As part of their new arena opening in the fall of this year, the Sacramento Kings asked fans, former players, and current players to donate used rubber-soled shoes. The new Golden 1 Center is opening in downtown Sacramento and is providing fans the opportunity to contribute to the new playing surface of the arena. This unique playing surface is in the development process and supports the team’s commitment to constructing an arena that fosters sustainability. The Golden 1 Center also aims to earn LEED Gold certification in addition to reaching several other sustainability standards.
Shoe collection occurred on January 13, during the Sacramento Kings’ home game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Fans were encouraged to not only bring their shoes, but also to write a special message on them. During the game, fans tweeted the reasons why their shoes should be included in the new court using the hashtag #KingsCourt. The tweets were then selected and shoes were collected.
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The Kings President, Chris Granger, is excited for the new standard of sustainability that the Golden 1 Center will set for the NBA. According to Mr. Granger, “Golden 1 Center will set a new standard for how we think about our environment and sustainability. This program represents yet another unique opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to conservation while also engaging our fans by giving them an opportunity to be a part of our court’s DNA.”
The team has partnered with Connor Sports, an industry leader of court manufacturing and Nike, which has developed the Nike Grind material that results from the recycling of donated shoes. Connor Sports is helping the Kings to incorporate different recycled materials into the surface of the court in addition to the rubber from the shoes. However, the primary rubber material used in the court surface’s foam layer will be the Nike Grind made from the donation of used shoes.
Sacramento’s dedication to sustainability and use of technological innovations in the Golden 1 Center should come as no surprise to the fans that have been keeping track of team news. The Kings have made the headlines for continued support of technology led by team owner Vivek Ranadivé. These headlines include technology specifications to their new arena, technology partnerships with a new cloud-based point of sale platform, and technology investments into virtual reality. The shoe donation collection is not only a brilliant marketing piece, it is also evidence that this team is committed to its values, and that the new arena will truly be a modern marvel of sustainable design that encompasses the community.