"The NBA and Abu Dhabi's department of culture and tourism announced an extension of their partnership Thursday, with the league agreeing to continue bringing preseason games to the Middle East and the sides completing talks to launch a new global academy in the United Arab Emirates' capital for top boys' players. Financial terms were not disclosed, though it's reasonable to expect that the nine-year extension would be worth well over $300 million"
"The extension comes at a time when the NBA and FIBA are working toward launching a new league in Europe, possibly as early as next year. The DCT has deep ties to Manchester City, which is believed to be one of the franchises that has met with the NBA about the possibility of bidding for a spot in the new basketball venture. Manchester City also has a stake in the Co-Op Live Arena, where the NBA is bringing a regular-season game in 2027."
"The NBA has played in Abu Dhabi in each of the past four preseasons: Milwaukee and Atlanta went in 2022, Dallas and Minnesota went in 2023, Boston and Denver went in 2024, and New York and Philadelphia went in the 2025 preseason. USA Basketball also visited Abu Dhabi for games preceding the 2023 Basketball World Cup in the Philippines and the 2024 Paris Olympics. It's logical to expect that USA Basketball will return there in 2027"
The NBA and Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism extended their partnership to continue NBA preseason games in Abu Dhabi and establish a global academy for top boys' players in the capital. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the nine-year extension is reasonably expected to exceed $300 million based on comparable DCT payments for major basketball events. The timing aligns with NBA and FIBA plans for a new European league and with DCT's connections to Manchester City, a club linked to possible franchise discussions. Manchester City holds a stake in Co-Op Live Arena, where an NBA regular-season game is scheduled for 2027. The NBA has staged preseasons in Abu Dhabi every year since 2022, and USA Basketball has also played there ahead of major international tournaments.
Read at ESPN.com
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