It also retooled the team’s youth basketball program and eventually teamed with Devon Energy on rural school physical education takeovers, with Google on tech programs, and with local universities on a college ambassador program.
“Those youth programs are important because we’ve had so much growth in the city, and a lot of people have moved here. Maybe they’re not necessarily from here,” Matthews said. “But we know our standard for an experience—whether it’s a youth basketball camp or a book bus visit—is so high that you’re going to want to keep going back for more.”
Will Syring, the Thunder’s vp of corporate partnerships, still sees the occasional 2012 playoff T-shirt at his gym with an energy company’s logo affixed. Local utility Oklahoma Gas and Electric bought space on the Thunder’s Game 5 T-shirts, and Syring said he imagines seeing those around the city 10 to 13 years from now.
