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Basketball's economic bounce for North East

The business of basketball takes centre stage this week as Great Britain’s national team returns to Newcastle for the ninth time.

And while all eyes will be fixed on the on-court action — as Marc Steutel’s men take on Italy in Friday’s mouthwatering World Cup qualifier — there is a renewed focus on maximising the commercial and community opportunities afforded by hosting international sport in the city.

The Vertu Arena has already welcomed fans from Greece, Turkey, Germany, Latvia and more to Newcastle since 2020.

Senior international basketball has become a permanent fixture on Tyneside with thousands of overseas supporters enjoying a series of all-action clashes.

Factor in the homecourt Eagles completing a third successive season in European club basketball and it’s clear that the UK’s second most popular sport has the potential to become a major player in terms of tourism and the economy for decades to come.

“The sport we love is helping to put Newcastle and the North East on the map,” said Paul Blake, owner and managing director of Newcastle Eagles.

“You can’t put a value on the experience thousands of visitors from across Europe enjoy when they spend time in our city around a basketball game.

“Beyond the money they spend in our hotels and restaurants, they return home encouraging friends and family to visit.

“That’s priceless. There are more and more eyes on British basketball as we enter a new era of collaboration and development and what people see in and around GB international and European North Basketball League (ENBL) games in Newcastle offers a snapshot of what’s possible.”

Across nine GB fixtures and 13 ENBL matches Newcastle Eagles have boosted the local economy to the tune of £1m-plus since 2020.

Newcastle International Airport — a long-term partner of the club — has welcomed 20 visiting teams in the last six years.

The majority stay within the city centre with the Eagles’ official hotel partner, Maldron Hotel Newcastle, hosting Italy’s players, coaches and support staff this week.

“The North East as a region now needs no introduction to basketball fans throughout Europe,” added Blake. “They benefit from our region’s legendary hospitality, get well looked after when they stay in our top class hotels and enjoy a fantastic matchday experience.”

With the biggest league in global basketball — the NBA — set to launch franchises in London and Manchester within the next two years it feels as if the sport in the UK is on the cusp of a long-awaited mainstream breakthrough.

Super League Basketball (SLB) clubs — including the Eagles — are working alongside the NBA, basketball’s global governing body FIBA, the British government and the home nations to map out an exciting future for the sport in this country.

And Blake insists there is a fresh wave of opportunities available to potential partners, sponsors and broadcasters with British basketball on the brink of a brave new era.

“We’ve come through a challenging period with renewed confidence and the SLB and its clubs are keen to maintain the momentum our sport has right now,” he added.

“Supporting the national team at every level is part of that and it’s fantastic to be hosting the senior team again ahead of the Italy game.

“Behind the scenes our clubs are working overtime to create sustainable player pathways that will produce the GB stars of the future and we’re locked into our communities to offer more and more opportunities around basketball.

“There is a huge demand for basketball — both for the sport itself and its evolving culture — in this country and there’s a fantastic opportunity for new businesses to get on board.”

More than 40,000 fans have watched ENBL and international basketball in Newcastle since the Vertu Arena became the unofficial home for the GB squad.

The city has become synonymous with world class hoops and Blake added: “I would hope that people throughout the region understand that there's a benefit here.

“Even if the sport isn't the size of soccer in this country, basketball’s way bigger in the countries that are coming here to play top level international sport.

“Consequently, there are a lot of new eyes on Newcastle and the North East every time we stage a Great Britain game and we recognise that there’s a unique chance to shine a light on the region.

“And from the outside looking in people see the UK as the second biggest European basketball market behind Germany. The potential is huge.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Rushworth .