Hard-Working, Customer Service-Driven Family Taking the Kings to
the Upper Echelon of Professional Sports and Entertainment
In just seven years, the Maloof family has guided the Sacramento Kings and Monarchs as well as ARCO Arena
to unparalleled heights. Under the family’s leadership, the Kings and Monarchs have advanced to the NBA and
WNBA Playoffs, respectively, and produced entertaining basketball that has been seen around the world. The
Kings have recorded 50-plus regular season victories each of the past five years, won back-to-back Pacific
Division titles in 2001-02 and 2002-03, and advanced to the 2002 Western Conference Finals. This past summer
the Monarchs won their first WNBA championship, defeating the Connecticut Sun in the Finals.
Even more impressive than the company’s competitive accomplishments has been Maloof Sports and
Entertainment’s significant impact within the community. The Maloof family’s business philosophy strongly
incorporates the idea of making a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need and at risk in the community
by working to advance the cause of literacy in the region through the donation of Kings Reading and
Learning Centers.
The Maloofs also donate $100,000 in proceeds from a selected Kings preseason game each year to assist
area capital improvement projects as a tribute to the family’s late father and husband under the name of the
George J. Maloof Sr. Community Cup. In the past, the annual $100,000 gift has allowed the Sacramento Airport
Little League to completely refurbish its little league sports complex, the Sacramento Unified School District to
repair a building in downtown Sacramento to house Hemispheres, an after-school visual and performing arts
academy, the Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation to bring a Community Cultural and Youth Sports Center to
South Sacramento, the St. Patrick’s Home for Children to provide clothing and educational resources for the
center’s children, and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament to make repairs to its structure in downtown
Sacramento. This year’s donation is assisting with the Sacramento Local Conservation Corps campaign to
raise funds for a new Educational Building.
The family’s dedication to community service earned Joe and Gavin Maloof the World Sports Humanitarian
Hall of Fame’s Most Involved Executives award for 2001. In addition, the organization’s work was recognized
with the Pro Team Humanitarian Award in both 2002 and 2004.
This summer the Kings, Monarchs, and Maloofs helped lead the charge in Sacramento to assist those affected
by the destruction suffered from Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast region. Through on-line auctions,
fan, employee, and player donations, and a 100% matching donation from the Maloofs, the organization
helped raise nearly $300,000 for those in-need.
Striving toward the goal of providing complete customer and employee satisfaction, Maloof Sports and
Entertainment works under the mission statement of “a championship caliber team of people committed to
the highest level of performance, service, quality, innovation, community involvement, and winning relationships.”
“Our family lives by two Maloof business philosophies, cater to our customers and take care of our
employees,” states Joe Maloof. “We have a long-term commitment to our fans and employees that make the
entire Sacramento community proud to call this organization their own.”
The Kings and Maloof Sports and Entertainment continue to explore ways to enhance the entertainment
value of the nearly two million guests who annually enter through the ARCO Arena gateways. In the 2000-
2001 operating budget, the company earmarked $1 million for training, services, and equipment designed to
improve customer service and satisfaction. The investment paid immediate dividends, as the Kings ranked
first in the NBA in overall fan experience in 2001 and 2003 in a league-wide survey conducted every other
year by J.D. Powers and Associates.
The Maloofs’ strong leadership and innovation in the NBA and WNBA was instrumental in spearheading
Las Vegas’ successful bid to host the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend. Marking the first time a non-NBA city
has hosted the event, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and Maloofs promise the
Entertainment Capitol of the World will put on an All-Star Weekend show in a grandiose fashion.
The Maloof family’s interest in purchasing the Kings, Monarchs, and ARCO Arena originated in 1997 when
they contacted then-Managing General Partner Jim Thomas regarding the availability of the teams and arena.
On January 14, 1998, the Maloofs completed the purchase of a minority limited partnership in the organization’s
franchises and ARCO Arena. Although both the Kings and Monarchs suffered through subpar seasons in
1997-98, the Maloofs continued their pursuit of primary ownership and on January 15, 1999, subsequently
purchased controlling interest, effective July 1, 1999. The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved
the ownership transfer on May 7, 1999, in New York, at which time the Board of Governors appointed Joe
Maloof to the Board. The official closing of the ownership transaction took place on July 1, 1999.
