The Oracle Awaits

Official Review by Ryan Norris, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Opened in 1966, Oakland's Oracle Arena has been the full-time home to the Golden State Warriors since 1971. It sits 3 miles Northeast of Oakland International Airport and is the next-door neighbor to the O.co Coliseum. It is situated along Interstate 880, a major commuting thoroughfare that connects San Jose and Sacramento.

Surrounded by a particularly worn-down part of the city, the Oracle acts as a shining light for a passionate basketball community. Through the years of irrelevance, the fans continued to turn out to support their Warriors. All this came to a head when the Warriors made the playoffs in 2007, their first appearance in 12 seasons, and upset the first place Dallas Mavericks in stunning and exciting fashion. That playoff run created an atmosphere unmatched in recent memory and showed the rest of the league just how engaged Warriors fans are.

A 1996 renovation modernized the interior of the arena and added over 4,000 seats to its capacity, which now tops out at 19,596. The result is sleeker, more visually appealing corridors with updated amenities and a re-vamped upper level. The aesthetic of the arena contrasts greatly with that of their Coliseum neighbors. The retired numbers read as followed: 13 Wilt Chamberlain, 14 Tom Meschery, 16 Alvin Attles, 24 Rick Barry, 42 Nate Thurmond.

With the abilitiy to adjust to different events, Oracle Arena hosts major concerts and has been the home to other professional sports teams over the years. Most notable of which was the NHL's California Golden Seals during their time in the Bay Area.

There is no shortage of kiosks to buy food, beverages or souvenirs as they're in every corridor. Just shell out $65 and a royal blue Warriors sweatshirt is yours. Too warm for long-sleeves? Blue isn't your color? Well then, how does a 24 oz Sierra Nevada for $12 sound? Splendid.

Though I've attended dozens of games at Oracle, the night in question (or reviewed) is the January 12th matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Oracle was rocking, emotions were high, and the energy level was perfect for NBA basketball.

So, Sierra Nevada in tow, I made my way to my perch. My seat was 14 rows deep in the second level at half-court, a $40 single-game value.

Food & Beverage    4

Most notably, the beer selection would make the craft conscience Bay Area both proud and broke. Craft beer selections run $11-$12 dollars for a large, with Widmer, Sierra Nevada and Lagunitas in the arsenal. The same can be said for the premium imports Stella Artois and Heineken. Out of your price range? Make your way to "??Club 200"?? and order yourself a Miller Lite for $8.50.

The food covers all the normal sporting event fare. $6 will get you a big hot dog with all the fixins or nachos sans meat. Those with acquired tastes can track down some sushi on busier nights. The arena also has some lounge-like areas that serve beer and wine in a sit-down fashion (i.e., the new Stella Artois lounge) that could be a nice place to catch some highlights before the game starts.

Atmosphere    5

Note: This score is for the barn-burner against the Lakers on January 12th.

Second Note: This score really doesn't change much from game to game.

Oracle Arena and the Warriors have the best atmosphere of any team in the Bay Area, aside from maybe the Sharks in San Jose. The crowd is engaged throughout and the players feed off of their energy. Throughout the down years, the PR staff has continued to be fan-focused and has been a big part of why they continue to have large crowd turnouts. The fans are constantly engaged as there is something to take in during every time-out (Warrior Girls, Flying Dubs and most importantly, Pizza Dash). The pure energy of the arena enters the night when the patrons leave, reliving every brutal or sensational moment.

Neighborhood    1

This is the downfall for Oracle Arena. It sits in a nearly vacant part of Oakland, surrounded by rundown industrial buildings. There is no reasonable place to meet-up with friends before the game with most individuals arriving by car or train and heading straight into the event. After spending a lot of time at the Arena (and the Coliseum), I would say you're pretty safe once on the property. However, if you're unfamiliar with the area you shouldn't explore the neighborhood as low-income housing and vacant storefronts are all you'll really see.

Fans    4

The fans that turnout are knowledgeable and passionate. Loose balls can be a life or death situation and foul calls never, ever, ever go their way. Warriors fans are loyal to the extreme. My one complaint would be the acceptance of mediocrity, no doubt from the sub-mediocre play of much of the last two decades. To the night in question: when the Lakers are in town, everything is magnified. The Lakers fans were loud. The Warriors fans were loud. The arena was abuzz.

Access    5

By car: Just exit I-880 on 66th or Hegenberger and follow the signs to the parking lot and fork over your $18. The one redeeming factor is that you get a two-dollar-bill when paying with a twenty. Fun! There is plenty of room to park and it's very convenient to get in and out.

By BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit): From San Francisco, buy a $3.80 one-way ticket, board either a Dublin/Pleasanton or Fremont train and exit at Coliseum/Airport. Take the walking overpass over 66th avenue to the Arena. The Arena is also accessible from Richmond and Pittsburgh via BART, from Oakland and the East Bay via AC Transit and Sacramento via the Capitol Corridor Amtrak train.

Return on Investment    4

This was a little tricky to review. As an experience, it's great. The team is exciting to watch and it's a lively event to attend. The downside is that the team hasn't been a winner in recent years.

Extras    3

The arena is game-focused mostly. There are some places for adults to drink and commiserate on the team's zone defense as well as activities for youngsters not entirely enthralled with the game. For the most part, you aren't paying for the extras at a Warriors home game.

two quick tips:

-the safety concerns mentioned in this article are, in my opinion, overblown. That is not to say that the arena is in the nicest area, rather that you'll still be safe in spite of it. Also, the reviewer is certainly correct that there won't be a place to grab a drink near the arena as the area is heavily industrial and along major commuting thoroughfares.

-because of the heavy commuter traffic, public transportation is also an option, and a cheaper one at that. Most notably is Bay Area Rapid Transit (commonly referred to as BART). It has stops all along the East Bay as well as connections in downtown San Francisco. Oracle Arena is also served by AC Transit buses and the Capital Corridor Amtrak train.

by ryannorris | Jan 10, 2011 08:23 PM

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