Top 5 — NBA Eyes Mexico City
Plus cricket takes New York by storm, sports leagues on the rise, and more
Whatsup Squad,
Let’s get into the top stories of the week:
⭐️ FEATURE STORY
NBA Eyes Mexico City
In a pre-game interview for NBA Finals Game 2, Adam Silver discussed the league’s expansion plans.
There’s been some discussion about going back to Seattle, potentially…Las Vegas, no doubt, is very interested in a team. Mexico City one day.”
- NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver
As the fifth most populous city in the world and the largest in North America, the NBA recognizes the massive opportunity in Mexico City.
Mexico also represents by far the largest immigrant group in the United States, making up 23% of the immigrant population.
Despite the game becoming more global in the past decade, the league still only has just one international team in the Toronto Raptors.
Having a G League team, the Mexico City Capitanes, allows the league to understand the dynamics of having a team there.
Arena CDMX, capable of housing an NBA team, also gives the city another advantage in infrastructure.
Bottom Line - The NBA’s interest in Mexico City underscores the larger trend of the globalization of sports. While the NBA is poised to become the first major U.S. professional sports league to establish a team there, I doubt they will be the last.
Read more here
India-Pakistan Rivalry Takes New York
For the 34,028 cricket fans in attendance, Sunday’s clash in New York between India and Pakistan was beyond their wildest imagination.
Not only was it the most-attended international cricket match in the U.S., but the excitement also extended beyond the temporary stadium in Long Island.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) hosted 10 fan parks, streaming the game live in five different countries, including nearby Citi Field and the Oculus World Trade Center.
The devotion of the South Asian diaspora in the United States to playing, attending and watching cricket matches in the US is what can sustain the sport.
While a small proportion of the total American population, these core cricket fans bring an outsized level of intensity, commitment, and spending power.
Bottom Line - From Team USA’s historic upset of Pakistan to the spectacle of the India-Pakistan match, America’s $1 billion investment in cricket is starting to pay off.
Read more here
Women’s Leagues Set Attendance Records
Fans got a glimpse into the future of women’s sports this past weekend.
NWSL
The NWSL set a single-game record with a crowd of 35,038 on Saturday at Wrigley Field for a game between the Chicago Red Stars and Bay FC.
It was the first time in 80 years that a professional women’s sporting event was held at Wrigley Field.
It was just the second time the Red Stars played inside city limits, with the team normally based at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, a Chicago suburb.
This event was also part of a total weekend mark of 110,845, the first time the league has surpassed 100,000 in attendance in a single weekend.
WNBA
The WNBA released a report earlier today highlighting the early success of the season. Here are the highlights:
Attendance is up 156% from last year, and more than half of all WNBA games this year have been sellouts.
This year's televised games (ABC, ESPN, etc.) are averaging 1.32 million viewers, nearly triple last season's average of 462,000.
A sellout crowd of 20,333 filled Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., for a Fever-Mystics game Friday, representing the biggest WNBA turnout for a game since 2007.
Bottom line - Both games set attendance records outside of their home stadiums, highlighting the outsized fan interest in both leagues. Numbers don’t lie, and the rise of women’s sports is too meteoric to ignore.
Read more about the WNBA and NWSL
The Largest Swim Meet Ever
Indianapolis is a city known for knocking it out of the park when it comes to hosting major events.
Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, has hosted a swath of sporting events from the Super Bowl to the NCAA Final Four.
This week, it will add the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials to that list.
USA Swimming wanted to make the sport more accessible for non-swim fans after seeing how quickly tickets sold in 2016 and 2021.
The ticket sales approach has evolved from only targeting avid swim fans to those looking for a night of entertainment.
This event continues to outgrow its venues every Olympic cycle, and USA Swimming is trying to keep up with the surging demand.
Bottom Line - Kicking off on Saturday, the trials are expected to have an economic impact of more than $100 million and draw more than 250,000 fans. Some are dubbing the event "the largest swim meet ever."
Read more here
Carmelo Anthony Joins NBL
The National Basketball League (NBL), the top men’s pro basketball league in Australia and New Zealand, announced NBA legend Carmelo Anthony as Global Ambassador of its innovative Next Stars program.
As part of the deal, Anthony will become a future owner of an expansion team in the league.
The Next Stars program has quickly become a premier and proven destination for NBA draft-eligible talent from around the world to fast-track their development.
Since its inception, eight Next Stars have been drafted to the NBA, with notable alumni like LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton.
The 2023-24 Next Stars class was the largest in NBL history, headlined by French phenom and projected top-3 pick Alexandre Sarr of the Perth Wildcats.
Bottom Line - Australia has always been known for its strong sports culture, but basketball has emerged in recent years to become one of the nation’s most beloved pastimes. Now, Carmelo Anthony’s involvement spotlights the opportunity for further growth and international recognition.
Read more here
Until next time ✌🏾