Barry Hearn’s Matchroom Sport, in partnership with the British Basketball League, have announced the British Basketball All-Stars Championship to take place at The O2, London on Sunday, September 24, 1pm – 6pm live on Sky Sports.
Hearn enters the fray in basketball introducing a new, entertaining take on the fast-paced game with a record-breaking £100,000 prize fund. Five players per team will take to the court in shorter-timed matches and other exciting innovations.
Eight selected BBL teams will compete in the one-day British Basketball All-Stars Championship event over a five-hour session starting with a double elimination round, meaning two wins and the team will advance straight through to the semi-finals or two losses will result in being knocked out of the tournament. The teams who win one and lose one of their opening matches will then play a deciding match for a place in the last four.
The tournament will showcase the best of British basketball talent on a grand stage at The O2 in front of the live Sky Sports cameras and will follow another new event launched by Hearn – the British Fast5 All-Stars Championship netball which will take place at The O2 on Saturday, September 23.
Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The popularity of basketball and netball is at an all-time high right now. We want to bring this right to the fore with a massive weekend at The O2. We’re bringing fast-paced and exciting formats to generate non-stop action and two unmissable events.
“It’s also about encouraging participation. Both sports are continuing to grow at a rapid rate and for that to continue we must encourage people young and old to get out there and try these exciting sports. We want to help with this by bringing both basketball and netball centre-stage for one huge weekend in London.
“By combining the expertise of Matchroom and Sky Sports with those of the British Basketball League we know that we are embarking on something special.”
BBL Commercial Director Bob Hope added, “Having an exciting new event and especially one being organised by a company as highly respected around the globe as Matchroom, is yet more evidence of how the popularity and profile of basketball continues to grow.”
Head of Sky Sports Multisport, Georgina Faulkner, said: “The creation of the British All-Stars competitions provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best of British netball and basketball. Everyone involved will hope the tournaments can inspire a new generation to pick up a ball and encourage more women and men to get back on the court.”
Matchroom Sport are the world-renowned sports promotional company behind PDC darts, World Snooker and has a wide stable of boxing talent including World champions such as Anthony Joshua, Kell Brook and Tony Bellew. The company has over 30 years of experience in sports promotion and currently operates across 11 sports, most recently adding the World Cup of Gymnastics to its expanding portfolio.
Tickets for the British Basketball All-Stars Championship will be available from The O2 Website soon, starting from just £20 with group tickets available priced from £60 for four adults. VIP Courtside tickets are available for £150 via the All-Stars Basketball Championship Website.
Tickets go on sale to BBL members at 9am on Monday, April 3 followed by an O2 Priority sale on Wednesday, April 5 and a venue pre-sale on Thursday, April 6. General sale commences at 9am on Friday, April 7.
