NBA returns to China with Macao playing host to preseason games

The NBA is coming back to China for good with southern metropolis Macao to play host to a pair of preseason games next October that are expected to significantly boost sports tourism in the region.

The NBA and its new partner Sands China Ltd announced on Friday that the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play two preseason games on Oct 10 and 12 next year at The Venetian Arena as part of a muti-year collaboration between the world's top basketball league and a major operator of integrated resorts in the city.

The NBA and Sands will also conduct interactive fan activities, NBA Cares community outreach initiatives, and lifestyle events that will bring the NBA experience to fans in Macao 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 and celebrities participate in on-court activities and skills competitions.

Ahead of the games, an NBA Flagship Store will open at The Londoner Macao and will provide fans in Macao and visitors from around the world with a wide range of authentic and customized NBA merchandise from major brands.

"Bringing preseason games to Macao will showcase the excitement of the NBA to fans in one of the world's emerging hubs for sports," Mark Tatum, NBA's deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, said during an announcement ceremony of the partnership in Macao on Friday.

A routine on its global promotion initiatives, the NBA has kept bringing the league's most sought-after teams and A-list stars to play preseason games in China, since the maiden edition in 2004, yet has not returned since the last edition in 2019 with the later pandemic playing havoc to international sporting events.

The return to an emerging new sports and tourism hub such as Macao is expected a "game-changer" both for the NBA and relevant business operators in the city.

"We have a long history of being here in China," Tatum said. "And our our approach has always been consistent. It's always the mission of the NBA to inspire and connect people everywhere through the game of basketball."

"So the return now through a partnership with Sands China, I think, is fantastic for the fans. And it'll give an opportunity for fans to experience live NBA basketball in their market once again."

Patrick Dumont, the president of COO of Las Vegas Sands, hailed the NBA's stay in Macao as a multi-beneficiary collaboration that will push the city's evolution into an international tourism hub.

"I think the great thing is that Macao is a wonderful tourism city. So to bring world-class sports here in partnership with the NBA creates a great situation as a win-win-win, where the NBA wins, the city of Macao wins and China wins," said Dumont, who is also the governor of NBA franchise Dallas Mavericks.

"We will have great tourism driven by unbelievable sporting events that will help cement Macao as not only a great tourism city for both business and leisure tourism, but also as a sporting city."