TL;DR summary: Chase Center is an 18,064-seat sports and entertainment arena at 1 Warriors Way in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood. It is home to the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries, while also hosting concerts, family shows, and special events. The surrounding 11-acre Thrive City district adds restaurants, shops, public art, and free community programming. For most ticketed Chase Center events, the event ticket also provides all-day Muni access, excluding cable cars.
Chase Center has become one of San Francisco’s busiest sports, music, and community destinations. Opened in September 2019, the arena is home to the Golden State Warriors and Golden State Valkyries, as well as a regular calendar of concerts, family entertainment, and special performances.
Its role extends beyond ticketed events. The surrounding Thrive City district includes publicly accessible plazas, restaurants, shops, public art, and year-round community programming. Together, the arena and its public spaces have created a gathering point within Mission Bay rather than an isolated venue used only on game nights.
Chase Center stands beside a landscaped waterfront park in San Francisco. Photo by Sarah Stierch on Flickr, CC0 1.0
Chase Center at a glance
- Address: 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158
- Neighborhood: Mission Bay
- Arena capacity: 18,064 for basketball
- Opened: September 2019
- Home teams: Golden State Warriors and Golden State Valkyries
- Surrounding district: Thrive City
- Primary transit stop: UCSF/Chase Center on the T Third Street line
- Event-day benefit: Most Chase Center tickets include all-day Muni service, excluding cable cars
Capacities, entrance procedures, door times, and security policies may differ by event. Visitors should always review the page for their specific game or performance before leaving.
An arena for two professional basketball teams
Chase Center was built as the San Francisco home of the Golden State Warriors. The team’s arrival returned the franchise to the city after decades of playing its home schedule in Oakland.
The arena is now also home to the Golden State Valkyries, the Bay Area’s WNBA team. That makes professional basketball a larger part of the venue’s annual calendar and brings another dedicated fan base to Mission Bay.
Basketball remains central to Chase Center’s identity, but the building was designed to shift between sports, concerts, family shows, conferences, and other large productions. Visitors should not assume that a basketball seating map, entrance plan, or event schedule applies to every performance.
Thrive City makes the destination larger than the arena
Thrive City is the 11-acre mixed-use district surrounding Chase Center. Its public spaces connect the arena with restaurants, retail businesses, offices, landscaped gathering areas, and the Mission Bay waterfront.
The plazas host wellness programs, outdoor screenings, watch parties, music, seasonal celebrations, and family activities. Thrive City’s official 2026 summer schedule included more than 80 free events from June through August, including fitness sessions, soccer watch parties, live entertainment, and community programs.
Because the schedule changes throughout the year, the current Thrive City event calendar is more useful than relying on an older list of recurring activities.
Visitors do not need a Chase Center ticket to walk through the plazas, see the outdoor art, or visit surrounding businesses during their normal operating hours. Event-day security zones and private functions can occasionally affect access, so check the calendar before making Thrive City the sole purpose of a trip.
Public art around Chase Center
The most recognizable outdoor artwork is Olafur Eliasson’s “Seeing Spheres,” located near the arena’s eastern side. Five polished steel spheres create a reflective environment that changes as people walk around and through it.
A colorful mosaic mural along a pedestrian passage in San Francisco's Mission Bay brings together scenes of the neighborhood's streets, waterfront, and community life near Chase Center. Photo by Akhilan E on Unsplash.
Art continues inside Chase Center through a collection of commissioned and loaned works. Access to interior pieces generally requires an arena ticket, while the outdoor installation can be experienced from the publicly accessible plaza.
The combination of art, open space, and waterfront paths makes the complex a natural stop during a broader walk through Mission Bay.
What happens at Chase Center?
The arena’s calendar generally includes:
- Golden State Warriors games
- Golden State Valkyries games
- Major concert tours
- Comedy and family shows
- Special sporting events
- Corporate and private programs
- Community events at Thrive City
Concert announcements and tour schedules change frequently. Instead of relying on a static list of performers, check the official Chase Center calendar for the current lineup.
Chase Center’s opening concert in 2019 paired Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony. That first performance established the arena as a major stop within San Francisco’s wider live music landscape.
A packed Chase Center comes alive beneath dramatic stage lights as a crowd raises their hands during a live concert in San Francisco. Photo by Saira on Unsplash.
Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire at Chase Center in 2026
Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire will bring the “Sing a Song All Night Long Tour” to Chase Center on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The concert was originally scheduled for August 6 and has been moved to the September date.
- Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
- Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
- Show starts: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way
- Tour: Sing a Song All Night Long Tour
Tickets purchased for the original date will be honored on September 26. Ticket holders who cannot attend the rescheduled concert may request a refund; the official notice says purchasers will receive instructions directly by email. Review the official Chase Center event page for current ticket availability and any further updates.
The pairing brings together two extensive catalogs associated with pop, soul, funk, and R&B. Because the concert is expected to draw a large event-night crowd, transit and restaurant reservations should be planned before arrival.
Dining at Chase Center and Thrive City
Inside the arena, food and beverage service varies by event and seating area. The program emphasizes Bay Area culinary influences, but individual stands and menus can change between seasons.
Thrive City offers restaurants and bars outside the ticketed arena. These businesses can be useful before an event, although they tend to become busy as doors approach. Restaurant hours, reservations, and event-day service should be confirmed directly.
The wider neighborhood also has an expanding dining scene. Visitors willing to walk beyond the immediate plaza can explore more Mission Bay restaurants or continue south toward Dogpatch.
