The NBA’s impact from the Gulf area is growing as the Mavericks and Timberwolves play in Abu Dhabi

This week, the NBA visits Abu Dhabi as the wealthy nations of the Arabian Gulf region try to gain a foothold in the league.

In the capital of the United Arab Emirates, the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves face a battle in the first of two preseason games on Thursday. Still, the majority of the actual action is occurring outside of court.

The Washington Wizards are getting a minority interest from Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund less than a year after the league’s Board of Governors allowed such institutional investors to purchase tickets.

A few months after making a joke on social media that he would take the type of extravagant sums that the Saudis are offering to entice soccer stars, LeBron James recently traveled to Saudi Arabia.

After the NBA and the emirate’s Department of Culture and Tourism formed a multiyear collaboration, the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks played preseason games there a year ago. It was the first time the league has held matches in the Persian Gulf, which is another name for the oil-rich Arabian Gulf.

The NBA’s deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, Mark Tatum, stated, “We thought that offering the live NBA experience to fans in Abu Dhabi was the next step in our ongoing efforts to expand the game in the area.

In November 2022, the league’s board of governors decided “to permit passive, non-controlling, minority investments in NBA teams by institutional investors, including university endowments, foreign and domestic pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds, subject to a set of policy guidelines adopted at that time,” the NBA said in a statement.

The NBA Board would then need to approve those investors once the league had reviewed them.

The parent company of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Washington Mystics is being acquired by Qatar Sports Investments, which has a controlling ownership in the French soccer team Paris Saint-Germain. The NBA has verified the approval of the agreement.

Future accords of a similar nature are probable.

“The value of live sports and our league’s global reach help the value of NBA teams continue to grow year over year,” Tatum added. “We anticipate institutional investors from around the world will continue to show interest in our teams.”

Countries in the area, including Saudi Arabia, which was accused of carrying out the horrific murder of a journalist based in the United States, have come under fire for allegedly “sportswashing” their human rights records.

Tatum noted that the NBA has staged games — mostly not regular-season ones — in more than 20 countries outside of the United States and Canada. “Playing games internationally is a critical part of our year-round efforts to engage our passionate international fans, many of whom may not otherwise experience an NBA game in person,” Tatum said.

“That doesn’t mean we agree with every law or viewpoint where we play games or engage fans, and we condemn human rights violations wherever they occur,” Tatum stated. “We make sure that we uphold U.S. government guidelines and remain true to our mission and values everywhere we operate.”

Through its sovereign wealth fund, Saudi Arabia pushed its way into the world of professional golf before investing extensively in the acquisition of soccer players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo.

In June, radio broadcaster Dan Patrick questioned NBA Commissioner Adam Silver about whether Saudi Arabia had considered purchasing any NBA clubs.

Silver answered, “Not that I’m aware of, no. They have undoubtedly yet to visit the league headquarters.

Tatum stated that the NBA and Saudi Arabia had yet to discuss hosting preseason games there.

The NBA will run youth clinics and host fan activities during its trip to Abu Dhabi, featuring players from the Mavericks, Timberwolves, and NBA legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Both preseason games will take place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, where the NBA Store was previously established. It will take place on Saturday.

Next Tuesday’s preseason matchup between the Mavericks and Real Madrid will take place in Spain.

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