Their purchase of the Kings returned the Maloofs to the NBA after a 17-year absence during which the family
eagerly pursued an opportunity to rejoin the league. Owners of the Houston Rockets from 1979 through 1982,
the Maloofs watched their Rockets rise to elite status, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in the
team’s history in 1981. Following the death of their father, George Maloof, Sr., in 1980, Joe and Gavin Maloof,
who were only in their mid-20’s at the time, took over responsibility for the Rockets along with their mother,
Colleen, their two younger brothers, George, Jr. and Phil, and their sister, Adrienne. The added responsibilities
of continuing the growth of the family business forced the Maloofs to sell the Rockets in 1982, but George
Maloof’s original passion for NBA basketball has remained with the family.
“We waited a long time to get back into the NBA. I remember going to the NBA Finals with the Rockets
in 1981, and how exciting that was. We have succeeded in bringing that excitement to Sacramento with the
Kings and the Monarchs,” Gavin Maloof stated.
A 100-Year Model for Diversified Business Success
The Maloof Companies are a diversified group of business ventures including hotels, casinos, banking,
food and beverage, and transportation headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico and operated in California,
Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado.
In 1994, the family made a $10 million investment in a small piece of property in North Las Vegas, building
the quaint 30,000-square foot, 100-room Fiesta Casino Hotel. After a pair of expansive renovations, the
75,000-square foot Fiesta became one of the most profitable hotel casinos per square foot in the entire state
of Nevada. In fact, in an August ‘99 edition of the USA Today, the Fiesta Casino Hotel was voted one of the
world’s 10 greatest gambling destinations, ranking with the likes of the Bellagio and Caesars Palace in Las
Vegas and the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City.
In July of 2000, the Maloof family sold the operating interest in the Fiesta Hotel Casino for over $185 million.
The family immediately re-invested the money into the construction of the Palms, a $285 million hotel
casino just off the Las Vegas strip with a 42-story tower and 447 guestrooms. The Palms, which opened for
business on November 15, 2001, features outstanding customer service, unique architecture, and awardwinning
restaurants, entertainment, nightlife, and amenities. In just four years of operation, the Palms has
become the hottest property in Las Vegas with thousands of visitors daily. The Palms is currently undergoing
an expansion that will include additional rooms and amenities for use later this year.
In addition to their gaming business, the Maloofs have exclusive proprietorship rights to the distribution of
Coors, Miller, Corona, Heineken, Tecate, InBev, Boston Beer, and Guinness products throughout New Mexico.
The Maloof Companies also is one of the largest single shareholders in Wells Fargo Bank, which operates
banks and branches in 23 states throughout the Western United States with over $200 billion in assets and
15 million customers.
The Maloofs are in the process of expanding their business in the entertainment industry with the development
of Maloof Productions and Maloof Music. Maloof Productions is committed to developing and producing
quality television and motion picture entertainment. The Maloof Music label debuts as a joint venture with
Interscope/Geffen/A&M Records, which is the largest record company in the world under the direction of
chairman and legendary music mogul Jimmy Iovine. In fact, Maloof Music is the first joint venture with Interscope/
Geffen/A&M without a previous music industry background such as an artist, writer, or producer.
“Our family is extremely excited to broaden our entertainment interests through Maloof Productions and
Maloof Music. We look forward to producing quality entertainment in television, motion pictures, and music,”
states Phil Maloof.
Colleen Maloof serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Maloof Companies. Joe Maloof is president
of the corporation and oversees the banking and sports and entertainment divisions, while Gavin Maloof is
vice chairman, also leading the sports and entertainment daily operation. George Maloof, Jr., is an executive
vice president and heads the hotel division, and Adrienne Maloof is the secretary/treasurer of the company.
Phil Maloof is an executive vice president and the point person for Maloof Productions and Maloof Music.
The Maloof family history in the United States dates back to 1892 when Joe Maloof I opened a small general
store in northern New Mexico. By the 1930’s, the Maloof family acquired the distribution rights to Coors Beer
and subsequently established Quality Imports, a wholesale fine liquor distribution center, in 1937. When Joe
Maloof I suffered a major heart attack in 1944, his son, George J. Maloof, left his studies at the University of
Colorado to assume responsibility of the Maloof Companies at the age of 21.
