The Golden State Warriors want to have their passionate fanbase fill the Chase Center, their magnificent home, next season.
The NBA was shut down in the middle of March. It was a brutal time filled with uncertainty for every American. Well, that worrisome feel hit the Golden State Warriors as well.
Knowing they’d be out of the playoffs, if there were even going to be a playoffs, Golden State immediately started planning for next season, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne wrote. Majority owner Joe Lacob started to plan “Operation DubNation,” a mission to get fans back into Chase Center but in a responsible and safe way.
The plan is started to see some movement as the next season is drawing near. With the use of technology to help advance rapid testing, the Warriors have an idea of what it might take to get fans back in their state-of-the-art facility.
"“The Golden State Warriors have presented an ambitious plan to state and local officials to reopen Chase Center in San Francisco at 50% capacity for the upcoming NBA season, which owner Joe Lacob believes can be the model for all sports franchises and entertainment venues to safely bring back fans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.“Lacob said the Warriors are prepared to spend upward of $30 million to test every fan, Warriors employee and player with the most accurate form of COVID-19 testing for each home game or day they come to Chase Center,” Shelburne wrote."
The Warriors have one of the most passionate fanbases in the league. With a trio of major cities all within distance of the Chase Center, the Dubs have a fanbase that will be craving the return of basketball, but it’s going to be all about doing it safely.
She also goes into how the Warriors plan will contain mandates for mask-wearing and social distancing. Another part of it will be the arena’s filtration system which can apparently replenish the air supply and “replace it four times in an hour.”
The technology and determination that Golden State will have at their disposal should help at least get the plan approval. For the Warriors and the entire NBA, it’ll be tough to get fans back without any hiccups along the way.
Some people will have the virus and strict protocols must be in place. There will be plans for just about everything as “Operation DubNation” is bound to succeed. Lacob believes this plan will gain approval from the city and state officials.