• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Warriors Lean on Partnerships to Drive Relief Efforts

  • From a $25,000 donation with Williams Sonoma to Zaza Pachulia’s delivery of 70 meals via Uber to healthcare workers, the Warriors are finding ways to integrate partners into community efforts.
  • The Warriors’ community efforts with partners during the coronavirus outbreak underscores the organization’s vision to be a community asset.

As the Golden State Warriors prepared to play a game on March 16 without fans, the team’s senior vice president of partnerships Mike Kitts said he naively felt they were readying to face the worst-case scenario.

But even before the game had the chance to tip-off, the NBA postponed its season, and a whole new playbook was about to be written on the fly. 

For the Warriors partnership team, that meant putting together a plan to interact with sponsors during this period. 

“It started with major communication with all partners, followed up with one-on-one conversations, and providing updates,” Kitts said.

The process is still ongoing, but Kitts said a strong foundation of community and foundation platforms has helped put partnerships into action that are beneficial to the team, partner, and community.

Kitts referenced Warriors owner Joe Lacob’s belief that the team is a community asset and the responsibility to be a steward of that asset.

READ MORE: Hawks CEO Steve Koonin Talks ‘Business Unusual’ As Atlanta Emerges as Leader in COVID-19 Response

“Our partners see us in a similar light: we’re a conduit to the community,” he said. “We have a platform that has rights and responsibilities that allows us to create impact, and as the dust settles and our partners understand what their business is going through, then hopefully, you’ve partnered with amazing companies that see the world in the same way you do.”

“Yes, it’s a bad situation, but we’re luckier than most, and how do we use that platform for good,” he said.

Among the first partner programs to roll out in the Bay Area saw Warriors player Zaza Pachulia donate 70 meals from Chase Center concessionaire Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas to healthcare workers with the help of Uber. The Warriors also made a $25,000 donation to No Kid Hungry in partnership with Williams Sonoma, while a $10,000 joint donation with Budweiser helped purchase medical supplies.

Chase also supported the Warriors with the logistics and costs of distributing the $1.4 million relief fund for Chase Center employees – a challenge Kitts said is overlooked in the creation of such funds.

“It’s no different than the normal goal of trying to engage and entertain fans, but it’s how do you take that same mindset and set it to simply doing good for others,” he said. “You’re creating the playbook in the middle of the game.”

READ MORE: NASCAR Driver Michael McDowell Climbs Virtual Standings to Land Real Sponsor

“There isn’t one solution or one person or organization that can fix all of this, it does require all of us to do a small part, and it’s the magic in the collective effort to allow all of us to get through this,” he said. 

The community and foundation aspect of partnerships have already been a primary focus for the Warriors, but the coronavirus pandemic has emphasized the importance of that mindset, Kitts said

“In the eye of this challenge comes the opportunity to innovate,” he said. This is going to lead to some real innovation that extends far beyond any hiatus. This underscores that area of our business, and it has the potential to be a real area of growth.”

Kitts said the team would continue to develop how partnerships programs are rolled out with its stakeholders in a time he described as a mixture of the 2008 financial crisis, 9/11, the SARs outbreak, and 2011 NBA lockout.

“We’re in this moment in time where you’re seeing real humanity, and you’re seeing an understanding that we’re all in this together,” he said. “These scenarios are the very reason you call these partnerships and not sponsorships; it requires everyone to lean in.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates with running back Saquon Barkley (26) after the Eagles defeat the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium.

How the Eagles Reinvented Championship Roster Construction

Philadelphia is one of the most innovative franchises in the NFL.
Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid (left) with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after defeating the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

How the Chiefs Franchise Reversed Its Fortunes

A once-downtrodden franchise is now leading the NFL in historic fashion.
Jan 20, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; Seats in Rotunda remain empty ahead of the Inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.
exclusive

The NCAA Appears No Closer to Getting Its Coveted Congressional Wish List

A flurry of college sports stakeholders spent the week on Capitol Hill.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles helmets at the Caesars Superdome prior to Super Bowl LIX.

Amid ‘Record’ Super Bowl Betting, Market’s Two Largest Forces Still Reign

FanDuel and DraftKings still dominate the ever-expanding space.

Featured Today

Brady and Mahomes

Chiefs Fatigue Is Real. It’s Nowhere Near Patriots Hate Yet

People who have covered both teams say the difference is stark.
February 3, 2025

‘Ultimate Throwback’: The Unimpeachable Cool of Hartford Whalers Gear

Nostalgia and street cred have driven a consistent frenzy for merch.
January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44), before a 2024 NFC divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium.
February 1, 2025

The New WAGs: Sports Wives Building Business Empires

Athletes’ wives and girlfriends are bucking stereotypes and cashing in.
Feb 3, 2019; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears mascot dances on the court during a stoppage in play in the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Haas Pavilion.
January 31, 2025

The Toll of Bicoastal Travel on New ACC Members Cal and Stanford

Cal and Stanford face missed flights, chaotic sleep schedules, and academic demands.

State Farm Cancels Planned Super Bowl Ad Amid California Fires Controversy

State Farm’s Super Bowl ad last year featured Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.
Apr 7, 2022; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy (left) and Brooks Koepka set up to putt on no. 9 during the first round of The Masters golf tournament.
November 27, 2024

PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf TV ‘Showdown’ Will Pay Out $10M Crypto..

Two golfers from each tour will face off in Las Vegas.
Nov 25, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; From left: Scott Van Pelt, Ryan Clark, Jason Kelce and Marcus Spears on the ESPN Monday Night Football Countdown set before the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
December 17, 2024

A ‘Wave’ of Sports Content Is Coming to TikTok

The next generation is consuming sports in a different way.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Oct 29, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) reacts after hitting a RBI single against the New York Yankees in the fifth inning during game four of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium.
October 31, 2024

Strauss Ads on MLB Helmets Annoyed Some Fans. CEO Says They Were a ‘Huge Success’

Strauss’s deal with MLB goes until 2027.
August 26, 2024

Cooper Flagg Spurns Nike Ties for New Balance

Flagg is the projected top pick in 2025.
August 22, 2024

Marketing Stunt Had Major Cycling Race Start In Grocery Store

The Vuelta has a history of creative stage kickoffs.
August 19, 2024

Jake Paul Claims He’ll Make $40 Million Off Tyson Netflix Fight

Paul and Tyson are set to fight in Texas in November.