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Chase Center is the indoor arena in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood, home of the Golden State Warriors of the NBA and the Golden State Valkyries of the WNBA. It also hosts concerts, comedy and college basketball, close to 200 events a year by its own count. For Palo Alto it is a longer trip than SAP Center in San Jose, but a manageable one: Caltrain runs to 4th and King, a 15 to 20 minute walk from the arena. Every event ticket also doubles as a free Muni pass for the day.
This guide covers the venue, the trip from Palo Alto and the rules the arena publishes. For the teams, schedules and how to follow them, start with our guide to watching sports from Palo Alto.
How the arena came to be
The Warriors announced plans for a privately financed San Francisco arena on May 22, 2012, originally on waterfront piers. After opposition to the waterfront plan, the team dropped the pier site in April 2014 and bought a 12-acre parcel in Mission Bay from Salesforce. A neighborhood group fought that plan too, citing traffic and the nearby UCSF hospital, but construction went ahead.
The arena opened on September 6, 2019 with a concert by Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony. The Warriors played their first regular season game there on October 24, 2019 after decades in Oakland. The Valkyries, an expansion team, began play here in 2025. Fans nicknamed the building "Ballhalla" on their nights. The Warriors' practice facility is inside the same complex. The arena seats 18,064 for basketball and about 19,500 for concerts.
Around the arena is Thrive City, an 11-acre plaza and retail district built by the Warriors with Kaiser Permanente. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and hosts farmers markets, outdoor screenings and community events, even on nights without a game.
What happens at Chase Center
- Warriors basketball. The NBA regular season runs from October into April.
- Valkyries basketball. The WNBA season runs through the summer into early fall.
- Concerts and shows. Arena tours, comedy and family events fill the gaps between games. A smaller theater setup is used for some shows. Our live music guide covers venues closer to Palo Alto.
- College and other basketball. The University of San Francisco occasionally plays here and the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G League bring one home game a season.
Buy from the arena's box office, its own site or Ticketmaster, which the arena names as an authorized seller. The arena warns it cannot check tickets bought from other third parties. You can compare Warriors and concert seats and then load your mobile ticket before you leave home. The box office at the West Entrance is open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on weekends only on event days.
Getting there from Palo Alto
Caltrain to 4th and King
Caltrain runs from Palo Alto and California Avenue to the San Francisco station at 4th and King. In early November 2026 express trains took about 39 minutes and locals about 50. Palo Alto is in Zone 3 and San Francisco in Zone 1, so it is a three-zone fare: $8.50 in October 2026 and $9.00 from January 1, 2027. Our Caltrain guide and our page on Clipper cards and fares cover tickets and payment.
From the station you have two choices, both listed by Caltrain and the arena:
- Walk. Head east along 4th Street, turn left on Gene Friend Way and continue to Warriors Way. The arena puts the walk at 15 to 20 minutes.
- Muni. Board the T line on 4th Street toward Sunnydale. Caltrain's guide says to get off at the 3rd Street and Mission Rock stop. The arena says extra S trains run on event days. Show your event ticket at the Muni gates or on the platform and you ride free all day.
After a night game, check the last southbound Caltrain before the final buzzer. In early November 2026 the last weekday train left San Francisco at 12:05 a.m. Overtime and encores can make that tight.
BART
BART is an option if you start from the East Bay or connect at Millbrae. The arena lists Powell Street and 16th Street Mission as the nearest stations. From Powell, transfer to the T line. From 16th Street Mission, the 78X bus runs to the arena from 2.5 hours before events until 1 hour after.
Driving
From Palo Alto, take US 101 or Interstate 280 north toward Mission Bay. Without traffic it is about 45 minutes. With a weeknight game and commute traffic, an hour and a half is not unusual. Our page on commuting to San Francisco compares the options.
Bike and ferry
The arena's Bike Valet is free and opens one hour before the event and closes one hour after it ends. Helmets are not allowed inside but can be checked at the valet for free. SF Bay Ferry runs event service to Pier 48 from Oakland and Alameda for home games, which helps East Bay fans more than Peninsula ones.
