“Kings Crowned NBA Team of the Year: Dominating In-Game Experience and Unprecedented Growth”
The Sacramento Kings, renowned for their innovative in-game experience that stands unparalleled in the NBA, clinched the prestigious “Team of the Year” title during the league’s annual NBA Sales and Marketing Meetings in Miami on Monday night. Additionally, the Kings earned the NBA Team Innovation Award for introducing the Victory Beam last season – a captivating display of six purple lasers illuminating the skies outside the Golden 1 Center after each victory, whether at home or away. This initiative spurred engaging “Light the Beam” promotions, involving players, fans, and sponsors.
The T’Wolves secured the NBA Inclusion Leadership Award for their expansive “Pack the Vote” campaign, spearheaded by star player Karl-Anthony Towns, a pivotal member of the league’s Social Justice Coalition Board. The campaign focused on non-partisan voter education, registration, and the passage of a bill granting voting rights to 50,000 former Minnesota inmates.
The Jazz received the inaugural NBA Team Viewership Innovation Award for launching a free linear television package on KJZZ Channel 14, effectively expanding their reach to 100% of the state of Utah, as well as Idaho, Wyoming, and parts of Washington and Eastern Oregon. This move, coupled with the introduction of the Jazz+ streaming app, resulted in a remarkable 53% increase in average overall viewership in the 2023-24 season.
Alison Wright, Golden State’s Director of Guest Experiences, earned the Pete Winemiller Guest Experience Innovation Award for her outstanding initiatives, including surveys, leadership workouts, and “lunch and learn sessions.” Meanwhile, the Suns’ Shawn Martinez received the NBA Values of the Game Award for his commendable efforts with Native Americans in the greater Phoenix area.
However, the Kings claimed the top honor due to their unprecedented growth in the past calendar year. Boasting the highest season ticket renewal numbers in franchise history, close to 100%, they ranked second in the NBA for ticket revenue growth. Achieving franchise highs in digital and content partnership revenue, the Kings finished second in the league for partnership revenue growth.
The Kings’ impressive achievements also extended to merchandize sales, with a 35% increase attributed to the introduction of an e-commerce and in-arena team store. They welcomed over 20 corporate partners, hosted 100+ community events impacting 100,000 people, and significantly increased over-the-air game viewership by 200%. Notably, the Kings’ in-game experience earned them the top spot in the NBA, a pivotal factor in achieving their largest season ticket renewal in franchise history.
John Rinehart, the Kings’ President of Business Operations, expressed pride in being ranked No. 1 in in-game experience, emphasizing its profound impact on fan interactions and contributing to the franchise’s historic season ticket renewal. The Kings’ success marked a noteworthy shift from the previous NBA Team of the Year, the division rival Warriors, showcasing the collaborative spirit within the NBA community. Rinehart acknowledged the mutual support and exchange of best practices among organizations, exemplifying the camaraderie that defines the league off the court.
