The heated player seating system at Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks, has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Sports Business Awards Tech, organized by Sports Business Journal, in the Best Technology Collaboration category. This project is the result of a technical partnership aimed at enhancing NBA player performance through engineering solutions applied to active recovery.
The concept for this seat emerged from a collaboration between Troy Flanagan, VP of Performance for the Milwaukee Bucks and Professor Jack Zable from the University of Colorado Boulder. The goal was to address muscle cooling in athletes during rest periods on the bench.
Figueras brought this design to life by providing its technical expertise in manufacturing bespoke seating solutions, capable of meeting the rigorous ergonomics and safety standards required by professional competition.
The seat’s design moves away from standard player benches to offer ergonomic support specifically tailored to the physique of basketball players. Key features include:
- Thermal Management: The seat features a constant temperature setting of 106ºF (41.1ºC). This controlled heat maintains optimal muscle temperature, preventing stiffness and ensuring players remain agile for their re-entry into the game.
- Adaptive Ergonomics: The solution allows for adjustments for athletes with heights ranging from 5’8” to 7’6” (1.73 m to 2.29 m).
- Recovery Geometry: A 110º angle has been established between the seat and the backrest, a configuration studied to promote proper recovery posture during timeouts and breaks.
The inclusion of this product as an SBA Tech 2026 finalist highlights the successful integration of sports science and industrial manufacturing. This bench was born with the ambition to become a performance tool designed to minimize injury risk and optimize player physical response in a high-demand environment.
The Sports Business Awards Tech ceremony will take place on May 18th, when the winners of each category will be announced at an event bringing together global sports industry and technology leaders.
