While the Golden State Warriors are struggling to cap off 2019, the organization owned the 2010 decade. Five consecutive NBA Final appearances, three championships, and one new arena all within 10-years earned Golden State the title of “Franchise of the Year” by the Sports Business Journal.
Joe Lacob and Peter Gruber’s group purchased the Warriors in 2010 and turned Golden State from lovable losers to perineal contenders. While the Warriors set a championship pace on the court, the Sports Business Journal praised what the Warriors were able to do off the court.
The brand new, privately funded, $1.4 billion arena known as Chase Center was the crown jewel to end the Warriors’ dominant decade. No other modern sports arena was privately financed and built on private property.
The Golden State Warriors have been named ‘Franchise of the Decade’ across all professional sports teams by @sbjsbd
» https://t.co/5SNVWnyRkA pic.twitter.com/7pfcgbg56V
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 16, 2019
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Golden State Warriors were touted for their technological innovation. Inclusion of social media, mobile pay and a new gigantic LED scoreboard were all steps towards a modern basketball watching experience at Chase Center.
The Warriors have led the NBA in revenue over the past three seasons and their new location in San Francisco’s Mission Bay, the money is expected to keep flowing into Golden State.
Having a bevy of All-Stars across your rosters like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green help attract honors like “Franchise of the Decade.” Still, the Warriors ownership group and President Rick Welts deserve credit with this award.
The Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer, Welts called the award “Humbling,” in a Tweet celebrating the honor.
This is incredibly humbling. All of us at the Warriors are extremely grateful for the honor of Franchise of the Decade by the Sports Business Journal. This goes to everyone in our franchise – fans, players, employees, everyone. We’re very proud to be Warriors!
— Rick Welts (@RickWelts) December 16, 2019
Golden State was named “Team of the Year” by the Sports Business Journal in 2014 and 2016; they were also finalists for the award five times during the decade.
Although the team only has five wins through the first quarter of the 2019-20 season, the Golden State Warriors are still as big of a name brand as there is in the NBA. Their next challenge will be to parlay the success of the recent past into the start of the 2020-21 season.