Partnerships

-- Red Hawk Casino to Provide Fans with Chances to Win Exclusive Experiences and Family Getaways --

Today, the Sacramento Kings announced a multi-year partnership with Red Hawk Casino, beginning during the 2022-23 NBA season. The partnership merges the excitement of the NBA and Red Hawk’s first-class entertainment experience.

“We are excited to partner with Red Hawk Casino and build on our commitment to bringing world-class experiences to our fans,” said Sacramento Kings President of Business Operations John Rinehart. “Red Hawk Casino's industry leading hospitality will be reflected throughout select premium spaces we are refreshing in Golden 1 Center.”

“Red Hawk Casino is thrilled to join the Sacramento Kings family as the official casino partner in California,” said Red Hawk Casino President and CEO Bryan deLugo. “We are proud to support Sacramento and the Kings and we are looking forward to providing an unmatched all-inclusive casino and resort experience in the very near future.”

Through the partnership, Kings fans and Golden 1 Center guests will have a chance to win exclusive casino experiences, family getaways and other rewards. Likewise, Red Hawk Casino visitors and rewards members will have opportunities to win special access to Kings game tickets, Golden 1 Center show tickets, merchandise, memorabilia, and more.

Red Hawk Casino, located in Placerville, California, will be wrapping up two construction projects by the end of the year. The hotel and entertainment complex project is the first major expansion since Red Hawk Casino’s opening in 2008. The new 120,000 square foot hotel will feature five stories, with 150 deluxe guest rooms, including 25 suites. Guests will also enjoy a stunning outdoor terrace with a pool and fitness center.

Additionally, Red Hawk Casino will open an 85,000 square foot amusement center with the only multi-level, indoor electric go-kart track in California. This family-friendly destination will allow Red Hawk guests to experience an 18-lane, state-of-the-art, interactive bowling alley and next level entertainment with roaming virtual reality gaming rooms, an arcade, golf simulation bays and an impressive sports bar to watch Sacramento Kings games. To learn more, visit RedHawkCasino.com.

About Red Hawk Casino Red Hawk Casino is conveniently located on Highway 50 at Red Hawk Parkway and offers guests more than 2,000 exciting slots, all the most popular table games and five award-winning restaurants. For more information call 888-573-3495, visit www.redhawkcasino.com, or download the myRedHawk™ mobile app.

sacramento-kings-name-red-hawk-casino-official-partner

Sacramento Kings Name Red Hawk Casino Official Partner

On February 8, Capitalize 2022, presented by Dialpad, 3STEPS4WARD and Sacramento Urban Technology Lab was announced. Capitalize is the league’s first crowdsourced startup contest, which offers local entrepreneurs a chance to gain publicity, receive mentorship and secure funding for their business.

The winner will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize towards the development of their startup, threeyears of access to Dialpad communication services and six months of free marketing services from 3STEPS4WARD.

The competition is revving up as today the Sacramento Kings selected and notified the “Select 16” contestants who will go onto continue to compete in the 2022 Capitalize Contest. The contestants will compete over the next five weeks to determine the winner of this year’s contest.

To tip-off the process, the 16 companies will participate in interviews March 3 to March 4. From there, the top eight will be selected. They will receive additional coaching at Pitch Workshop on March 15 as they prepare for Pitch Day on March 21. At Pitch Day, a panel of successful entrepreneurs, executives and investors will judge the eight semifinalists’ pitches and select the four finalists to move on to the Capitalize Finals. The four finalists will create pitch videos that will be displayed on Kings.com/Capitalize and will be used for fan voting via Twitter. The judges’ votes, along with fan votes, will be tallied and the Capitalize grand prize winner will be announced during halftime when the team hosts the Golden State Warriors on April 3.

Meet the 2022 “Select 16” Capitalize Contestants:

For more information on the 2022 Capitalize contest and to stay up-to-date as the competition progresses, visit Kings.com/Capitalize.

sacramento-kings-tip-off-2022-capitalize-contest-with-the-announcement-of-the-select-16

Sacramento Kings Tip-off 2022 Capitalize Contest with the Announcement of the “Select 16”

The Sacramento Kings are committed to amplifying diverse voices year-round and in February the team dedicates the month to celebrating and honoring Black history, culture and futures. Kings Black History Month, powered by SMUD, builds upon the pillars of the organization’s “Pledge to Our Black Community” launched in June 2020, aimed at advancing racial equity through candid conversations, supporting Sacramento’s Black-owned businesses, investing in Black futures, highlighting local Black artists and honoring Black community leaders.

