Chase Center: Guide for Visiting Fans

Transit is the right call here, full stop. Your event ticket is your free all-day Muni pass — that's not a promotional gimmick, it actually works at the fare gates. The Muni T Third and S Shuttle Mission Bay trains run between the Union Square/Market Street Station and Chase Center , dropping you on 3rd Street right at the front door. The most common transfer point is Powell Station — exit Powell, connect underground to Union Square/Market Street Station, board the T Third or S Shuttle Mission Bay, and the train deposits you directly in front of the arena.

Coming from BART: take BART to Powell Station or 16th St Mission Station, then transfer to Muni. From Powell, connect to the Union Square/Market Street Station and catch the T Third or S Shuttle. On event days, Muni Route 78X runs express shuttles from 16th St Mission BART to Chase Center; that stop is on 16th Street near Illinois Street. During events, SFMTA runs additional special event trains along Third Street about every 10 minutes, with "S Shuttle Mission Bay" headsigns serving all stops between Chinatown-Rose Pak Station and UCSF/Chase Center.

Coming from SFO: the best transit route is BART plus a connecting bus, which takes about 46 minutes and costs $11–$14. By car, the drive from SFO is about 13 miles and roughly 16 minutes in normal traffic — budget more on game nights.

For drivers, Chase Center is conveniently located just off I-280, at 1 Warriors Way. Rideshare passengers should follow exterior signage to the dedicated Lyft pick-up/drop-off zone on the corner of Warriors Way and Terry Francois Boulevard. Ferry service connecting Pier 48½ in San Francisco to Oakland and Alameda is available on Warriors home game days — one of the more enjoyable ways to arrive if you're coming from the East Bay.

The arena includes a parking facility of approximately 950 spaces , and those fill fast. Pre-booking is the only sensible strategy. Reserve before your event day, as spaces are limited. The Mercedes-Benz Garage and Warriors Way Garage generally open at 5 p.m. for weeknight events.

The Warriors Way Garage at 99 Warriors Way starts from around $27. The garage at 1800 Owens Street starts at $50 for event parking — close, covered, and convenient, but you're paying for the privilege. Additional parking is available at Lot C (1144 3rd St.), 1800 Owens Street, and LOT 118 (901 Illinois St.) , with prices generally ranging from $20–$50 depending on how early you book and the size of the matchup. A less-crowded option is the lot at 19th St/Illinois St, starting from $12. Book anything through the Warriors + Chase Center Mobile App or Ticketmaster to guarantee a spot. Don't roll in hoping for street parking — Mission Bay isn't that kind of neighborhood on game night.

Mission Bay itself is fine if you want to roll out of the hotel and walk to the arena, but the neighborhood is still more campus than city — UCSF research buildings and new condos, not a lot of street life at 11 p.m. SoMa (South of Market) is a better base: you're one Muni stop away, you have actual restaurants and bars within walking distance, and rates tend to be reasonable for San Francisco. The Design District and Potrero Hill edges of SoMa offer boutique options if you want something with personality. For a traditional hotel corridor, the waterfront hotels near the Ferry Building and Embarcadero are roughly 15–20 minutes by Muni and put you in one of SF's most walkable stretches — better for the full trip, slightly longer for the commute.

Harmonic Brewing (on Terry Francois Blvd, Thrive City) — A San Francisco original, Harmonic Brewing's tap room is a solid pre-game option with a spacious interior that can accommodate large groups, plus an outdoor terrace. It's essentially in Chase Center's front yard, so arrive 90 minutes early or expect a wait.

Gott's Roadside (Thrive City plaza) — Grab some food at Gott's Roadside before the game. This Bay Area staple does burgers and milkshakes that are better than most arena food by a significant margin. The line moves quickly enough that it's worth doing over the concession stands.

Miller & Lux (Terry Francois Blvd) — A stylish American steakhouse from SF restaurateur Tyler Florence, Miller & Lux is where you go when you want to dine like a big leaguer. Not a pre-game quick bite — this is the spot if you're making a night of it or the tickets were expensive enough to justify the full experience.

Golden Rule Bar (on-site, Chase Center) — Open on all Chase Center event days, it's a Bay Area-inspired cocktail and food bar that reflects the region's cultural diversity through local ingredients. Better than a generic arena bar, and the cocktail program is genuine.

Backpacks and hard-sided bags of any kind are prohibited. All bags larger than 14"L x 14"H x 6"W are prohibited. Single-compartment drawstring bags smaller than those dimensions are permitted. Bags exceeding the limit can be checked at the bag check location for $10. Bag check is located at Bike Valet on the corner of 16th Street and Terry Francois Blvd.

Doors generally open 90 minutes to 2 hours before the start of the event; NBA games typically open 90 minutes before tipoff. Chase Center requires contactless entry through mobile ticketing — have the app loaded and ticket pulled up before you hit the gate, not while standing in the scanner queue. There is a strict no re-entry policy: once your ticket is scanned and you go in, you cannot leave and come back. Make sure you've eaten and used the bathroom before you cross that threshold.

Chase Center is ADA compliant and offers accessible seating, accessible parking, a dedicated mobility entrance, and support services. Paratransit drop-off and pick-up is available on the corner of Terry Francois Boulevard and 16th Street, with accessible entry and exit from the East Entrance. ADA ticketing accommodations are handled through the Guest Experience Department, reachable at guestexperiences@warriors.com on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

All public restrooms are accessible for guests with disabilities. ASL interpreters are available upon request for certain events — contact the Guest Experiences department with at least 10 business days' notice. Chase Center offers closed captioning of all Warriors home games on your personal device at chasecenter.com/cc, available in 100 languages.

