Miami HEAT Website Migration
Migration and modernization of HEAT.com to a new tech stack, improving fan engagement and site performance.
As a Frontend Developer working on the Miami HEAT digital platform, I played a key role in migrating HEAT.com, KaseyaCenter.com, and HeatCheck.nba.com to a modern, mobile-first stack.
The goal was to give fans a faster, smoother, and more responsive experience—especially on mobile. I collaborated with a small team of engineers, designers, and content managers to bring the new platform to life ahead of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
🧱 Tech Overview
We moved the frontend to a lightweight, performance-focused stack built with React, Bootstrap, and a custom WordPress/Drupal integration on the backend. I focused on rebuilding UI components, improving accessibility, and optimizing load times for game-day traffic spikes.
- Rebuilt key page layouts including player profiles, game previews, and playoff banners
- Applied mobile-first design principles to improve the UX across devices
- Cleaned up legacy CSS and implemented consistent design tokens and spacing systems
- Integrated REST APIs for pulling live stats, scores, and schedule updates
🔍 Before & After Comparison
📊 Results
- Fan engagement increased by 30% after the redesign
- Mobile traffic went up by 50% due to better responsiveness and speed
- Site load time improved by 40%, especially on mobile and slower connections
- Merchandise conversions rose 20% thanks to better mobile checkout UX
- During the 2022 Playoffs, we handled a 25% spike in traffic with zero downtime
🎨 Component Improvements
One area I focused on was building reusable components for things like:
- Game schedule listings
- Ticket modals
- Team stats widgets
- Video highlights
These were designed to be dropped into any page without custom logic, making the marketing team more agile in launching campaigns.
🖼️ UI Improvements Breakdown
📌 What I Took Away
This was one of the first high-visibility NBA projects I worked on. It taught me a lot about balancing performance with marketing needs, and how even small improvements to structure and responsiveness can lead to measurable results in traffic and conversions. I also got to see firsthand how frontend work supports a brand’s identity during peak moments like playoff season.