NBA Looks To Europe, Africa, India, Middle East
Stern Talks About NBA Games In Europe, Expansion To New Areas
Oct 8, 2009
NBA commissioner David Stern has long expressed an interest in bringing his league to Europe and he offered new details about such a move. Stern also welcomed the continued investment of foreigners such as Russian Mikhail Prokhorov buying the New Jersey Nets. And the NBA boss said the league will expand their work to Africa, Latin America and India.
NBA Close To Coming To Europe
The NBA is close to coming to Europe and possibly with an NBA division during the regular season.
"Actually I think it's getting closer. But I wouldn't give you a specific date. Obviously we have talked about it. ..Down the road, there will be, I believe, an NBA division of teams playing in our league in Europe. But I'm not ready to give you a date when that will happen. It's more fun to speculate about it," said Stern on CNBC's World Exchange on October 6.
NBA Pre-Season In Europe
There have been NBA pre-season games throughout Europe for years now, including this month's Chicago Bulls-Utah Jazz showdown in London. Other games have been played in Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, Israel among other countries.
More Foreign Investment Would Be Welcome
Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov made huge headlines - as well as plenty of raised eyebrows - when he bought the New Jersey Nets. And the NBA boss Stern said he would welcome the addition or more foreign investment in his league.
"The flow of global finance like the flow of global sports talent is more than welcome. Twenty percent of our league is composed of international players and we expect more and more international investors," Stern said in the World Exchange interview.
NBA Expertise In Asia
The NBA may be one of the biggest professional sports leagues in the world and it is always looking to expand its brand. NBA teams this pre-season will be playing games in London, Taiwan, Beijing, Madrid and Mexico.
Regarding the NBA's general approach in Asia, Stern told World Exchange: "The model outside the U.S. in Asia will be co-operation with local leagues using the NBA's expertise in marketing, promotion and basketball development to help an NBA partnered league do well in China and other parts of Asia."
New Offices Throughout The World
As part of the NBA's game between Real Madrid and Utah Jazz in Madrid, Stern also said that the league will be opening up new offices in various locations. Up to three offices will be opened in Africa within the next three years. The NBA will also be making new homes in India and the Middle East.