There is no formally designated away section at Chase Center — this is an NBA arena, not a soccer ground, and tickets are sold to whoever buys them. In practice, away fan clusters tend to form organically in the upper bowl (sections 200–230 range), where ticket prices are lower and the home crowd energy is less intense. If you're a visiting fan who wants to cheer without getting side-eyed the entire game, the upper corners are your friends.

For sightlines, Chase Center is genuinely well-designed. The scoreboard — the NBA's largest — is positioned to provide unobstructed views for all attendees. Even the upper bowl sections don't feel removed from the action the way they do in older arenas. The bowl is steep enough that you're not looking at the backs of heads.

Lower bowl sideline sections (105–115 and 118–125) offer the premium experience if budget allows — you're close enough to hear the squeaks. Sections at the ends (101–104 and 128–131) are cheaper but have an angled view that can make half-court plays awkward.

Chase Center boasts 23 bars and over 500 taps pouring local craft beer, specialty cocktails, and signature wines. Expect to pay $14–$17 for a craft beer and $20–$30 for a full meal. Hot Dog Bill's at portals 9 or 55 is a San Francisco staple, while Big Nate's BBQ at portals 11, 20, and 43 serves pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. The venue is cashless — credit, debit, and mobile pay only — but cash-to-card kiosks convert your cash to a prepaid debit card if needed.

Expect a crowd that is engaged but rarely threatening — this is a tech-money fan base in a new building, and the vibe skews more "I paid a lot for these seats, let's enjoy the experience" than "let's make the opposing fans miserable." That said, big matchups against the Lakers or Celtics will bring out a different kind of energy, and the lower bowl can get genuinely loud when the Warriors go on a run. The one thing that will actually catch you off guard: unlike the claustrophobic concourses of older arenas, Chase Center opens to a soaring four-story atrium with a wall of windows and bay views from the concourse, which means halftime wandering is actually worth doing here. Don't sit in your seat at the half — walk the upper concourse on the Terry Francois side and look out at the water. It won't make you cheer for the Warriors, but it'll make you glad you came.

By transit — this is the move. During events, SFMTA runs additional special event trains along Third Street about every 10 minutes , and they stack trains post-game to absorb the crowd. Head to the T Third platform on 3rd Street (it's right at the main entrance) within 5–10 minutes of the final buzzer and you'll catch a train before the real surge hits. Waiting 20–25 minutes post-game for the platform to clear is also a fine strategy — there's enough plaza space and bars at Thrive City to kill time without standing in a queue.

By driving — plan to sit in your car for at least 20–30 minutes post-game. The lots on Warriors Way and Owens feed onto 3rd Street, which funnels toward I-280 via 16th Street. The Illinois Street lots (901 Illinois St.) tend to clear slightly faster than the Warriors Way Garage because they egress toward the Dogpatch neighborhood rather than the main 3rd Street bottleneck. If you're headed to the Bay Bridge and the East Bay, take 3rd Street north to Bryant — don't try to shortcut through Mission Bay.

By rideshare — surge pricing is a certainty in the first 10–15 minutes post-game. The dedicated Lyft pick-up/drop-off zone is at the corner of Warriors Way and Terry Francois Boulevard. The move is to walk two or three blocks toward the Dogpatch or toward Mission Street before requesting a ride — you'll get a shorter surge price and the driver won't be stuck in the post-game gridlock. Wait at least 15–20 minutes after the final whistle before requesting, or just take the T Third and call a car from downtown.

One opinionated tip: take the T Third. Seriously. Your ticket is free, it's right there, and it runs every 10 minutes post-game. Save the rideshare for when you're getting to the hotel with luggage.

Is my game ticket really a free Muni pass?

Yes — your event ticket is your free all-day Muni pass on event day. Show it at the fare gate and ride without paying.

What is the Chase Center bag policy?

Backpacks and hard-sided bags of any kind are prohibited. All bags larger than 14"L x 14"H x 6"W are also prohibited. Soft-sided bags under those dimensions are fine. Bag check is available for $10.

How much does parking cost at Chase Center?

Parking at the Mercedes-Benz Garage is prepaid via Ticketmaster; nearby lots generally run $20–$30. Prices rise significantly for high-demand games — book early.

What time do gates open?

NBA games typically open doors 90 minutes before tipoff.

Is Chase Center cashless?

Yes — Chase Center is fully cashless. Concessions accept credit, debit, and mobile pay. If you only have cash, reverse ATMs convert it to a prepaid debit card.

What are the best seats for away fans? There's no official away section. Upper bowl sections (200s) are the most common away fan gathering spot — lower prices, lower intensity from the home crowd. The sightlines everywhere in the arena are strong.

Can I take BART directly to Chase Center?

No direct stop, but take BART to Powell Station or 16th St Mission, then transfer to Muni. From Powell, connect underground to Union Square/Market Street Station and board the T Third or S Shuttle Mission Bay.

Is there a ferry option?

Yes — San Francisco Bay Ferry runs from Oakland (Jack London Square) and Alameda on Warriors game days, dropping you at the Mission Bay Interim Ferry Landing at Pier 48½, about a half-mile north of the arena on Terry Francois Boulevard. It's a genuinely pleasant way to arrive from the East Bay.