1st seats go up in Warriors' new Chase Center; lucky longtime fan sits in his

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - In just a matter of months the Golden State Warriors will be moving into their new home across the Bay.

But Friday was a landmark for the Chase Center. One lucky fan got to be the first to sit in his seats inside the new Chase Center.

With a pull of the trigger on a set of bolt drivers, the first seats inside the Chase Center were secured in place.

The future home of the Golden State Warriors and the future seats for longtime Warriors fan Tim Healy.

"I've been a season ticket fan since 1987," said Healy.

And Healy has the pictures to back it up, a member of the Dubnation through good times and bad.

He was the lucky fan selected to bolt down those seats the same seats he's got locked down for the next era of Dubs basketball.

"Best seats in the house if you ask me. I like being up a little high and the best view. Nobody walking in front of me. I'll be sitting on top of the luxury box, that's my claim to fame. I'll be on top of the luxury box," said Healy.

There to help him install his seats another famous Tim, legendary Golden State Warriors point guard Tim Hardaway.

"It gives you a little bit of goosebumps, especially since we put in those seats," said Hardaway. "When you sit down, and you're just taking in everything. It's pretty amazing."

He said the perspective is a little different than playing on the court. But, he says the view from the stands isn't half bad. "No. There's not a bad seat in the house," said Hardaway.

The Chase Center has already met several major milestones. The arena is now completely enclosed, clad partially in white with a wall of windows overlooking the Bay.

Inside, everywhere you look, work on the billion dollar arena is underway crews are welding and pouring cement.

Warriors President and CEO Rick Welts said placing those first seats, sitting with fans and an NBA legend was a moving experience.

"My grin can't be any bigger because we spent so many years looking at architectural drawings and we saw renderings and and artists renditions and now we look at it now and say 'wow, that's what it's supposed to look like,'" said Welts. 

Work at the Chase Center is progressing rapidly. They expect to be done in August with the doors to the Chase Center opening sometime in September.