National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise, the Dallas Mavericks, has become the second NBA side to accept bitcoin as a form of payment.
As a result, fans of the Mavericks will now be able to purchase tickets as well as franchise merchandise through Bitcoin’s payment processor, BitPay.
Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, commented on the fan benefits that the new deal creates: “We want our fans who would like to pay with Bitcoin the opportunity to do so. BitPay allows our global fans to seamlessly make purchases with the Mavs.”
With offices in North America, Europe and South America, BitPay has raised over $70 million from investors and is one of the most experienced companies in Bitcoin and Blockchain payments.
Stephen Pair, CEO of BitPay, added on the deal: “The Dallas Mavericks have been an outspoken advocate for Bitcoin, opening up opportunities for the team as it starts to accept Bitcoin for ticket sales and merchandise.”
The Mavericks follow in the footsteps of the Sacramento Kings, who integrated cryptocurrency as a payment method last year. At the time, Kings owner and chairman Vivek Ranadivé commented on the future possibilities brought forward by the tool: “Opportunity begins when technology allows the world to find innovative solutions to complex problems.
“Through MiningForGood [cryptocurrency], not only will we raise funds to help with workforce development and training, we aim to inspire the next generation of tinkerers and thinkers to create change in their own community and around the globe.”
With the Mavericks preparing for the NBA season opener at home to the Washington Wizards on 24 October, the decision to accept additional forms of currency makes tickets and merchandise more accessible to fans everywhere.