THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
The Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase was much anticipated at the O2 Arena on Sunday December 4. The event had previously been canceled due to Covid, but the unfortunate scheduling on the eve of the World Cup quarter-finals - England versus Senegal - didn’t keep fans away.
Build it and they will come… and they did. Around 8,200 fans filled the O2 arena purchasing tickets from £35 onwards to top range court-side seats at £500, and floor seats for £350.
A Division 1 double header started with Marist College versus University of Maine, won by Marist 62-61. This was followed by the main event, University of Kentucky against University of Michigan with the final score going to the Wildcats, beating the Michigan Wolverines 73-69.
It was as much a cultural experience for Americans as a competition and I wondered how many of the college aged players had their very first passport. The teams visited Chelsea’s stadium Stamford Bridge for a tour and fans were seen all over London in their sports team strips.
American fans do a call and response cheer amongst each other and love to do dances to be captured by the camera. Of course a sea of baseball caps is always a giveaway that a crowd is American but undeniably the passion was there. Cheerleaders and a DJ added to the atmosphere too. Former professional NBA player and beloved Kentucky Wildcat coach Jack “Goose” Givens was at the game, commentating and kindly having selfies with fans.
There is certainly an appetite for Americans to travel abroad for sporting events and there was a robust attendance by Londoners too. The growing trend of American sporting events being held overseas, as seen with NFL regular season International Series games in Germany, Mexico and the UK, looks certain to continue and grow, and Paris will host an NBA game next year on January 19, 2023.
