue, a multifaceted venue that we're going to try to put year -- this is more than just an hour arena -- this is more than just an arena appeared retell, restaurants, a place to eat, a sports bar -- all kinds of things that will be at this site. it will be very exciting. it is going to change, just like the giants changed the on the embarcadero little further,

we're going to change this part of the embarcadero for the city forever. thanks to the mayor for coming aggressively after us and bringing us here, and thanks to everyone who helped make this day happen. [applause] than the 57 games? does that include playoffs and nba championships, mark? [laughter] a prominent figure in both the entertainment and sports business over 30 years, he is the founder and ceo of mentally ill to attend a, a visionary of multimedia ventures spanning movie, tv, sports and in addition to garnering more than 50 academy award nominations, he has become actively involved in the theater business, in recent years in professional baseball ownership for one of his minor league teams, the dayton dragons, has established the all-time professional sports record for consecutive sellouts at over 850 straight games,

which is quite a record. he now plans to create the most incredible fan experience in the nba right here on san francisco bay. ladies and gentlemen, the co- executive chairman of the warriors, peter gruber. [applause] >> wow. this is fantastic. i remember growing up in boston gardens, the balcony, and obstructed viewing. suddenly, we are talking about this kind of a venue. i want to say that i have a great partner in joe. he is just great, and that is one of the reasons why i think we will succeed, and it is one of the reasons why it will be fun. in a stage in life, i want it to be fun. the other three-letter word starts with an s and ends with an x, and that is fun, too. the commissioner i have done for

a long time. i thank him for being my friend, really, truly. when you start a mission like this, this is the beginning of the beginning of the beginning, and it reminded me of the time when john glenn -- i met john glenn very early in his career, and he was one of the first people to go into space. he was very worried. the soviet union had beat us there, and we had to send somebody up. some are as and when he was sitting on the campbell soup can filled with fuel at the beginning of the mission, what was going through your mind? >> he was realizing there were in million parts all bit -- billed by the lowest bidder. i can assure you, this been you will not be built by the lowest bidder, probably. joe and i have suffered from rotator cuff injuries from going like this the whole time. [laughter] we have to do this with some elegance. so we have one mission today -- a world class of venue. a beacon for the warriors, for

its talent, resources and tina went, and a lightning rod to attract the best performing talent that this city deserves. it is a mission where everybody wins, so there can be no excuses. we will bring our very best and brightest to bear in the process. we promise you that. winning is a shared endeavor, a team endeavor. i learned that very much in sports businesses that i have been in. it really is. we have to align in order to do that whole various interests. our feet, tongue, hard, and wallets must go in the same direction. the of the senate will allow us to catalyze the area superb technological resources. this is the tech world right here. we have to take and make this venue state of the art technology, but it has got to be stated the heart of all the

performers, talent, and athletes that will be there. it is about connecting that. it is about building the most digitally fit enterprise. the vineyard itself -- we have all these venues -- you get six people on a mobile phone, you cannot do anything, but today, the audience that comes to these venues for all kinds of performers -- the billboard awards were last night in vegas -- 3/4 of the audience were texting and interacting with the audience and the fans. we have to build a digitally fit the arena so the audience can be participants, not just passengers. that is what they want. we are not distracting them from the game or the performance, but allowing them to carry and metabolize the story of my life advocate this venue, the city, and their experiences. this new venue will be a 21st century campfire, creating a social cohesion that binds diverse ethnicity, age, gender.

where else can you go today, except sitting at home on a mobile phone or computer, where you can be with 20,000 people all cheering, crying, laughing and the same experience? that is what binds us all together in our past and will in our future, and this will be the perfect venue for that. one thing today is to commit to turn his dream into a goal by giving it urgency. we will play here in 2017. take that as a promise that we will fulfil, and we will be a world-class entertainment venue. we are all in. we are all in. i hope to see you at the ribbon cutting in 2017 with a smile born from a journey well done. thank you. [applause] than a man, listen to these voters. i get fired up. maybe i could make a comeback in