A practical event-day plan is to choose a restaurant and backup option before arriving. Large games and concerts can create long waits throughout the surrounding area.
The easiest way to reach Chase Center
Public transit is usually the most predictable choice on event days.
The UCSF/Chase Center Muni platform is on Third Street directly across from the arena. The T Third connects the neighborhood with the Central Subway, including Chinatown–Rose Pak and Union Square/Market Street stations.
During major events, SFMTA may add S Shuttle Mission Bay trains between Chinatown and Chase Center. Supplemental 78X Arena Express buses may also connect 16th Street Mission BART with the arena before and after events.
A broader public transportation overview can help visitors plan connections from elsewhere in the city.
Your event ticket may also be your Muni fare
For nearly all events using Chase Center’s ticketing system, an electronic or physical event ticket provides all-day Muni service. The benefit covers regular Muni buses and light rail but excludes cable cars.
The ticket remains valid through the end of the service day at 2 a.m. after the event. Riders should keep the ticket available in case a Transit Fare Inspector requests proof of payment.
At a gated Muni Metro station, show the ticket to the station agent or use the gate nearest the agent’s booth when instructed. Current details should be checked on SFMTA’s official Chase Center fare page.
BART, Caltrain, ferry, bicycle, and rideshare options
BART does not stop directly at Chase Center. Riders can transfer to the T Third through the underground connection between Powell Street BART and Union Square/Market Street Station. Event-day 78X service may provide another connection from 16th Street Mission BART.
Caltrain passengers can arrive at Fourth and King streets and transfer to Muni or walk approximately one mile to the arena.
Special ferry service may operate between Oakland, Alameda, and Pier 48 for Warriors and Valkyries home games. Ferry service is not available for every Chase Center event and normally requires advance reservations. Pier 48 is approximately a 12-minute walk from the arena.
A complimentary bicycle valet is generally available during Chase Center events near 16th Street and Terry Francois Boulevard. Confirm operating hours on the page for the specific event.
Rideshare pickup and drop-off procedures can change when streets are crowded or restricted. Follow the current app instructions and expect that walking several blocks away from the arena may produce a smoother pickup.
What drivers should know
Parking near Chase Center is limited, and event-day prices vary. Reservations are strongly recommended when driving.
The Chase Center Garage is located at 99 Warriors Way. On event days, its access schedule and pricing change as the arena transitions from ordinary public parking to event parking. Other parking facilities operate within walking distance.
Nearby meters may use special-event pricing during Warriors games, Valkyries games, and other large events. Concurrent Oracle Park events can add substantial traffic and parking demand.
Drivers should review the official parking page on the day of the event rather than relying on rates or lot availability published in an older article.
Security, tickets, and entry
Chase Center uses mobile ticketing for games and most events. Download or save tickets before arriving because mobile service can slow when large crowds gather.
Security policies differ by event, but backpacks, oversized bags, professional recording equipment, and other restricted items are commonly prohibited. Pack lightly and review the official A–Z guide and event page before leaving.
Door times are not the same as performance or tip-off times. Arriving when doors open allows time for security, food, merchandise, and finding the correct portal without missing the beginning of the event.
Accessibility arrangements may include designated seating, accessible entrances, elevators, and limited accessible parking. Guests needing specific accommodations should contact Chase Center Guest Experiences before the event.
Exploring the neighborhood before or after an event
Chase Center sits within walking distance of waterfront paths, parks, medical and research campuses, and neighboring commercial districts. The area feels different from the denser blocks around downtown arenas in many other cities.
A walk along the waterfront can connect the arena area with Mission Bay routes. To the north, visitors can continue toward South Beach, Oracle Park, and the Embarcadero.
San Francisco's skyline and bay form part of the waterfront landscape surrounding Mission Bay. Photo by Jan Suchánek on Unsplash.
Farther along the waterfront, the Ferry Building provides another destination for food, ferries, and bay views. Visitors with more time can also explore the East Cut or the Exploratorium.
These are better treated as separate stops than additions squeezed into the hour before a game. Event crowds and transit demand can make an overly ambitious itinerary stressful.
Before heading to Chase Center
Check four things before leaving:
- The official event page for door and start times
- The current ticket and security requirements
- SFMTA service alerts and event-day transit options
- Restaurant or parking reservations, if needed
Chase Center works best when the trip is planned around transit and enough arrival time. Once those details are handled, the arena, Thrive City, public art, and waterfront setting make the destination useful for much more than the event itself.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Chase Center?
Chase Center is at 1 Warriors Way in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood, near Third and 16th streets.
Who plays at Chase Center?
Chase Center is home to the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries.
What is Thrive City?
Thrive City is the 11-acre mixed-use district surrounding Chase Center. It includes publicly accessible plazas, restaurants, shops, art, offices, and year-round community programming.
Does a Chase Center ticket include Muni?
Most tickets issued through the Chase Center ticketing system provide all-day Muni access, excluding cable cars. The ticket remains valid until 2 a.m. after the event.
What Muni line goes to Chase Center?
The T Third serves the UCSF/Chase Center platform directly across from the arena. Additional S Shuttle and 78X service may operate for major events.
Can you visit Thrive City without an arena ticket?
Yes. Thrive City’s outdoor plazas, restaurants, shops, public art, and many community programs can be visited without an arena ticket. Access may change during private events or security operations.
Is parking available at Chase Center?
Yes, but parking is limited and event-day prices vary. Advance reservations are recommended. Public transit is generally the more predictable option.
When is Lionel Richie performing at Chase Center?
Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire are scheduled to perform at Chase Center on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.