Guangzhou could host US National Basketball Association (NBA) matches under a deal between the city and a major American sports and entertainment company, a city official said yesterday.
The GT Sports & Entertainment Company had signed an agreement to promote Guangzhou as a sports and entertainment venue, an official with the city's sports bureau said.
The company would help Guangzhou develop a 5- to 10-year plan, which would include using the city as a venue for regular NBA games, the official said.
The US firm has agreed to bring leading cultural and sports events to Guangzhou each year, the first being a concert by rock stars Bon Jovi. However, the official gave no dates for the events, saying they would occur in the next few years.
Official media in Guangzhou quoted the company as saying its client list included NBA teams, National Football League teams, American baseball sides and the MGM film studio. Pre-season NBA games have been held in Japan, Germany and Mexico to promote the sport. The success of Yao Ming, who comes from Shanghai and completed his first season with the Houston Rockets in the NBA this year, has helped popularise the game on the mainland.
Games featuring Yao are carried live on state television and attract huge audiences.