The NBA is set to return to what is said to be the world’s biggest basketball market, China, for the first time since 2019 following the agreement of a multi-year deal with Sands China which will see games held in Macau.
The National Basketball Association’s contract with Sands China, a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands and the leading developer, owner and operator of multi-use integrated resorts and casinos in Macau, is set to commence next year when the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns play two preseason games on October 10 and October 12 at Populous-designed The Venetian Arena.
The NBA plans to host two preseason games per year over the next five years at The Venetian Arena operated by Sands China, according to the South China Morning Post. China has an estimated basketball fan base of between 300 million and 450 million, but NBA games have been absent since two preseason fixtures held in 2019.
This was due to a row that erupted after then-Houston Rockets general manager, Daryl Morey, posted a tweet that expressed support for Hong Kong’s anti-government protests. The resulting furore saw NBA games pulled from the screens of Chinese state broadcaster CCTV and Tencent, a situation that only changed in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The NBA also lost Chinese sponsorship deals, with the whole episode said to have cost the league hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Announcing the new deal today (Friday), NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, Mark Tatum, said in a statement: “Bringing preseason games to Macau will showcase the excitement of the NBA to fans in one of the world’s emerging hubs for sports.
“The Nets and the Suns feature an exciting mix of established and rising stars, and we look forward to engaging fans, aspiring players and the local community in Macao through these games and a variety of interactive events, youth development programs and social impact initiatives.”
The NBA and Sands will conduct interactive fan activities, NBA Cares community outreach initiatives, and lifestyle events that will bring the NBA experience to fans in Macau throughout the year, including an NBA Fan Day during the week of the games that will feature celebrity performances and the opportunity to watch the teams, celebrities and influencers participate in on-court activities and skills competitions.
Ahead of the games, an NBA Flagship Store will open at The Londoner Macao, another Populous project, and provide fans with a wide range of authentic and customisable NBA merchandise.
Sands China president and CEO, Grant Chum, added: “We are thrilled to be bringing the NBA China Games to Macau and to create opportunities for basketball fans from around the world to celebrate the best of sports.
“This association reflects Sands China’s commitment to delivering exceptional experiences to our guests and our local community by providing a diverse spectrum of sports and lifestyle events throughout the year.”
Shanghai International Circuit locks in F1 future
In other event news, Formula 1 has today announced a five-year extension with the Chinese Grand Prix that will see Shanghai International Circuit remain on the calendar through the 2030 season.
The extension follows F1’s successful return to China in 2024 after a five-year absence, due to pandemic-related COVID-19 restrictions, where 200,000 fans attended the race to see Max Verstappen take victory in both the sprint and the grand prix.
Shanghai International Circuit opened in 2004 for the inaugural Chinese GP and before COVID-19 hit had been an annual fixture on the F1 calendar. The race contract was last extended through to 2025 in November 2021.
The 2025 Chinese GP will be the second round on next season’s calendar, taking place March 21-23, and will host the first F1 sprint event of the season, as well as the first round of women’s series F1 Academy.
