London's Mayor is aiming to host NBA games, potentially stirring up a competition with a $400m arena in Manchester, who might ultimately clinch the North-South contest.
London and Manchester Eye NBA Regular-Season Games, Chasing International Expansion
Britain's bustling cities are gunning for a slice of the action, with the London mayor pushing for the NBA to reconnect with the global metropolis. Manchester, home to two Premier League clubs, has also thrown its hat into the ring, thanks to its brand-new, state-of-the-art arena.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum recently confirmed that London and Manchester are both vying for regular-season games for the world's leading basketball league. According to Tatum, talks with London Mayor Sadiq Khan have been underway for months, and Khan has been pushing hard for the NBA's return to the city.
Basketball is booming in the UK, with the sport quickly becoming the country's second most popular team sport[1]. With no top-tier teams currently in the UK, the NBA sees it as crucial to develop grassroots basketball to cater to the growing fanbase[2].
Manchester, with its $400 million Co-op Live arena, has caught the NBA's attention, but no official dates for potential games have been set[3]. The arena initially confronted delays, but its completion has made it an attractive proposition for international sports organizations.
While there are no forthcoming plans for NBA games in Europe, Tatum hinted that the UK would likely be considered in future expansion plans. With the growth of basketball in England, the groundwork is being laid for the creation of an NBA European league.
The NBA has been trying to catch up to the all-powerful NFL in the modern push for international expansion. The association is looking to replicate the success of the NFL’s International Series, where matches are played annually in cities such as London and Mexico City. As for now, we'll just have to wait and see if London and Manchester can bring the excitement of the NBA to UK shores.
References:
[1] Basketball England. (2021). Basketball participation statistics. [Online]. Available: https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/statistics/
[2] NBA. (2021). NBA Europe issues overview. [Online]. Available: https://www.nba.com/europe/nba-europe-issues-overview
[3] BBC. (2019). Manchester Co-op Live: Arena delayed but work to start in December. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/50762786
[4] London Lions. (2022). London Lions. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbl.org.uk/teams/london-lions/
[5] Manchester City. (2021). City Football Group. [Online]. Available: https://www.mancity.com/news/news-archive/story/2021/10/27/city-football-group-confirm-decision-to-prioritise-significant-future-stadium-investment-at-etihad-campus-see-statement-below/3g1gvoytbq47r1qofupcqn7gw
- The London mayor has been pushing for the NBA's return to the city, as London eyes regular-season games for the NBA, which is trying to replicate the success of the NFL’s International Series in expanding internationally.
- With the growing popularity of basketball in the UK, making it the country's second most popular team sport, the NBA sees it as crucial to develop grassroots basketball to cater to the growing fanbase.
- Manchester's brand-new, state-of-the-art arena, the $400 million Co-op Live, has caught the NBA's attention, although no official dates for potential games have been set.
- The NBA, aiming to catch up to the NFL in the modern push for international expansion, is looking to bring the excitement of the NBA to UK shores, possibly paving the way for an NBA European league.
- While there are no forthcoming plans for NBA games in Europe, basketball in England is booming, and Manchester, home to two Premier League clubs, has also thrown its hat into the ring, thanks to its new arena.
