NBA returns to London after their highly successful 2007 London debut

NBA launch ‘NBA Central Court’ a free and interactive fan experience featuring more than 20 free basketball themed events

Visit London has welcomed the return of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Europe Live 2008 game presented by EA SPORTS™ to the capital. To celebrate their return to London, the NBA have created an interactive fan experience entitled the ‘NBA Central Court’ which will host a weekend of free basketball-related activities on a replica NBA court situated outside the National Theatre on London’s South Bank. The NBA Central Court will run from Oct. 10-12 and will lead to the sold-out Oct. 12 game at the O2 Arena between the New Jersey Nets and the Miami Heat.

NBA Commissioner David Stern and local dignitaries will officially tip off Central Court on Friday, Oct. 10 to welcome basketball fans throughout London.

The NBA Central Court will host a packed schedule of activities including some of the NBA players wowing crowds with their skills, a kid’s basketball clinic; where local schools and children can learn new skills, wheelchair basketball games and a number of different press events.

The return of the NBA Europe Live Tour to the capital was assisted by Events for London – a partnership comprising of Visit London, the Greater London Authority, and the London Development Agency. The Events for London team have been working with the NBA to develop their event in London and to position the capital as the major global sporting destination of choice in the lead up to and beyond the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Together with NBA and its NBA Cares programme, Events for London have helped organise a number of community and grassroots initiatives designed to leave a genuine and lasting impact for London and the sport of basketball.

Sophie Goldschmidt, NBA EMEA Vice President, said; “We are thrilled by the excitement for the NBA in London. The NBA ‘Central Court’ event will allow even more fans to interact with NBA players and with basketball as a sport, in addition to giving our partners more opportunities to activate in London. Visit London has been very helpful with the return of the NBA to the UK’s capital. The team at Visit London and the Events for London team has helped open doors in London for us. They have been an invaluable local resource, providing additional assistance including venue finding and various local promotions.

Goldschmidt added: “London and the UK in general is incredibly important destination to NBA as it’s a key audience for us. London has a real interest in sport and passion for basketball which is increasing. It’s also a great opportunity to come to a city which is looking forward to hosting an Olympic games and there is a real buzz happening with the capital leading up to 2012.”

Visit London Chief Executive James Bidwell said: “”We welcome the NBA back to London. This weekend’s game and Central Court event will be a tremendous display of sport, entertainment and community engagement in the world’s greatest city. London is increasingly the global major event destination of choice and we hope to welcome the NBA each and every year as we prepare to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

For more information contact:
Chloe Couchman
Business & Major Events PR Manager
Visit London 6th Floor,
2 More London Riverside, London SE1 2RR, UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7234 5727
Fax: +44 (0)20 7234 5751

Visitlondon.com/eventsforlondon

About Visit London

Visit London is the official visitor organisation for London. A leader in best practice destination marketing, Visit London promotes the UK capital globally, across Britain and to Londoners targeting leisure and business visitors. Visit London works in partnership with the Mayor of London, the London Development Agency, London Councils and the tourism industry.

About Events for London

Events for London (EfL) is a partnership comprising of Visit London, the Greater London Authority, and the London Development Agency. EfL acts as a central point of leadership and expertise for organising committees, international sports federations, national governing bodies and associations keen to stage major and sporting events in London.

Events for London brings together all the relevant bodies – the emergency services, Transport for London, Visit London, the Boroughs and Government – into one expert body to support the transport, crowd management and other significant aspects of major events.

About the NBA

The NBA Europe Live 2008 series includes four teams (Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, and Washington) which play in four cities (Barcelona, Berlin, London and Paris).
The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment brand that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada. During the 2007-08 season, the NBA distributed games and programming to 215 countries and territories in 41 languages. The league’s worldwide reach can also be seen with 76 international players from 31 countries.

In addition to the central court, the NBA will also be bringing back the NBA Jam Van presented by HANNSPREE, which is the NBA’s state-of-the-art interactive basketball touring programme. The NBA Jam Van is a 16-meter 18-wheel truck that transforms into 1000m² of basketball and interactive activities. Free of charge to fans of all ages, NBA Jam Van will be visiting a number of London locations before arriving at the O2 arena where it will be for the day of the game.

Please visit NBA.com/europelive2008 for more information on NBA Central Court and NBA Europe Live