Aligning Black Culture through Music and Basketball

On February 2, as the team hosted the Brooklyn Nets, GRAMMY® award-winning rapper, singer, producer and actor Coolio sat down with local artists and nonprofits for a studio session presented by Arden Fair in Golden 1 Center’s Music Recording Studio to discuss his journey and passion and celebrate their work in our community. Participating nonprofits included the NAACP, Improve Your Tomorrow and Sacramento Housing Alliance. Coolio then performed his hit song Gangsta’s Paradise at halftime.

On February 9, as the Kings faced the Timberwolves, the team highlighted West African culture and heritage with a special look at Kings forward Chimezie Metu’s journey to the NBA.

“There’s a lot of us in the NBA with Nigerian roots,” said Metu. “You’re never too far from achieving what you want to achieve. Just keep pushing through whatever it is.”

In addition, African dance by Duniya Dance Group was performed and art by Ike Slimster was displayed in conjunction with African music mixed by DJ Lisa Nwoye. Local nonprofits including Project Digital Africa, which works to bridge the digital gap in Africa, and Africa House Sacramento, a multipurpose cultural and educational center, shared their missions on the concourse during the game.

On February 17, Florin Square and the Sacramento Kings Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council held a panel discussion to highlight Black economic justice and uplift local Black businesses. The panel included Kings Vice President of Technology Eric King, Ticket Sales Account Manager Justin McKinley, Social Responsibility Manager Veronne Clark, Premium Membership Services Account Manager Ryan Smith  and Social Producer Terrell Adams. The speakers spoke on personal experiences within their careers and shared Kings social justice initiatives, examples of collaboration and innovative solutions within the organization.

Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Investing and Minority Entrepreneurs

On February 24, prior to their game against the Denver Nuggets, the Kings hosted a panel titled “The Future of Tech &amp; Investing: Supporting Black &amp; Diverse Entrepreneurs” to encourage young, Black, diverse, aspiring entrepreneurs in the Sacramento region. The panel, moderated by Kings Analyst Matt Barnes, featured successful entrepreneurs who spoke about important topics in the technology and investing space and provided mentorship. It included Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé, entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis, Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital Arlan Hamilton, former NBA player, investor and entrepreneur Metta World Peace and Special Advisor for Economic Mobility and Opportunity for Governor Gavin Newsom Michael Tubbs. The event also featured special guests including entrepreneur and Multi-Platinum Songwriter Michaela Shiloh and entrepreneur, feminist, activist and Grammy Award Winning Musician Madison Calley Jenkins.

The panelists spoke to a group of students and corporate partners about the abundance of opportunity and how investors are looking for individuals who are ferocious.

Showcasing Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Following the tech panel on February 24, the organization recognized the impact and celebrated the history of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). During the game, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. showed off their stepping and various Black fraternities tabled on the concourse to bring awareness to their organizations. In addition, local nonprofits and organizations including the United College Action Network, Inc. (U-CAN) were present to provide fans resources. During halftime, the Black National Anthem was performed and Lift Every Voice was sung by Vadia Hubbard and signed by Juanita Butler.

Ankr, a leader in Web3 infrastructure, and Trajectory Foundation presented an HBCU scholarship of $20,000 to Marcellus Carpenter III, a Grant High School senior who intends to major in engineering at an HBCU. Marcellus has been accepted to multiple HBCUs, including Grambling State University, Tuskegee University and Tennessee State University. He is excited to further his education at an HBCU for the experience, culture and spirit the universities provide and for the opportunity to immerse in the minds of those who have the same history as him.

To continue investment in HBCU students, this year the NBA is providing a unique fellowship program aimed at providing career development opportunities in the business of basketball to undergraduate and graduate students. The 10-week paid summer internship with teams including the Kings will run from June to August.

Kings Coaches and Broadcasters Share Inside Perspectives

Kings Director of Player Development and Assistant Coach Rico Hines and Analyst Matt Barnes sat down, as part of the Beyond the Paint series, to discuss their journeys from UCLA to the NBA and ways they have used basketball to open doors in their careers. The discussion, moderated by Kyle Draper, focused on the struggles they’ve faced as black men and how basketball facilitated their career development.

When asked what people can do to support Black athletes, Barnes said, “You want to see us win outside of sports, really be alongside of us, really be an advocate for the movement and everything we’re trying to move today. We’re not going to see the benefits, it’s for our kids.”

This candid conversation explored life beyond basketball and when asked what advice he would give to young people, Hines said “Find out what your big picture is, know your big picture, work your butt off and grind. Do people right, treat people right, be a good person. Let the chips fall where they may and no matter what you’ll be successful.”

