Martinez joins Pistons as entertainment staffer
Shawn Martinez
FORT DEFIANCE
Shawn Martinez has worked endless hours to get where he is today in the professional sports and entertainment industry.
For the past 12 years, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment employed Martinez where he coordinated entertainment for the National Basketball Association’s Denver Nuggets, National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche and Arena Football League’s Colorado Crush.
Shawn Martinez
Additionally, Martinez worked as the in-arena DJ for the Denver Broncos for two years and the University of Colorado Buffalos football team for 12 years, providing pre-game and in-game music entertainment.
Palace Sports and Entertainment hired Martinez as director of game operations for the NBA Detroit Pistons.
“We are extremely excited to have Shawn Martinez join our team as director of game operation,” said Harlan Hendrickson, vice president of marketing for Palace Sports and Entertainment, in a press release.
“Shawn brings a wealth of experience from various professional leagues and will be an integral part in elevating our game night entertainment and thrilling our fans,” he said.
Martinez’s primary responsibility as game operations director is to oversee and direct all in-game entertainment, content and delivery.
“Working in the sports and entertainment industry, especially at the highest level of professional sports, is beyond a dream come true for me,” Martinez said. “For me, it’s more than a job. It’s what I feel I was born to do.”
He will oversee the national anthem, team opening, public address announcer, team DJ, team mascot, video, entertainment breaks, sponsorship and halftime shows.
“To keep our execution and delivery team on track and in sync,” he said, “I create a game day plan playbook consisting of detailed scripts and timeline for all entertainment that will occur throughout a game.”
He said game days frequently become 12-‐hour workdays given the amount of pre‐game coordination required with the entertainment and broadcast directors, entertainment teams, in-‐arena audio, video and lighting crews.
“Throughout the day, there are production meetings, content and script reviews, walk through, and rehearsals of skits and dance routines,” Martinez said. “After that, it’s show time. When the game is over, it’s not for us.
“One of the key practices for us is to review and critique our performance following the game so that we can continually improve the fan and game experience,” he said.
Martinez said moving to Detroit opens up new opportunities to grow and develop his career.
“Leaving the Denver Nuggets and all the friends and colleagues I had worked
with over the years was difficult,” he said. “It took me out of my comfort zone. I can explore new areas in the field of entertainment. I am excited to be part of Palace Sports and Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons as we begin the journey to take NBA game entertainment to a whole new level.”
Martinez said his initial opportunity in the sports and entertainment field was with Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, one of the world’s leading ownership, entertainment and management groups based in Denver.
“I started with the Denver Nuggets in 2002 as a coordinator and individual contributor,” he said. “Over time I gained significant experience and took on more responsibilities and leadership for in-‐game entertainment activities, which led to my promotion as director of game production.”
Reared in Fort Defiance, where Martinez is a 1985 graduate of Window Rock High School, he said he hasn’t forgotten his roots.
“I haven’t forgotten where I grew up,” he said. “Growing up on the Navajo Reservation I always dreamed of one day working in the field of sports and entertainment. However, being part of the NBA, at the highest level of professional sports and entertainment, is beyond a dream come true for me.”
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