The Golden State Warriors are set for a return to San Francisco, US from nearby Oakland after the basketball team’s new 18,000-seat arena is completed in 2018.

Originally planned to be located on Pier 30-32 along the San Francisco Bay waterfront, locals criticised the site over traffic and environmental concern. On 19 April 2014, the Warriors abandoned plans for the pier site and purchased a site in the Mission Bay neighbourhood for an undisclosed fee.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome the Golden State Warriors back home to San Francisco with a brand new, privately financed arena in Mission Bay,” said Mayor Edwin Lee said in a statement. “The new Mission Bay arena will generate new jobs and millions of dollars in new tax revenue for our city.”

The Warriors have played in Oakland since 1971 and made the plan to return to San Francisco in 2012. The arena project will be financed privately and the team plans to have the arena ready for the 2018–19 NBA season.

Once open the new San Francisco arena, which has had elements designed by AECOM and Snøhetta, will host concerts, ice dancing and dog shows to complement basketball games.