eSports

Today, the Sacramento Kings organization unveiled Kings Guard Gaming, the identity of its first esports team. Kings Guard will join 16 other teams in the inaugural season of the NBA 2K League, a joint venture between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive, featuring the best 2K players in the world. Recently, the Kings organization announced the first world-class gaming facility and content studio located in a pro sports venue, Golden 1 Center. The facility was created for the organization’s 2K League gamers and future Kings Gaming team members.

"We are thrilled to be among the first teams to compete in the NBA 2K League," said Vivek Ranadivé. "We have always viewed basketball as a global sport, and esports makes the game more universally accessible. Technology is a powerful tool to reach new fans and broaden our audience, and that's exactly what we believe will happen with our Kings Guard esports team."

The team logo designed by the Kings esports and Creative teams, in collaboration with Rodney Richardson of RARE Design, is rooted in the ferocity of the lion, the nobility of the crown and the strength associated with the color black. A new lion was created to mesh the iconic Kings marks with a fresh, esports appeal. The name, Kings Guard, references the passion of esports players entering a virtual battleground.

In the coming months, Kings Guard will select team members who will begin training for the upcoming 2K League and competitions. The team’s world-class training facility and content studio will provide players with best-in-class tools that the next generation of superstar gamers need to train, compete and win. In the coming months, Kings Guard will launch more details for recreational tournament play in the new facility housed inside of Golden 1 Center, as well as other community initiatives.

Kings Guard can be found online at Twitter.com/KingsGuardGG, Facebook.com/KingsGuardGG and Instagram.com/KingsGuardGG.

For more information, visit KingsGuard.gg.

About the NBA 2K League The NBA 2K League is a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO). Launching in 2018, the league will feature the best NBA 2K players in the world. Each of the league’s 17 teams will draft gamers to compete as unique characters in 5-on-5 play against the other teams in a mix of regular-season games, tournaments and playoffs. The league will host tryouts in early 2018, followed by a draft in March and the season tip-off in May. For more information about the NBA 2K League, visit www.NBA2KLeague.com.

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Kings Unveil NBA 2K League Team Name: Kings Guard

Today, the Sacramento Kings unveiled their plans for a dedicated esports facility and content studio inside of Golden 1 Center, the world’s most technologically advanced and sustainable arena. The advanced training facility, broadcast center, and gamer lounge inside the arena will be utilized for the team’s upcoming NBA 2K League team and future Kings Gaming teams. Designed to be a “venue within a venue,” the facility will feature state-of-the-art gaming technology, full-service broadcast capabilities to produce livestreams and content, and amenities to serve games, artists, and the community beyond.

“Using technology to engage with our fans and reach new audiences has always been core to our organization’s mission,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “Golden 1 Center is the most advanced arena for basketball, entertainment and esports. This state-of-the-art facility will set a new standard and provide the best-in-class tools that the next generation of superstar gamers need to train, compete and win.”

Housed inside of this new facility will be the latest professional gaming setups for practice and competitions. Building off of the arena’s fastest and most connected network, the gaming stations will feature the latest hardware to provide the best possible zero-lag gaming experience.

Tournaments and events with theater-style audiences can be comfortably held in the space, with the ability to expand into Golden 1 Center’s premium clubs – as well as a direct feed into the arena’s bowl utilizing the NBA’s largest and only 4K Ultra HD video screen, VSP Skeyeview. 360-degree immersive audio will also enhance the gamers and fans connection to the action.

The Kings professional gamers can access the same world-class care and treatment as the NBA athletes. Located steps away from the NBA’s most-advanced practice facility, guests and gamers can eat from the only farm-to-fork culinary program in the NBA, with ingredients sourced within 150 miles of the venue. An on-demand oxygen bar is available alongside a beverage bar with fresh kombucha and nitrogen coffee to keep players refreshed and ready to play.

A full-service studio and green screen room, complete with 4K cameras, will enable the team to create unique content and share it with fans around the world. The production studio will be linked back to Golden 1 Center’s 4K Ultra HD Broadcast Center – the only facility of its type in the world – for unmatched streaming capability. A dedicated LAN setup, backed by Golden 1 Center’s 200 GBPS internet connection and the first Tier 4 Data Center in sports, will deliver lag-free gaming and unparalleled connectivity. Fans will also be able to get a live look inside the gaming room through a 360-degree camera for advanced livestreams.

The facility will also serve as an amenity for touring acts visiting Sacramento’s world-class arena, who will be able to use the space as the ultimate backstage entertainment lounge and hangout. Hundreds of gaming titles will be available for performers and their guests to play, ranging from classics like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros on Nintendo 64 to the newest, most popular videogames and virtual reality experiences. Along with videogame consoles, the studio will feature a Professional DJ rig that will allow guests to record new music, playback, and prepare for performances.

Through the Sacramento Kings Foundation, the entire complex will also serve as an asset for the region’s non-profits. The team will lend the room as an educational incentive and unique engagement tool to connect with students, including a gaming classroom and tech driven curriculum.

For more information, visit KingsGaming.com.

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Kings Unveil World’s First Dedicated Esports Training Facility and Content Studio Inside Pro Sports Venue

In May, the NBSA announced a professional NBA 2K league featuring Sacramento and 16 franchises around the Association.

In preparation for the inaugural season, the Kings have created accounts across social media for fans everywhere to keep in touch with the latest updates from the esports team, as well as gain behind-the-scenes access, live streams, simulations and more.

Additionally, as the team is in the early stages of being assembled, these accounts will be a go-to source for news and information on tryouts for the NBA 2K squad.

The accounts can be found and followed below:

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Kings Gaming Launches Social Channels

Today, the NBA 2K esports league announced that the Sacramento Kings will join 16 other National Basketball Association (NBA) teams to participate in its inaugural season, set to debut in 2018.

To celebrate the announcement, the Sacramento Kings hosted a special event at Golden 1 Center to showcase NBA 2K on the association’s largest and only 4K Ultra HD videoboard.

“Utilizing technology to grow the game of basketball is core to our organizational mission,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “We’re excited to join the league from the beginning, work with the NBA to reach new audiences around the globe and provide our voice to the conversation about the future of sports.”

“These teams have expressed a tremendous level of enthusiasm around esports and the potential for our new league,” said NBA 2K esports league Managing Director Brendan Donohue. “We’re looking forward to forming something truly unique that can engage existing basketball and gaming fans, while creating a new generation of avidity for the game.”

Additional participating organizations include:

In February 2017, the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) announced plans to launch a new, professional competitive gaming league that will bring together the best basketball gamers in the world. In the coming months, the league and its teams will make a variety of announcements related to participating players, league structure and business updates.

eSports

Kings Unveil NBA 2K League Team Name: Kings Guard

Kings Unveil World’s First Dedicated Esports Training Facility and Content Studio Inside Pro Sports Venue

Kings Gaming Launches Social Channels

Sacramento Kings to Participate in NBA 2K eSports League Inaugural Season