The National Basketball Association (NBA) team, Golden State Warriors and Rakuten Sports have formed a strategic relationship in the major Asia Pacific (APAC) markets for commercial development purposes and partnership acquisition.
Rakuten Sports, a Rakuten Group service focused on forming partnerships based on shared values with professional sports teams, athletes, brands, and rights-holders around the world will become the exclusive international partner for the promotion and sale of Warriors partnership packages in Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore under the terms of this agreement. In these key markets, Rakuten Sports shall promote the franchise by building partner-based arrangements.
The Warriors will play two preseason games against the Washington Wizards at Saitama Super Arena during the NBA Japan Games 2022, presented by Rakuten, in Japan this fall.
“Through this partnership with Rakuten Sports, we are excited to identify companies in key Asia Pacific markets that share our values, as well as our desire to grow as brand partners and have a positive impact on the global community,” stated Warriors Executive Vice President, Mike Kitts.
“We know that less than one percent of NBA fans worldwide have the opportunity to attend a game in person, but there is a very clear global appetite and fanbase for Golden State Warriors basketball. For us, driving engagement and interaction opportunities with those fans is paramount.”
“Since making history by unveiling our jersey partnership in 2017, the Warriors and Rakuten have worked together to delight fans and grow our brands and the sport of basketball as a whole,” commented, Vice President of Rakuten’s Sports Business, Rahul Kadavakolu.
“The Warriors are a model for the sport of basketball today, and we are proud to team up again to bring in like-minded brands and partners for the Warriors in Asia.”