2017. [laughter] maybe i cannot. one of the most respected and admired executives in the nba, he has garnered nearly 40 years of experience in sports, including a stint at the nba office in new york where he served as executive vice president, chief marketing officer, and president of north dakota properties. among his many accomplishments, he is credited with the creation of nba all-star weekend and the creation of marketing program with you as a basketball of the 1992 olympic dream team. ladies and gillette, the president north carolina 00 of the golden state warriors, rick wells. [applause] that cannot quit smiling. i think i know how the guy had to follow link in's gettysburg address feels. brilliantly done, as usual. what brought me to the warriors is exactly what you

have seen from joe and he did today. rarely do you find odours so passionate about winning and so dedicated to creating a great -- not good, a great organization. today, what joe, peter, and the warriors are doing is acting in a very big way. there are a lot of people here who have played or will play key roles in making sure that we are all gathered back here for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2017. i would like to acknowledge a couple of them. it was less than six months ago, mayor, that you directed the warriors and giants to work together to see if we could not find a location suitable for a multipurpose arena and a future home for the golden state warriors. today, we are on a site that was not available at that point, but when it did become available, this was it, and we knew this was it. the giants have welcomed us to the neighborhood. they have been generous in their

time and support, and we want to thank the president and ceo of the giants and the giants organization. . [applause] red's javahouse. it was established in 1958. it is a beloved part of san francisco. its current owner was born the same year. as i was enjoying a cheeseburger and a beer on sunday on the patio, i told him how much we want the tradition to live on as we build this great arena. sean is with us this morning. we look forward to working with you. [applause] the warriors promise you an arena that you will be very proud of. we promise that it will reflect the creativity, the diversity, the technological savvy, and the passion of this day area that

the warriors have called home for 50 years. thank you for being here today as we embark upon this, the most important journey in the history of the warriors. thank you. pausing >> during his incredible successful 28-year tenure, the league has enjoyed enormous success, adding seven franchises, a 30 fold increase in revenues, expanded national tv coverage, and wnba and nba t leads, open markets and 50 markets, and i 250 countries and territories around the world. ladies and gentlemen, the commissioner of the national basketball association and my main man, david stern. [applause]

>> i was not sure whether he could read my handwriting. [laughter] but let me say, first of all, lt. governor newsom, mayor lee, a player lee, i want to thank the golden state warriors, and particularly joe and peter and rick for inviting me to this incredible occasion. since every commissioner should be and probably is a sports fan, i wanted to do play-by-play. it would be incomplete of me not to recognize a couple of people who know all about the cow palace. would you guys stand up please? [applause]

talk about a championship tradition for a franchise. talk about will. talk about just what this franchise has meant to the entire bay area. it is extraordinary to be here and reflect upon that. it is also extraordinary to reflect upon the fact that there is an ownership group in place that is both an emotionally connected to sports and understands the impact that sports has on the community. i often talk about the same theme that peter echoed, that are read as --arenas are the one place where people come together with perhaps 19,000 perfect strangers to share in the collective exercise of routing the home team on to victory. that is reflected on our court as well where it does not matter

where you came from -- if you've got a game, you are going to be on the team. there is an egalitarian aspect that is both great, and it does not matter whether you are in one of those fancy suites or the nosebleed section -- your opinion is as good as anybody else's. that is what is good about sports as well. our ownership group understands that. they are connected to it, and a combined it with a high-tech vision and a keen sense of business about how to get it done, and that is all here today. so i am is so looking forward to being at that opening in 2017, and i thank you again for your support of the golden state warriors. [applause] >> our next speaker simply known as the nba logo, one of the

biggest players and executives in the history of the league. he has won a combined 78 -- seven championships as a player and front office expected. 40-time nba all-star, 10-time all nba team member, and the fifth highest scoring average in nba history. ladies and gillette, hall of famer and current board member, jerry web. >> thank you very much. it is really difficult following peter. peter, i think you should be a politician. you would be great. for these gentlemen down here, i was going to mention the california palace. can you imagine an area by the name of the cow palace? you had to go upstairs to the locker rooms. to think, what is going to be built on this incredible sight is fantastic.

one of the most exciting days in my life was when i saw the first spade of derek being built -- with the city being built there, i could not wait to go play in a door read it. it brings enormous excitement for the players. for the fans, suddenly, they are sitting in this beautiful new arena. i saw the stable center pierre the first shovel, the first pylon put into the ground there. -- i saw the staples center. that was one of the most exciting days. i almost went there at least once a week to watch this rise from the ground. they have brought a different fan experience. the bay area is one of the great

sports areas. the fans are fantastic, and i will tell you, warrior fans are enormous. i have not seen any better fans, but to be connected -- [applause] to be connected with two passionate owners and a passionate commissioner has really been the highlight of my life. it is up to us to build a basketball team which you will be proud of, and i'm talking about us internally. it is up to them to complete this project, and i know they will. the onus is not on us as owners. the onus is on us as players and coaches and executives to build a team that is worthy of a building like this. to me, nothing less than championship caliber team is what i have always strove for in my life. i heard one great quotation in my life that i would remind you of, and i have it on my back for counter for a 30-some years.

