Warriors and Coinbase fan collectible

Game day excitement in San Francisco

The Golden State Warriors, in partnership with Coinbase, launched an exclusive fan collectible to elevate the game-day experience for their passionate Bay Area fans. Available only at the stadium during the game, this limited-edition digital collectible seamlessly combined cutting-edge technology with a one-of-a-kind fan experience.
From minting NFTs to unlocking perks such as one-of-a-kind jerseys, courtside seats, player meet-and-greets, and more, the initiative set out to redefine fan engagement. The brand activation experience brought together innovation, exclusivity, and the vibrant spirit of the Warriors’ fandom.

A goal rooted in accessibility and optimization

The project’s main objective was to make the NFT minting process accessible and enjoyable for everyone—even those unfamiliar with cryptocurrency or digital collectibles. With the game-day crowd in mind, the microsite needed to be:

• Mobile-first, optimized for quick loading and seamless performance on smartphones in a crowded stadium.

• Intuitive and engaging for first-time NFT users.

• A showcase of the iconic Bay Area’s imagery and the Warriors’ legacy.

Designing 3D website around the “golden” theme

The concept revolved around the “golden” essence, inspired by the Golden State Warriors, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Area’s iconic golden sunsets. This concept was developed in collaboration with the Coinbase team and Center Design, who introduced the “golden” theme. Every visual and interaction on the microsite reflected this theme:

• A central golden basketball served as the centerpiece, symbolizing the exclusivity of the collectible.

• A “golden hour” aesthetic was achieved through meticulous experimentation with material rendering, HDRI lighting, and color grading.

• The interplay of light and shadow highlighted the richness of the golden theme, creating an immersive digital experience.

Behind the scenes

The microsite’s immersive features were crafted using Three.js and GSAP, with several key highlights:

• Environment design: A real-world-scale Bay Area environment was imported from OpenStreetMaps and stylized using Houdini Heightfield tools to create a cohesive “golden hour” backdrop.

• Golden basketball: The “Coinbase x Golden State Warriors Golden Basketball” was created in Blender. High-poly engravings made with displacement modifiers were baked into a low-poly, web-optimized asset, ensuring both aesthetic fidelity and performance optimization.

• Custom HDRI lighting: A golden hour sunset HDRI was crafted in Blender and refined in Photoshop, bringing warmth and authenticity to the microsite’s visuals.

Smart contract highlights

Coinbase sponsored the minting process, ensuring no gas fees for their users. Key features of the NFT mint included:

• A limited quantity of 3,000 mints, enhancing the collectible’s exclusivity.

• Restricted availability during the game and only for fans located in the Bay Area.

Optimized for the fan experience

Understanding the stadium’s dynamic environment, every aspect of the microsite was optimized for performance on mobile devices. The result was a seamless, interactive journey that allowed fans to mint their exclusive collectible effortlessly while enjoying the game.

This microsite blended the spirit of the Golden State Warriors with web technology to create an unforgettable fan experience. By making NFT minting accessible and embedding it into the game-day excitement, it set a new benchmark for digital collectibles in sports fandom.