NBA basketball team the Golden State Warriors is to offer fans a monthly pass for games at Oracle Arena that does not provide a view of the court.
ESPN.com reported that the pass will cost fans $100 a month and grant access to every Warriors regular-season home game. The team emailed fans with the offer yesterday (Monday).
The offer does not include a seat at Oracle Arena or access to the seating bowl, although fans will have access to bars, restaurants and club areas where they can watch the game on TV screens.
The ‘In The Building’ pass will be non-transferable and fans can purchase up to four per person, although ESPN said that each one must be connected to a name.
Warriors spokesperson Lisa Goodwin told ESPN that 200 passes are expected to be sold each month. With 44,000 people currently on a waiting list for Warriors season tickets, the new pass is likely to be popular despite the absence of a view of the court.
ESPN noted that this is likely to mark a first-of-its-kind offering in professional sports. The report pointed out that NFL American football team the Dallas Cowboys have offered standing-room-only ‘Party Pass’ tickets for a number of years, but fans are still able to see the field.
News of the ‘In The Building’ passes comes as the Warriors prepare for a 300th consecutive sellout at Oracle Arena against the Atlanta Hawks later today. A capacity crowd of 19,596 is expected for the game, which will continue a sellout streak stretching back almost six years.
The Warriors’ current sellout streak is 310 games, spanning March 9, 1989 to April 19, 1996. Should the team continue to sell out games, the record will be tied during the Christmas Day fixture against the Los Angeles Lakers, and broken two days later against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Image: Guillaume Meunier
