NBA arenas to roll out across China

Beijing - The National Basketball Association (NBA) China has joined hands with sports and entertainment group AEG to market and operate NBA-style arenas in major cities throughout Greater China.

Previously both parties partnered in the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena (BOBA), and discovered that each is pursuing the development of world-class venues in China after the Chinese Olympics.

Under the deal, sports events, concerts, family shows, cultural events, trade shows and live entertainment performances will be arranged throughout entertainment and commercialised districts.

Timothy Leiweke, CEO of AEG, said China is fueled by an emerging middle class and a great need of multi-use arenas that can accommodate NBA games, sports events and world-class concerts.

NBA China launched in January this year with the backing of ESPN, a division of The Walt Disney Company, Bank of China Group, Legend Holdings Limited, Li Ka Shing Foundation and China Merchants Investments.

Tim Chen, the former CEO of Microsoft Greater China, was appointed NBA CEO in October last year.

Operation day and locations of the arena have not yet been announced.