The Petition

We, the undersigned, believe the Golden State Warriors should change their name to the Oakland Warriors. The first and most obvious reason for this is that they play in Oakland. When the franchise played in Philadelphia they were the Philadelphia Warriors. When they played in San Francisco they were the San Francisco Warriors. And now that they play in Oakland they are the Golden State Warriors?

As it stands, the Warriors are the only team in the NBA whose city or state (or district) is not included in their name. The Golden State moniker made some sense when they moved from San Francisco to Oakland in 1971; they played some of their home games in San Diego and there were only two teams in California and only one in Northern California. The NBA was still new to California and a vague team name was more understandable. Now, of course, the Warriors play all of their home games in Oakland, there are four teams in California with two up north, and the NBA has been around for 50+ years. The brands have cooled. Team loyalty has been decided. The Warriors aren't making any new fans in "no-team" areas of California because they "represent" all of California.

2010 is a new beginning for the franchise. Almost everything about the team has changed: the bosses, the uniform, the floor. Let's make it complete. Change the name, too. Let's move past Cohan. The team’s new logo is the eastern span of the Bay Bridge, a symbolic icon that reflects both the area in which the team plays and the history of the team. The final change should be a new name, one that fits and defines the team and one that takes pride in the city in which it plays. If the new owners deliver on their promise of a championship it's going to happen in Oakland. Oakland should celebrate and be celebrated when that day finally comes.

Mike,
I totally agree. It's about time!

Tanner

P-Funk

The Bone Crusher,
Only team in the NBA without a city before its name.

Mike T

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Michael Marpaung

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