nothing happens unless first a dream. you have to be a dreamer, and we had two owners here who are dreamers. if you do not have a vision where you want to go, these gentlemen know where they want to go, and they are putting their money behind their mouth, and to come to live in you like this -- my god. if i were a player, this would be my resting place if i were a free agent. david, we cannot talk about free agents, but, if i were a player coming to a building like this, i know i would have great interest in playing in one of the great cities of america, and useless proud to be part of this organization. i love these guys over here. i hated them when i played against them, and i will never forget the california power. thank you for having me. [applause] >> we cannot say enough about how beautiful the spot is. there is going to be a building

that i will come down here and hang out. he comes from a successful gatt round in the private sector, starting 15 small businesses and creating more than 1000 jobs and local government, having served as both mayors of the city and county of san francisco, and before that county executive. is also a die-hard warriors fan, and i'm sure you have seen him sitting courtside on many occasions. ladies and gentlemen, lt. governor gavin newsom. [applause] >> all i have to say, when i heard rick bring up reds, these guys get it. peter and joe, you have to appreciate the significance of that statement. this is the town that landmarks the doggie diner head. we take these things seriously, so i appreciate the local respect and appreciation for our icon. we all recognize the iconic

nature of this setting. this natural amphitheater is second to none anywhere in the world. q would like touote other ex- mayors, most cordless heracles, who said we do not imitate for we are the imitated of others -- i would like to quote other ex- mayors. mayor lee, you should be extraordinarily proud. to see the board of supervisors come together, it gives me great confidence that this project will come together by 2017. final point i will make its you need the state of california because you are on state property. if you are really wondering why the hell i am here is because i am on the state land commission, and you are going to need me, so i look forward to being there

for you. >> he has been the president and ceo of the san francisco travel association since 2006. before that, he served as president and ceo of the portland visitors association, oregon's largest destination marketing association. he is here to tell us what this amazing new arena will do for tourism in san francisco. >> what an incredible day for san francisco. not only is it beautiful, it is going to be even more beautiful. look around us. look around this setting. we are turning a dilapidated surface parking lot of top of the water in the bay into a state of the art of arena. it is an amazing thing. i want to congratulate city staff and the board of supervisors and peter and joe and rick and the whole team for coming together and creating something that we as san franciscans can be very proud of. i was looking at the logo of the warriors that was done a few years ago, and it seemed like a

bull's-eye on this spot. it seems like somebody was thinking we have got to get this right by the bay bridge. it is a great accomplishment, and something we can all be proud of. i want to talk briefly about the importance -- we have heard about basketball and how important and how loved the team is in the area, but the facility will bring a lot more to san francisco -- events, concerts, circuses, conventions that we simply cannot host without it. our customers have said that the most important infrastructure in the city's tourism facilities that is missing is an farina -- arena. we have no place to hold these events, whether it is beyond basketball like gymnastics finals, or the democratic convention or the n.c.a.a. finals -- things like that that san franciscans can enjoy, but bring dollars and revenue into the city in a very needed time in our economy. if you look what this

complements, the new cruise ship terminal being built down the here, the very building, the exploratory and that will be opening next year, at&t park, and now this project, a this beautifularena, state of the art, world class -- this beautiful arena. it is something our customers will be very happy about. we did a survey of our clients from a run the world, and delegates spent $3 billion in san francisco a year, which is a large amount of money. we asked what they would use the facility for. 80% said the complex would add value to san francisco as a destination. that is really significant. what this project means to us beyond basketball -- and basketball is important, and the warriors coming home is important -- are four main things -- jobs, economic and that, tax revenue for the city and county of san francisco, and entertainment for all of us.

this is truly a great day for san francisco. i cannot wait until 2017 when the facility opens, and we can really celebrate what will become one of the true icons on the waterfront in san francisco. thank you to the warriors for making this happen. [applause] them during his nba career, he played for five hall of fame coaches, and his team qualified for the playoffs 14 times. following his initial season in the nba, he was named rookie of the year. most impressively, he concluded his career ranked third on nba all-time assists with 10,334 assists. since then, he has also spent 10 years as an nba tv analyst. head coach of the golden state warriors, who is over there trying to figure out how many 57 games is, is mark jackson. [applause]