Kings Interim Head Coach Alvin Gentry reflected on his experience attending segregated schools.

“It was a challenge, every day,” said Gentry, “A lot of the white students felt we were invading their territory, but some accepted us.” Gentry spoke of his parents being an inspiration during his childhood, telling him, “You’re not better than anybody, but you’re definitely not less than anyone else. You’re somebody special, and you deserve to be treated special.”

During their East Coast road trip, the team visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., the only national museum dedicated to the experiences, history and culture of Black Americans. During the trip, the team had the opportunity to view artifacts and hear stories showcasing Black history and culture in America.

“It’s very introspective and very provocative in the way it makes you think about sports in the role of our history,” said Kings Play-By-Play Announcer Mark Jones. “Just a really fantastic time to hear some of these stories and to learn from the journey that this country has already traveled and how we can make it better.”

“No matter how many times you come here, there’s always different things you can learn,” said Kings forward Harrison Barnes. “It was really just a good experience to learn and be immersed in our history.”

The Kings partnered with local poet and Director of SAYS, Patrice Hill, to create a spoken word video in reflection of the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr.

“Done are the days spent talking about it - we are going to be about it, shout about it, be loud about it,” said Hill. “Social justice is our calling; we are more than proud about it.”

In February, the Kings amplified the work of local Black artists from the Black Artist Fund during their games, on the screens at the Grand Entrance to Golden 1 Center, near the corner of L and 5th Streets and on the team’s social channels. The artists highlighted were:

Highlighting Sacramento’s Black-Owned Businesses

The Kings highlighted local Black-owned businesses by featuring them at their home games. The businesses highlighted were:

During Black History Month and year-round, the Kings are committed to supporting the pursuit of racial justice through sustained action.

For Black Lives Matter resources, including articles, books, videos, podcasts, Black-owned businesses and more, visit Kings.com/BLM.

For more information on the Kings ongoing efforts to honor, highlight and support the Black community, visit Kings.com/Community.

recap-kings-celebrate-black-history-month

Recap: Kings Celebrate Black History Month

The Sacramento Kings and California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) announced today a new education campaign to encourage fans to plan ahead and commit to a “go safely game plan.” Fans will see messages promoting the importance of having fun responsibly by not driving under the influence of alcohol during Kings home games and Golden 1 Center events, while visiting the Downtown Commons (DOCO) Plaza and on the team’s website, mobile app and social media channels.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to provide a positive and safe experience for our fans and guests, we are proud to promote the OTS ‘go safely game plan,’” said Sacramento Kings President of Business Operations John Rinehart. “This important messaging encourages fans to plan ahead to ensure the wellbeing of themselves and others.”

“We are proud to partner with the Sacramento Kings on a game plan that’s always a win-win: choosing a safe, sober way to get home,” said OTS Director Barbara Rooney. “When it comes to the ‘go safely game plan,’ we’re all on the same team, and that means making sure everyone has a good time and enjoys games and events responsibly.”

Since 2018, the Kings and OTS have partnered to remind fans about practicing safe road behaviors to make sure they get to and from events safely.

This year, the partnership will focus on the “go safely game plan” that will always bring home the “W:”

To learn more about the OTS and its efforts to save lives on California roads, visit ots.ca.gov and gosafelyca.org, and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @OTS_CA and @GoSafelyCA.

For information on alternate, safe transportation options to and from Golden 1 Center, visit Golden1Center.com.

kings-and-california-office-of-traffic-safety-encourage-fans-to-have-a-go-safely-game-plan

Kings and California Office of Traffic Safety Encourage Fans to Have a “Go Safely Game Plan”

The Sacramento Kings announced today that they have renewed Mattress Firm, Inc. (“Mattress Firm”), the nation’s largest mattress specialty retailer, as its Official Sleep Partner.

“The Sacramento Kings are thrilled to renew our partnership with Mattress Firm,” said Sacramento Kings President of Business Operation John Rinehart. “Mattress Firm and the Kings share a common value of prioritizing health and wellness, and this partnership is a reminder of that.”

Through this renewed multi-year partnership, Mattress Firm will be the team’s official bench sponsor and their logo will be prominently featured on the back of all players chairs on the bench.  Kings players, coaches and trainers will also be featured in Mattress Firm’s content series focused on rest, recovery and sleep health. Additionally, fans can look forward to a Suite Sleepover experience where individuals have a chance to spend the night in a suite at Golden 1 Center after attending a game. And as a part of its continued commitment to the community, the company will also donate $15 to the Red Cross Foundation for every free throw made.

