First was London. Then it was Paris. Next, it seems to be Munich in terms of European cities that organize a global game of the regular NBA season.
Only three weeks ago the NBA took over Paris, with great success, since they made history by organizing two regular seasonal games in rapid succession in the same city as the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers faced on January 23 and 25.
These games were the 13 and 14 games of their species that were played in Europe and seems likely that any future iteration could take place in a new city.
Speaking at their press conference before the first meeting on January 23, that the Spurs won 140-110 at the Arena Arena in Paris, the NBA Silver commissioner was asked about a future accessory in Germany.
'Stay tuned. We are looking closely at the NBA regular season game to Germany, he said he kept his cards near his chest.
“It is something that our office in Europe is concentrated at this precise moment.”
This year's Global NBA games saw a double header in Paris between Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs, but future games could play in Munich
The NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, admitted that Germany is a market that they are seeing below
The BMW Park in Munich, home of the Bayern FC basketball, has a capacity of 11,500 that is smaller than the NBA sands and the Arena Accor that was used for the double header of this year in Paris
However, it should be taken into account that it is not clear where in Munich a potential match can be held with the BMW Park, home of FC Bayern Basketball, which has a maximum capacity of 11,500, which is considerably smaller than an adjusted NBA For the purpose of Arena.
Two days later, after Silver Spoke, Mail Sport was invited to a round table conversation, on behalf of 2K Games, with the vice president of Global Associations of the NBA Dave Brody and the head of Marketing of 2K content of 2K, Ronnie Singh, also known as Ronnie 2K.
Having been physically present when Silver spoke, Mail Sport asked Brody if he could explain more in Silver's words. However, like the commissioner, he remained shy when asked if the NBA would seek to organize multiple regular seasonal games in the same city in rapid succession.
“We are still finishing our plans and more will be announced shortly,” he joked before the great victory of the Bouce 136-98 later that night.
'We had an announcement earlier this week with Tissot, who is the present partner of the Games this year, and included in that recognition that Tissot will present a game in Europe in the next 10 years. So, where it is confirmed, but Europe is a great market for us and we will continue to bring games here and we are excited to finish our plans for next year and beyond.
'What I would say is that there have been other global games, as in Abu Dhabi, where we have made two games in a week before.
“So that model is new to Paris, and it has been incredible, but there have been other markets in which we have done it before.”
Although it was well tight on that issue, Brody admitted that the NBA is trying to improve its experience for its global fans base.
The NBA chief, Dave Brody, was shy about future plans in Europe when he was asked to elaborate more
'These are our Games 14 and 15 in France and ours 96 and 97 in Europe. We started with a game, but now we have two in the same week and we saw the interest, since it was exhausted in 24 hours. Now we are testing new events with the Paris NBA that also sold out.
'We are trying to continue taking advantage and providing fans around the world the experience they yearn for, which can take shape in different ways with more games, new events, NBA House and nine partners who go this week to support the games.
'Then, for us, I think we will continue learning from what we have done, but also where we see opportunities and that we align with our interests from fans, we are certainly willing to try new things that obtain them and improve their experience in the NBA.
The NBA are partners with 2K Games and its popular NBA 2K game, which is the main game of the basketball console. Both share a common goal in the growth of sport when Singh explained the importance of their side of things.
Ronnie Singh revealed that 2k Sports is trying to become new markets with fans like NBA
This year's Paris Games were very special due to the participation of the local hero Victor Wembanyama for the San Antonio Spurs, which means that the Parisian crowd had someone to support
“The NBA obviously focuses on international growth and us too,” he said. 'The branch is that most people living in the United States who love basketball and have a video console probably have our game, so all our growth will come from alternative regions, which is similar to the NBA with its new specific markets.
'You see it and you feel it here while you are in Paris to have a local boy (the superstar born in Paris, Victor Wembanyama), the superstar born in Paris, Wembanyama) makes it different from other global NBA games, since the host city is supporting its type of hometown.
'I hope some of these other regions obtain a similar type of star as that, since it only helps the regions be interested in the game. Eventually, you want to root that it is identifiable for you and I hope that England, my father's family side is from there, gets his star soon, since that would be really great for that territory. “
With eight current active German players in the NBA, it seems that Munich could be the next place in the horizon within Europe.