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Summary:
– Kazuma Katano flew from Tokyo to OKC for NBA Finals.
– He’s spent over $35,000 on travel, tickets and gear.
– Says witnessing the Thunder win would be a dream come true.
Kazuma Katano was a fan of the Oklahoma City Thunder before they were even in Oklahoma. The 35-year-old’s fandom stretches back to the days of the Seattle Supersonics when he was playing games on Nintendo 64 while growing up in Tokyo, Japan.
Even though Brent Barry was his favorite player on those Seattle teams, he grew to appreciate the talents of a young Kevin Durant. So, when the Sonics became the Thunder, he came along for the ride.
That journey now finds Katano traveling 6,500 miles to spend three weeks in Oklahoma City watching his favorite team battle for an NBA championship.
According to Katano, he was so confident that Oklahoma City was going to be playing the coveted title that he purchased his plane tickets in January and began making hotel reservations at the Homewood Suites in Bricktown.
Most importantly, he wanted to make sure he not only got to see every game in Oklahoma City but also be around for a championship parade.
“I feel awesome being here, but also, I was expecting it,” Katano said through an interpreter. “As a fan, I want to watch the parade.”
What Katano was not expecting was just how passionate Thunder fans would be during the games. He had been to regular-season games in Oklahoma City back in 2013 and 2020, but the atmosphere of Game 1 at the Paycom Center was so overpowering that he said he began to cry after a Jalen Williams steal and dunk.
Kazuma Katano intently watches Game 5 of the NBA finals from his seat in section 116 at the Paycom Center. (Photo by Michael Kinney/The Journal Record)
Katano attended Game 1 and Game 2. Then, when the Thunder traveled to Indiana for the next two contests, he spent his time sightseeing and shopping at supermarkets. On the day we met for the interview, his 35-liter KD backpack was filled with small tomatoes for him to cook with at his hotel. He says American tomatoes are the best.
Katano, who runs the blog NBA Thunder Dancer, also visited local malls and apparel shops.
Even though he has closets full of Thunder gear back home in Tokyo, he filled up his suitcases with new NBA Finals gear to take back with him.
The only thing Katano lacks is a hat and shirt that proclaim the Oklahoma City Thunder as the 2025 NBA Champions. He plans to pick those up before he leaves, if the Thunder do their job.
Katano had hoped the title was going to be secured in Game 5. So, when he purchased his ticket, he wanted to be as close to the floor as possible. He spent $6,000 on the resale market to get one lower bowl ticket in section 116, row R at the Paycom Center.
However, after the Thunder lost Game 3, he knew they would either win it on the road in Indianapolis or back in Oklahoma City in an epic Game 7 (June 22). Just in case they were unable to close out the series in Game 6 (June 19), he once again tried to purchase a ticket in the lower bowl again, but the best he could get was one ticket in Loud City (300 section), which he says he paid another $6,000 to obtain. During the regular season, those same tickets can be had for less than $20.
In all, Katano had spent 3 million yen (approximately $24,000) midway through his trip. The only reason he knew that was because he had maxed out one of his credit cards, which had a 3 million yen limit.
By the time Katano leaves, he expects he will have spent 5 million yen ($35,000) during his three weeks in Oklahoma City.
When city and team officials discuss the significant economic impact of professional teams on a region, these are the types of stories they like to hear. Even though a portion of that went to whoever he purchased his game tickets from, that presumably is still money flowing into the city.
“I think when you step back and you think about what it means to be from Japan and want to come all the way to Oklahoma City and spend nights in the hotel and eat in our restaurants and to buy the tickets, what a powerful illustration of what a global experience this is and how this team can put this city and this state on its back and really help us take us to new heights,” said Senior VP of Sales & Marketing Brian Byrnes
While doling out that much money for one sporting event may seem extreme to many, to Katano, it’s possibly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He remembers watching the Thunder lose the 2012 NBA Finals to the Miami Heat and being unable to go to school the next day because he was so upset.
Yet, at the time, Katano had no idea he would have to wait another 13 years in order to see his team make it back to the biggest stage in pro basketball. And he wasn’t going to have any regrets by not going all out this time around.
AloJapan.com