The Warriors will provide a generous parting gift ahead of their move to San Francisco.
An arbitrator on Monday ruled that the team must pay the remainder of the $40 million debt accrued in renovating Oracle Arena in 1996.
“We all love the Warriors and appreciate their success on the court,” Oakland City Council president and Coliseum Authority vice chair Larry Reid told The Associated Press. “However, the taxpayers of our community should not be on the hook for debt incurred and renovations completed at the Warriors’ request.”
The Warriors, however, did not agree with the decision and argued their lease obligations end when they leave next year.
“Of course we are reviewing our options at this time, but as we’ve always said, we will fulfill any debt obligations that we owe,” Warriors spokesman Raymond Ridder said.
The Warriors are expected to open next season at their new arena, Chase Center in San Francisco.
Golden State (7-1) is next slated to host New Orleans (4-2) at 10:30 p.m. ET Wednesday at Oracle Arena, their home since 1971 and the oldest arena in the NBA (it opened in 1966).
