The Los Angeles Clippers are going the extra mile in order to cater to Hollywood's elite for the upcoming season.
Sources have confirmed that the team has move forward with the addition of eight "Star Courtside" seats for the 2017-18 season, which will be set up between the two team benches. Each set will go for the reported price tag of $175,000. Darren Rovell of ESPN.com reported purchase of this prime seating option will include "all-inclusive clubs, in-seat waiter service and valet parking with access to a VIP entrance" at the rumored cost of just over $4,000 per game. The Clips themselves haven't confirmed any of the pricing.
"It's extremely rare to have space like this open in any arena," Clippers president Gillian Zucker said. "What we did here was create new beachfront property." To accomodate the new seating, the Los Angeles organization broke up the scorers' table into several separate pieces to create the space needed for seats along the sideline. It will give fans the opportunity to get an unprecedented opportunity to see the players up close as they enter and exit the game, as well as have plenty of on-screen camera time both on the giant screens in the arena and on the TV broadcast.
"The seats can be seen on television, so it can be for someone who wants to be seen. It is, after all, Hollywood," Zucker told Rovell. "Companies, agencies or just a hardcore fan who wants to get closer." The Clippers may have added the new arena features, but their on-court product got a downgrade after moving star point guard Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets in exchange for a large package of assets headlined by Patrick Beverley and a first-round draft pick. Thankfully for the team and the fans, Blake Griffin remains in the fold, having signed a five-year, $171 million contract extension this offseason
The new seating arrangement, if successful, is likely to be copied by other teams around the league soon rather than later. Another revenue stream that could open things up for the Clippers: small on-jersey advertising patches, next to the jersey manufacturer logo.
Check out some of the best Clippers plays from last season to get you hyped for tip-off in October below.