The 79th season of the NBA tips off at 00:30GMT on Wednesday, and with London’s interest in the sport growing, the potential for another NBA London game is here.
The NBA’s popularity in the capital is growing, and growing fast. Basketball England have declared that Basketball is now the England’s second most popular team sport, after football.
The NBA used to visit London once a year between 2011-2019, but the league chose to move this game to Paris to attract the exploding audience on the other side of the English channel.
However, just last month, London mayor Sadiq Khan met with the NBA’s deputy commissioner Mark Tatum to discuss bringing the NBA back to London in the future.
Following his meeting with the deputy commissioner, the Mayor mentioned in an interview with CityAM the “possibility of bringing more NBA games and activities to London and how we can further expand the game in the capital”.
We are committed to further growing the game in the city and across the UK
Mark Tatum, NBA Deputy Commissioner
This is a promising sign for London’s NBA audience and an opportunity for the capital to host a major sporting event in front of an international audience.”
NBA London Game 2015, Knicks vs Bucks
Recent polling from YouGov found that 62% of Londoners and 72% of 18-24 year olds feel proud of living in London when major sporting events are hosted. With the economic benefit that comes with hosting events such as this it is easy to see why Londoners would be keen to dig their teeth into more NBA action.
London also has a powerful advocate in Warriors and Team USA head coach Steve Kerr. In a trip to London with Team USA in preparation for the Olympics, Kerr told CityAM
“I’m always up for going to London. It’s a great city and I know how much love there is for the NBA there, so it would be wonderful”
Kerr is one of the most beloved coaches in the league and to have an endorsement from him can only mean good things for the NBA in London.
It is not just the NBA that has sparked interest in the capital. Last week’s NFL London games showed the potential of American sports within the UK.
The crowd of 87,000 set a record for the largest crowd at any NFL London game, and there has even been rumours of the NFL discussing expanding the league to welcome a new franchise.
Londoners may have a little longer to wait if they are expecting an NBA team from London. However, the interest shown as well as the growth of the sport has definitely caught the attention of higher-ups within the league.
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HeadlineMayor advocates for NBA return to London
Short HeadlineMayor advocates for NBA return to London
StandfirstAfter 127 days, the NBA returns as London's interest in the league rises.
The 79th season of the NBA tips off at 00:30GMT on Wednesday, and with London’s interest in the sport growing, the potential for another NBA London game is here.
The NBA’s popularity in the capital is growing, and growing fast. Basketball England have declared that Basketball is now the England’s second most popular team sport, after football.
The NBA used to visit London once a year between 2011-2019, but the league chose to move this game to Paris to attract the exploding audience on the other side of the English channel.
However, just last month, London mayor Sadiq Khan met with the NBA’s deputy commissioner Mark Tatum to discuss bringing the NBA back to London in the future.
Following his meeting with the deputy commissioner, the Mayor mentioned in an interview with CityAM the “possibility of bringing more NBA games and activities to London and how we can further expand the game in the capital”.
We are committed to further growing the game in the city and across the UK
Mark Tatum, NBA Deputy Commissioner
This is a promising sign for London’s NBA audience and an opportunity for the capital to host a major sporting event in front of an international audience.”
NBA London Game 2015, Knicks vs Bucks
Recent polling from YouGov found that 62% of Londoners and 72% of 18-24 year olds feel proud of living in London when major sporting events are hosted. With the economic benefit that comes with hosting events such as this it is easy to see why Londoners would be keen to dig their teeth into more NBA action.
London also has a powerful advocate in Warriors and Team USA head coach Steve Kerr. In a trip to London with Team USA in preparation for the Olympics, Kerr told CityAM
“I’m always up for going to London. It’s a great city and I know how much love there is for the NBA there, so it would be wonderful”
Kerr is one of the most beloved coaches in the league and to have an endorsement from him can only mean good things for the NBA in London.
It is not just the NBA that has sparked interest in the capital. Last week’s NFL London games showed the potential of American sports within the UK.
The crowd of 87,000 set a record for the largest crowd at any NFL London game, and there has even been rumours of the NFL discussing expanding the league to welcome a new franchise.
Londoners may have a little longer to wait if they are expecting an NBA team from London. However, the interest shown as well as the growth of the sport has definitely caught the attention of higher-ups within the league.