“As California’s largest mattress retailer, we are delighted to continue our partnership with the Sacramento Kings, an organization that recognizes the importance of sleep as an essential component of good physical health,” said Mattress Firm President and CEO John Eck, Mattress Firm’s president and CEO. “Mattress Firm is on a mission to help Americans sleep better, because we understand the importance of a good night’s rest. Our partnership with the Sacramento Kings will help us continue to encourage people to prioritize adequate sleep.”

Additional elements of the partnership and an emphasis on sleep health will be incorporated in future collaborations.

Mattress Firm is driving awareness of the importance of sleep as a part of the holistic health triangle: fitness, diet and sleep. According to the company’s research, getting at least 30 minutes of exercise five days per week can help individuals relax more in the hours leading up to bedtime. To find resources and tips for how to get better sleep, visit Sleep.com. # # #

For the past 90 years, Mattress Firm has made it easy to get a great night’s sleep by providing our customers an expertly curated collection of quality mattresses from the best brands. Today, with more than 2,300 neighborhood stores, we strive to match every customer with their perfect mattress at the perfect price. Our Sleep Experts™ help more than 3 million people a year find the right solution for their sleep needs. Our selection of mattresses and bedding accessories include leading brands such as Beautyrest®, Nectar®, Sealy®, Serta®, Simmons®, Sleepy’s® Stearns &amp; Foster®, Tempur-Pedic®, Tuft &amp; Needle®, tulo®, and Purple®. We also offer customers Sleep.com as a go-to resource for learning how to sleep better and feel better. Committed to serving our communities, the Mattress Firm Foster Kids program, in partnership with the Ticket to Dream Foundation, joined forces with local foster care non-profit partners to help children in foster care get better sleep so they can shape a better future. For more information, visit MattressFirm.com.

kings-renew-mattress-firm-as-teams-official-sleep-partner

Kings Renew Mattress Firm as Team’s Official Sleep Partner

Today, the Sacramento Kings and Ankr, a leader in the digital-asset space as a software platform and decentralized infrastructure provider, announced an official multi-year partnership established from their mutual vision of the future of sports and blockchain as a technology.

“Sports can be a powerful platform to educate and embrace innovation,” said Sacramento Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “We are proud to partner with Ankr to further align our synergies around forward-thinking initiatives and provide fans educational opportunities about the crypto economy.”

“We have visited the Kings data center for crypto mining inside their facilities many times and I admire the openness of the owner, Vivek, to embrace new technologies,” said Ankr Founder Chandler Song. “We are aligned in this mission to promote applications of Web 3 technologies. Ankr’s partnership with the Sacramento Kings, one of the most innovative companies in sports and in the NBA, will open a lot of new doors for both sports fans and the crypto community.”

Through this partnership, the Kings and Ankr will produce educational content, host events and create innovative projects that showcase ways to support the growth of the blockchain industry. Utilizing the Kings existing charitable cryptocurrency mining program, MiningForGood, the first of its kind in a professional sports venue, both teams will partner to allocate mining proceeds to help train and steward a new workforce for the blockchain industry. As part of the partnership, the Kings home court will now carry Ankr’s branding on each baseline, prominently visible at every game in Golden 1 Center.

Launched in 2018, Ankr provides much-needed infrastructure and tooling that can streamline the development of blockchain-based solutions. As of 2021, Ankr’s protocol supports more than 50 Proof-Of-Stake chains through their network. Ankr aims to democratize access to the new internet economies for students, developers, fans and players alike. Ankr’s team is already delivering on their mission by providing accessible liquid staking solutions which eliminate barriers to entry for participants in top blockchain communities like Ethereum 2.0, Polkadot, Polygon and Avalanche. Developers can use their infrastructure, APIs and tooling and to build and scale decentralized applications or marketplaces for Decentralized Finance (DeFi), NFTs and any other Web3 implementations.

In 2019, the Kings announced the NBA’s first blockchain-powered reward program in collaboration with Blockparty – an enhancement to the NBA’s first predictive gaming application, “Call the Shot.” Also in 2019, the Kings announced a collaboration with CryptoKaiju, creator of the world’s first vinyl toys powered by Ethereum and fully traceable on a public blockchain, to launch the first physical crypto-collectible in professional sports.

The Kings then launched the NBA’s first Live blockchain-powered auction platform for authentic memorabilia with Consensys and Treum in 2020. The next year, the team launched a digital collection of 85 NFTs depicting the 1985 commemorative pin given out in the Kings inaugural season in Sacramento and featuring exclusive experiences including 2021-22 Opening Night tickets. In addition, the Kings piloted the first-ever Smart Ticket NFT Experience Pass for 100 lucky fans during California Classic, NBA Summer League Games.

