Best seats will fetch a staggering HK$7,800 to see NBA stars during handover exhibition, but organisers are ‘still working’ on who that will be
Match in support of Yao Ming’s charity foundation takes place at the Coliseum on July 30 against a team from the Chinese Basketball Association
Local fans will part with a staggering HK$7,800 for the best seats in the house when a group of NBA players compete in Hong Kong for the first time, but organisers are yet to confirm the line-up for the July 30 exhibition at the Coliseum, which forms part of the territory’s handover 20th anniversary celebrations.
Around 10 players from teams including the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to feature in an NBA team who will play a team from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) at the end of next month in support of the Yao Ming’s foundation.
Around one per cent of the tickets offering the best seats will be available at the top price at the 12,000-seat venue when they go on sale on Thursday. Others tickets are priced at HK$1,980, HK$1,380, HK$680 and HK$380.
“We will release their names once we can confirm them, but not at this stage as we are still working with the parties involved,” said organising committee member Wilson Shum Ho-kit.
“There will be about 10 players from Rockets, Spurs, Thunder and other teams as well as NBA referees.
“You can watch them like any NBA match and for the first time live. This will be a big attraction.
“The bulk of the tickets will be at HK$680, and since this game is for charity, we are confident fans will come and a full house is expected.”
Shum was able to confirm China’s Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin, who were both selected in the 2016 NBA draft, will feature for the CBA team along with South China duo Lo Yi-ting and Duncan Reid.
China’s NBA legend Yao Ming to lead Hong Kong handover anniversary exhibition game
Zhou was taken with the 43rd pick by the Rockets last year, with Wang also selected in the second round by the Memphis Grizzlies, although centre Reid was not chosen.
“I went to the draft last year, but there were many complications,” said Reid. “I am better prepared this time and hopefully getting the opportunity to play with the CBA players in the charity game can enhance my chances.”
