With the business side of the NBA Kings "reinvigorated by new ownership, the team is launching its own consulting company to help outside clients sell sponsorships and burnish their brands," according to Dale Kasler of the SACRAMENTO BEE. The new company is called Crown Sports United and "already has lined up several clients" including Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski resorts, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association, and the Sacramento Sports Commission. Kings President Chris Granger said that the staff "consists of approximately 15 employees who will continue to do marketing and sales work" for the club. Crown Sports "represents an attempt to build on the goodwill the Kings have earned in the business community" since Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive bought the team last year (
SACRAMENTO BEE, 9/9). Granger said that the company came about at the "request of the team’s partners." Granger: "It made sense to partner with these lifestyle brands. We aggregate a set of assets that makes us more interesting." He added, "One thing it allows is for us to punch above our weight class." The team also said that while Crown Sports will be "mostly based in Sacramento," it also will have offices in the Bay Area to "drum up other opportunities" (
BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/9).
