It is an exciting time to be a basketball fan in Abu Dhabi, as history will be made later this year, as the UAE hosts two NBA fixtures for the first time ever. The huge basketball competition has regularly played games outside the United States, but this marks the first time that games will be played in the Arabian Gulf.
Fans are already excited about the fixtures being played, but what can fans expect to see when the NBA travels to Abu Dhabi for the first time in its illustrious history later this year?
When Will The Games Be Played?
The dates that all basketball fans will have saved in their diary are in October, as Abu Dhabi joins cities such as London, Paris, and Mexico City to have hosted NBA fixtures in recent years.
It also marks the first time that a game will be played outside of North America since the fixture between the Charlotte Hornets and the Milwaukee Bucks. The games in Abu Dhabi will be played in October 2022, but the exact dates and teams that will be playing are yet to be officially announced.
Are Tickets On Sale?
The tickets for the two pre-season games are not yet on sale, but those wishing to attend can register an interest and be kept up to date with the latest news. Those wishing to register their interest can do so on NBA.com/abudhabi.
Official details regarding the teams that will be involved and the prices for tickets are expected to be announced over the coming weeks, as the announcement that the NBA would be heading to the UAE was made official back in November.
What Can Fans Expect?
There is a huge market for basketball in the UAE, with a growing number of fans placing bets on basketball online. It will be a huge occasion for fans of the sport, with the NBA announcing that they will be putting on a number of special fan events throughout the week. Fans attending the event can expect to get up close and personal with past and current NBA stars, while there is an exciting development that will be officially announced regarding a pathway for aspiring players.
That development will see the launch of the Jr NBA Leagues for aspiring boys and girls at schools across the UAE. As well as that, there will be NBA Fit Clinics in operation, which promote health and wellness. Meanwhile, there will also be an NBA 2K League exhibition, giving players a chance to show off their gaming skills.
Popularity Of NBA in UAE
The UAE has a desire for more NBA, as the popularity of the basketball competition has been thriving in recent years. One of the many reasons for this is how accessible it has been for fans to watch games throughout the season. The NBA League Pass has been available in the UAE for a number of years, but the product is now more accessible due to the content on the site being in Arabic.
This change has meant that fans can watch original documentaries, as well as live fixtures in their own language, and has made it easier than ever to watch the biggest names in the sport go toe-to-toe throughout the NBA season. The addition of original content in Arabic has also been a big hit with fans, and soon, they will be able to see some of the superstars in the flesh when the NBA comes to Abu Dhabi in October.
History Of NBA Games Abroad
The NBA has used global games as an effective marketing tool throughout its history. Back in 1984, the first global fixture in NBA was played, as the Phoenix Suns defeated the New Jersey Nets 148-121 in Milan, Italy. Since then, pre-season games have been played in a number of locations, including the Bahamas, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
The first regular-season game to be played abroad came in November 1990, as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Utah Jazz in Tokyo. Since that first game, 12 further fixtures have been played in Japan. Regular season fixtures have also been played in London, Mexico City, and most recently Paris. The most recent regular fixture to be played outside of North America saw the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Charlotte Hornets 116-103 in front of a sold-out arena in the French capital.
