Taiwan is scheduled to host a National Basketball Association (NBA) game for the first time when the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers play an exhibition game at the Taipei Arena on Oct. 8, a breakthrough for a country in which the NBA has a devoted following.
NBA China CEO Tim Chen (陳永正), Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), Sports Affairs Council Minister Tai Hsia-ling (戴遐齡) and Chinese Taipei Basketball Association Chairman Wang Jen-tar (王人達) were on hand when the announcement was made, with Chen describing the game as the “best gift” for the long-term support of Taiwanese NBA fans.
“Oct. 8 will become a historic day for the NBA and millions of local fans in Taiwan. We are honored to present two of the best NBA teams to Taiwanese fans, who are full of passion for the game,” Chen said.
Taipei will become the eighth Asian city to host an NBA exhibition or regular season game. Tokyo, Yokohama and Saitama hosted six regular-season, two-game series between 1990 and 2003, while exhibitions have been held in recent years in Beijing, Guangzhou, Macau and Shanghai.
Tai said this year was a year of sports for Taiwan, with the World Games scheduled to be held in Kaohsiung next month and the Deaflympics in Taipei in September.
Hau said Taipei was honored to be chosen to host an NBA game.
“The Taipei City government will use all administrative resources to make the game a great success,” the Taipei mayor said.
According to the organizers, a series of NBA-related activities, including the NBA Cares program that promotes social responsibility and community charity, will be held before the game between the Nuggets and Pacers is contested in the 12,874-seat Taipei Arena.
Led by two-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony and 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, the Nuggets provided a strong challenge to the Los Angeles Lakers before being ousted by the eventual NBA champion in the 2009 Western Conference Championship.
Tickets for the game, one of only two NBA games to be played in Asia this year, will go on sale on Monday exclusively for Cathay United Bank credit card holders at www.allgenki.net/ticket before being opened to everyone on Thursday.
The organizers said ticket prices will range from NT$800 to NT$7,500 (US$24 to US$228).
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