I grew up a Golden State Warriors fan and went to many games in my childhood. While we didn’t have Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson, the team I grew up watching had Antawn Jamison, Tim Hardaway, Chris Mullin, and Chris Weber.
Still, it wasn’t as hard or expensive to get tickets as it is today. Three hundred straight sellouts (and counting), 44,000 people on the season-ticket waiting list, and crazy expensive prices make catching a game live quite the challenge.
But the Warriors have done something special. Special for fans and special from a business perspective. Per a report from the Bleacher Report, for $100 a month, the team is giving fans a chance to enter Oracle Arena, grab the free giveaways, and watch the games on one of the bars or restaurants inside. The caveat is that they don’t get to see the court.
The Warriors realized they had an opportunity to create a good fan experience for the many people who can’t get the traditional game ticket. The domino effect is super. While the fans get what they want, the team will be able to generate additional revenues from the monthly entrance pass, parking, food and beverage, and apparel.
During a time in which we have seen so many well-known retailers close shop due to their lack of innovation and dedication to the customer, it’s nice to see that the sports and entertainment industry is thinking of ways to up their game.
