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NBA to bring pre-season games to Macau annually in 5-year deal with Sands

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced a multiyear partnership with Sands China Ltd. to host the NBA China Games in Macau, beginning in 2025. The event will kick off with the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns playing two preseason games at The Venetian Arena on October 10th and 12th of next year.

According to Sands China, this collaboration aims to enhance the NBA experience for fans in Macau through a variety of activities throughout the year.

‘Fans can look forward to interactive events, community outreach initiatives under the NBA Cares program, and a special NBA Fan Day during game week, featuring celebrity performances and on-court activities involving teams, celebrities, and influencers’, the company announced.

Additionally, an NBA Flagship Store will open at The Londoner Macao, offering a wide selection of NBA merchandise from brands such as Nike and Wilson.

The announcement was made during an event at The Londoner Arena, featuring NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, Sands China President Grant Chum, and Las Vegas Sands President Patrick Dumont. They were joined on stage by NBA legends including Ray Allen and Tracy McGrady, as well as executives from both the Nets and Suns.

The Nets will bring a roster that includes 2023 FIBA World Cup gold medalist Dennis Schröder and three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons, while the Suns will feature four-time Olympic gold medalist Kevin Durant and two-time Olympic gold medalist Devin Booker.

NBA to bring pre-season games to Macau annually in 5-year deal with Sands

The NBA China Games 2025, presented by 88VIP, will be broadcast to fans in over 200 countries and territories through various media platforms, with ticket sales information to be released later.

In addition to 88VIP, the games will be supported by partners such as Ant International, Ctrip, and Nike, with Sands China serving as the Official Promoter.

NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum expressed enthusiasm for bringing NBA action to Macau, highlighting the opportunity to engage with local fans and aspiring players.

Meanwhile, SCL President and Chief Executive Officer Grant Chum noted that this partnership reflects Sands China’s commitment to providing exceptional sports experiences for both local and international audiences.

Las Vegas Sands conglomerate is controlled by the Adelson family, who are the majority ownership group in the Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise.

Basketball is hugely popular in China, with 17 teams playing a total of 28 pre-season games from 2004 to 2019 in the country.

However no NBA games have been held in China since two pre-season contests in 2019 after a tweet from then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

In the fallout, the NBA lost hundreds of millions of dollars after its games were pulled from Chinese television until 2022.

Nelson Moura
Nelson Mourahttp://agbrief.com
Editor and reporter with 10 years of experience in Greater China, namely Taiwan and Macau, in printed and online media, with a focus on finance, gaming, politics, crime, business and social issues.

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