Parking, in general terms
The arena's own garage is the Chase Center Garage at 99 Warriors Way. Its parking page lists these rules for event days:
- Event parking begins two hours before the event start. The entry rate is $75, added to any public parking fees already accrued.
- Earlier in the day the garage takes public parkers at $7 an hour, up to $35, but they must leave before the event begins.
- No new cars enter between four hours and two hours before doors.
- The garage closes at midnight and allows no overnight parking.
- Vehicles taller than 6 feet 8 inches are not allowed without authorization.
Pre-booking through SpotHero is available and spaces are limited. Street parking in Mission Bay is scarce and tightly enforced on event days. Lyft has designated pickup and drop-off zones near the arena.
Bag policy and arena rules
Chase Center does not require clear bags, but it is strict on size. According to its bag policy:
- Every bag, including purses, totes, fanny packs, diaper bags and medical bags, must be no larger than 14 by 6 by 14 inches.
- Backpacks are banned, except single-compartment drawstring bags and single-compartment fashion backpack-style purses.
- Larger bags can be checked at the Bike Valet at 16th Street and Terry Francois Boulevard for $10, a donation to the Golden State Community Foundation. It opens 60 minutes before doors and closes 60 minutes after the event. It even takes suitcases.
Doors open 90 minutes before Warriors and Valkyries games. Concert door times vary. Outside food and drink are not allowed, including water. Reusable bottles are not permitted either, though fountains are spread around the concourses. The arena and its grounds are smoke-free, vaping included. There is no re-entry. Strollers are allowed and can be checked at the guest services kiosks near Portals 13 and 53. At Warriors and Valkyries games, alcohol sales stop at the end of the third quarter.
Food nearby
The arena has its own food and drink throughout the building. Outside, the closest cluster of restaurants is Mission Rock, the new neighborhood between Chase Center and Oracle Park. Its developer listed these among open businesses in 2026:
- Fieldwork Brewing, a craft brewery taproom with food and TVs beside China Basin Park. Its site lists noon to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
- Flour + Water Pizza Shop, the pizza counter from the Mission District restaurant group, listed at 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at Mission Rock.
- Via Aurelia, a Tuscan dinner restaurant for a slower meal before a concert.
- Quick options including Ike's Love & Sandwiches, Proper Food, Quik Dog and Sweetgreen, plus Blue Bottle for coffee.
Thrive City around the arena also has restaurants and bars, which change more often. Our San Francisco day trip guide has ideas for a full day in the city first. If a late show leaves you short of a train, you can compare hotels in Mission Bay and SoMa and head home in the morning.
Good to know
- Your event ticket is a free all-day Muni ticket.
- Bags must be 14 by 6 by 14 inches or smaller. Backpacks are out.
- Leave your water bottle at home. Outside drinks, including water, are not allowed.
- Check the last Caltrain south before the game starts, not after it ends.
- Rules on this page come from the arena's own site in fall 2026 and can change by event.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Chase Center from Palo Alto?
Ride Caltrain north to San Francisco 4th and King, about 39 minutes on an express. From there Chase Center says the walk takes 15 to 20 minutes, or you can ride the Muni T line, which serves the arena. Your event ticket works as a free all-day Muni ticket.
What is the Chase Center bag policy?
Every bag, including purses, diaper bags and medical bags, must be no larger than 14 by 6 by 14 inches. Bags do not need to be clear. Backpacks are banned except single-compartment drawstring bags and fashion backpack-style purses. Larger bags can be checked for $10 at the Bike Valet on 16th Street and Terry Francois Boulevard.
How much does it cost to park at Chase Center?
At the Chase Center Garage, 99 Warriors Way, event parking starts two hours before the event and costs $75 to enter, on top of any public parking already accrued. The garage closes at midnight and has a 6 foot 8 inch height limit. Prices can change, so check the arena's parking page.
Can I bring water into Chase Center?
No. Chase Center does not allow outside food or drink, including water. Reusable water bottles are not permitted. The arena lists water fountains at many portals inside.
Does Chase Center offer tours?
Not at the moment. The arena's A to Z guide says no public tours of Chase Center are offered at this time. Thrive City, the plaza around the arena, is open to everyone daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.