The Sacramento Kings became the first team in the NBA to accept Bitcoin in January of this year. In the first months since the announcement, the team only allowed season ticket holders to use Bitcoin for purchases at the arena, but last week the team announced their partnership with BitDazzle to launch KingsBitcoin.com.
KingsBitcoin.com, powered by BitDazzle, is the first online marketplace to accept the virtual currency in the NBA. Launched April 3, the website allows customers to pay for game tickets, memorabilia and special fan experiences using Bitcoin. The co-branded online store makes it possible for Kings fans to support their team from the comfort of their home, using a secure and contactless payment.
As the first professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin, key personnel of the Sacramento Kings are looking to be a step ahead of the competition. “We’re constantly looking for the next technological breakthrough that benefits the team and our fans,” Kings President Chris Granger stated. The Kings are the first partner to launch on the BitDazzle platform, a service that allows charities and e-commerce merchants to quickly launch and run co-branded storefronts.
BitDazzle launched late last year and is powered by Cashie Commerce. The company provides a platform that gives companies and charitable organizations the ability to create an online marketplace. BitDazzle merchants create co-branded stores where customers can purchase their offerings using Bitcoin. In addition to BitDazzle, the Kings are also partnered with Atlanta based payment service provider BitPay, who handles the team’s merchant processing.
Kings fans can visit KingsBitcoin.com and shop as they would any other online marketplace, the only difference is that everything on the site can be paid for using Bitcoin. For fans who have yet to attain Bitcoin, they can sign up for an account via Coinbase with an email address, use a virtual currency exchange or find the nearest Bitcoin ATM. Customers add items to a shopping cart, enter a shipping address and complete the purchase by scanning the payment QR-code from their Bitcoin wallet.
BitDazzle Founder and CEO Hieu Bui spoke of the partnership in a press release last week:
“We are excited to work with the Sacramento Kings to enable one of the NBA’s most loyal and enthusiastic fan bases to purchase merchandise for their favorite team using Bitcoin. BitDazzle was created to be the best place to buy and sell with Bitcoin, and the addition of a top tier brand partner like the Kings is a great step forward in our mission. We look forward to continuing to work with them to expand the reach of KingsBitcoin.com”
The Kings are not likely to be the last professional sports team to choose to accept Bitcoin. It seems that for the Kings, adopting new technologies and payment methods to expand the fan experience makes sense. Bitcoin can play a special role, especially in an area of the country where technology is so prevalent. “With BitDazzle, the Kings can provide Bitcoin users more retail options and a convenient, cashless and frictionless transaction never-before seen by NBA fans,” Granger stated.