George J. Maloof successfully expanded the family business into a group of diversified companies, moving
into the hotel and banking sectors in the 1970’s. In
1978, responding to his love for sports and competition,
Maloof purchased the majority ownership of
the Rockets. However, just two years later during
the Rockets’ rise to the upper echelon of the NBA,
Maloof passed away at the age of 57. His wife, Colleen,
assumed control of the entire Maloof operation
and rather than selling off the company assets, she
enlisted the assistance of her five children. Under
Colleen Maloof the family expanded their beer and
liquor distribution operations and later opened their
first gaming property in 1992. From 1990 to 1992 the
family also owned the Birmingham Fire of the World
League of American Football.
In the 100-plus years that have defined the Maloof
Companies, customer service and a strong work ethic
combined with energy and vision are the qualities that
have built this one-time general store into a business
model for diversified success.
“From the days of my
grandfather’s general store to our entire operation
now, the Maloof family business philosophy always
has been centered around complete customer and
employee satisfaction. In Sacramento, the fans are
our customers and providing a great experience for
them is our goal,” says Gavin Maloof.
JOE MALOOF
Joseph Maloof is President of the Maloof Companies.
Joe’s business expertise and leadership qualities
have helped enhance and diversify the corporation’s
growth since his father’s death in 1980.
Joe manages the Maloof Companies’ nearly 3,500
employees with an open door policy, much like his
father did nearly 30 years ago. He also believes in
treating customers in a first-class manner and with
the utmost respect, and is often seen talking and
listening to the fans and customers of the various
family businesses.
“My father’s business philosophy of taking care of
our customers and employees was successful long
ago, and all of us in the family have chosen to manage with that same style,” states Joe.
His extensive expertise in management, sales, and marketing has been invaluable during the company’s
expansion into banking, hotels, and gaming over the past 20 years. He currently serves on the Board
of the Coors Distributor Council. In May of 1999, he was appointed to the NBA Board of Governors by
Commissioner David Stern after the Maloof family was unanimously approved by the Board to assume
controlling interest of the Kings.
Like all of his family, Joe’s charitable efforts are an important aspect of his personal and professional
life. He has assisted countless community service groups through the years, including the Boys Club,
the University of New Mexico, the American GI Forum, the Airport Little League, and the League of Latin
American Citizens, to name just a few.
He has a passion for competition, stemming from his days as a prep and collegiate athlete. He was
MVP of his high school basketball team at Lawrenceville Prep School (Lawrenceville, N.J.), and was a
two-time letterwinner as a defensive back at the University of New Mexico, where he graduated in 1979
with a degree in business.
Joe resides in Sacramento less than two miles from ARCO Arena. He enjoys working out and is an
avid tennis player.
Chair of the Board, Maloof Companies
Trustee for the Estate of George J. Maloof
Colleen J. Maloof is chair of the board of the Maloof companies and trustee for the estate of George J.
Maloof. Throughout the key years that George Maloof built the Maloof Companies into the largest group
of family-owned enterprises in New Mexico, Colleen was an instrumental partner in their prosperity.
Faced with the challenge of carrying on the family tradition of success after her husband’s passing, she
has grown the Maloof Companies as never before.
Colleen Maloof is a major force behind the family’s continued strength and the Maloof’s corporate and
civic leadership. She is a leader in her community and has received a number of honors and awards,
including the Associated Students of University of New Mexico Award for Dedication and Service,
Mexican-American Foundation of America Women of the Year Award, and the Image de Albuquerque
Award, which was presented to the Maloof family for their significant contributions to Hispanic business
development.
Colleen has played a pivotal role in developing the “Maloof style” managerial skills of her children,
Joe, Gavin, George Jr., Phil, and Adrienne. She has worked to ensure that company policies and practices
remain true to the family motto, “The Customer is King.”
The 2007-08 Sacramento Kings season featured a rookie head coach, a handful of injuries and a glimpse of a young nucleus with much promise. Kings 2007-08 Season In Review