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2h ago

NBA Returns to China With Sold-Out Macau Preseason Games

The league's Macau exhibitions signal a cautious commercial re-entry built on new tech and venue partnerships.

Image
A Hong Kong protester in an LA Lakers jersey holding a LeBron James picture during a pro-democracy demonstration in October, 2019.
LeBron James plays with a basketball during a promotional event at a store in Guangzhou, China in July, 2014.
A woman and a man in LeBron James jerseys hold Chinese national flags as they walk into the Mercedes-Benz Arena before the NBA exhibition game between Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers in Shanghai, China, on October 10, 2019.

Overview

  • Commissioner Adam Silver said there is "tremendous interest" as the Nets and Suns tip off in Macau, with sellouts seen as a potential springboard for more games in China.
  • Alibaba Cloud announced a multiyear deal to serve as NBA China's official cloud computing and AI partner to enhance digital fan experiences, including within the NBA app.
  • The matchups are part of a five-year hosting arrangement with Sands China's Venetian Arena and feature large-scale fan activations such as NBA House and appearances by Shaquille O'Neal.
  • The Nets are running 13 youth clinics across Macao and Hong Kong and plan to fund a court revitalization project, with Chinese forward Fanbo Zeng traveling as a local draw.
  • Demand is surging with tickets selling out and reselling for high prices, while analysts caution the league must manage political sensitivities rooted in the 2019 Hong Kong fallout.