The Kings were named the "most innovative company in sports" by Fast Company and “Most Tech Savvy Team of 2016” by Sport Techie and were a recipient of Sports Business Journal’s “Facility of the Year.”

Ankr is a leader in the digital-asset space as a software platform and decentralized infrastructure provider. Built to support the growth of Web3, Ankr provides scalable plug-and-play multichain solutions, and supports more than 50 proof-of-stake chains with an all-in-one portal for public RPC, APIs, and developer tools. The protocol’s utility token, ANKR, is tradeable on Coinbase and Gemini. Learn more at www.ankr.com and follow Ankr on Twitter.

sacramento-kings-and-blockchain-company-ankr-launch-multi-year-partnership

Sacramento Kings and Blockchain Company Ankr Launch Multi-Year Partnership

Today, the Sacramento Kings and Quick Quack Car Wash announced a newly established community impact program designed to amplify the work of five local nonprofits, leveraging both organizations platforms to increase exposure and charitable donations. “Sacramento Kings Community Starting 5 Presented by Quick Quack Car Wash” will launch during the Kings 2021-22 Season Home Opener on October 22 when the team takes on the Utah Jazz.

“Our local nonprofits provide tremendous support and meaningful resources to our community, and we are proud to partner with Quick Quack Car Wash to not only recognize them but bring awareness to their work and mission,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. “The dynamic organizations that make up the Sacramento Kings Community Starting 5 have shown an unwavering commitment to the betterment of our region.”

“Our partnership with the Sacramento Kings fosters the efforts of our mission and helps us give back to our communities,” said Quick Quack Car Wash Northern California Marketing Leader Courtney Hardy-Wagner. “We are honored to be part of a program that will support the contributions of these nonprofits.”

The nonprofits were selected based on established criteria representing the Kings and Quick Quack’s core values. The criteria included attendance to the annual Kings Do Good Summit, holding a 501(c)3 status with good standing and commitment to at least one of the Kings Foundation focus areas, education, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and health.

The 2021-22 Sacramento Kings Community Starting 5 are as follows:

Sacramento Kings Community Starting 5 nonprofits will receive direct donations from the Kings Foundation, in-game video content, fan kiosks on the concourse, and exposure via the team’s social channels.

kings-and-quick-quack-car-wash-launch-community-impact-program-to-amplify-local-nonprofits

Kings and Quick Quack Car Wash Launch Community Impact Program to  Amplify Local Nonprofits

Today, the Sacramento Kings announced a multi-year partnership with I Got It, a marketplace and auction technology, to serve as the team’s auctions platform. Through its integrated auction platform, I Got It will offer fans an opportunity to bid on and purchase exclusive experiences, one-of-a-kind memorabilia including game-used items and VIP hospitality.

“We are excited to partner with I Got It to provide an opportunity for our fans to get into the actions,” said Sacramento Kings President of Business Operations John Rinehart. “The Kings Auctions will not only offer exclusive experiences but the chance to bid real-time on game-worn items and more.” 

“I Got It is thrilled to partner with the Sacramento Kings, one of the most storied franchises in the NBA,” said I Got It Co-Founder Nicole Johnson. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support the Kings in engaging with their incredible fanbase with our auction platform. We are confident that Kings fans will enjoy taking home their own special highlight from the franchise.”

The platform, available via Kings.com/Auctions and the Sacramento Kings + Golden 1 Center app, will launch today with items from last season ready to be auctioned off. Fans can also enter a free giveaway to win a Buddy Hield pre-game worn warm-up set. Auction proceeds will benefit the Kings Foundation.

I Got It is a technology company devoted to providing best-in-class software solutions to support partners in their pursuit to increase fan engagement and drive revenue, through its unique marketplace and patented auction platform. On these marketplaces, partners can offer in-game memorabilia, unique experiences, and digital collectibles. I Got It has multi-year partnerships with franchises in the NFL and NBA and has direct deals with over 40+ elite athletes across sports. The company is on the leading-edge of digital collectible creation (NFT and non-NFT) and can provide end-to-end minting and turnkey issuance and secondary trading platforms for its partners. While I Got It can deliver its technology as a standalone app or as a white label solution, its primary offering is an integrated feature, bringing the action to existing users of the respective team or partner apps. I Got It is privately held by its executive team, founders, athlete partners and several third-party investors. For more information, visit www.igotitapp.com, download one of I Got It’s existing partner apps, and follow I Got It on social media: @igotitauction for IG, FB and TW.