USA Basketball Men’s National Team to face Boomers in Melbourne
The matches will be played at Etihad Stadium on Thursday 22 August and Saturday 24 August 2019 as part of both nations’ planned preparations for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, starting 31 August.
“This is the one Australian basketball fans have been waiting for, and there’s no better place to host the USA team than in the sporting capital of the country – Victoria,” said Premier Andrews.
The Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren said: “This blockbuster series is exclusive to Melbourne, Australia and will not only inspire our young athletes to hit the court but attract fans from interstate and overseas – and that’s good news for Victorian jobs, businesses and the economy.”
“We’re proud to back the talent of tomorrow by delivering the courts and pathways our kids need to make it to the big leagues.”
Fans can register their interest in buying tickets to the Boomers v USA matches ahead of the ticket on sale in July. A limited number of corporate hospitality packages are on sale now. To join the waitlist or purchase corporate hospitality packages go to www.teglive.com.au.
Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore said: “This announcement is a landmark moment for Basketball Australia and all those fans of our great game. I believe that this event will be long remembered in Australian sporting history.”
“I am thrilled that Basketball Australia will be hosting the USA Basketball Men’s National Team in Australia for the first time since the 2000 Sydney Olympics and my sincere thanks go to Premier Andrews and Visit Victoria for sharing in our vision.”
“It is a momentous partnership between two leading national federations and shows the level of respect that Australian basketball now commands on the world stage.”
“With these two games occurring just prior to the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, our Boomers and the USA will be at full strength and the quality of basketball that Australian sports fans will witness will be extraordinary.”
“I’d like to express our thanks to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Basketball Australia for all their help in making these exciting exhibition games a reality,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO.
“Prior to the basketball world’s attention being focused on the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the USA-Australia exhibitions will be an opportunity for basketball fans worldwide to see two of FIBA’s top teams compete. These games will not only be important in the USA’s World Cup preparations, but they renew a special international basketball rivalry.”
“The USA-Australia game at the 2016 Rio Olympics was intense, passionate and a very competitive game that came down to the final minutes. We expect these games in 2019 will again showcase international basketball at its highest level and offer sports fans a very memorable event.”
Visit Victoria CEO Peter Bingeman said “attracting the biggest and best sporting events like the Boomers v USA keeps Victoria ahead of the pack as the nation’s sporting capital. Having the USA Basketball Men’s National Team face off against the Australian Boomers right here is a boon for visitors and Victorian fans.”
“I’m proud of Visit Victoria’s involvement in securing this fantastic event for Melbourne which will bring in sports fans and event lovers from right around Australia and across Asia.”
“There is no question that the Boomers v USA aligns with our strategy to secure the world’s greatest sporting events and complements our already action-packed calendar of sporting and cultural events all year round.”
The Boomers v USA event is promoted by TEG, Australia’s leading major event sports promoter.
TEG CEO Geoff Jones said confirmation of the two-match series is the culmination of years of strategic planning with Basketball Australia.
“TEG is taking a long-term view of basketball’s growth in Australia and has been working with our partners Basketball Australia to lift the international game’s profile in Australia and the brand power of the Boomers,” said Jones.
“The Boomers’ series against the USA Basketball Men’s National Team is a dream come true for Australian basketball and will supercharge our plans for basketball. This is truly a breakthrough moment for the game.”
“I thank the Victorian Government and its events body Visit Victoria for their strategic backing and USA Basketball for making this great event possible.”
Australia and the USA will complete the first round of their FIBA World Cup qualifiers in June this year for the Asian and Americas regions respectively.
However, with 4-0 records, both nations have already qualified for the second round which begins in September and from there, the top seven teams from each region will advance to the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
The FIBA World Cup in China (31 August – 15 September 2019) will be the biggest edition of championship with a record 32 participating teams.
The event will take place in China for the first time and will be played in eight cities – Beijing, Foshan, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
About Basketball Australia
Basketball Australia is the governing and controlling body for the sport of basketball in Australia and is located in Wantirna South, Victoria. BA runs the WNBL, SEABL, national teams and national junior championships. Basketball is an Olympic and Paralympic sport and shares one of the highest international profiles and in 2008 Australia’s proud tradition with on court success continued, with Australia winning 3 medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.
About USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and chaired by retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, USA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the national governing body for basketball in the United States. As the recognised governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA national teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored five-on-five and 3×3 international competitions, as well as for some national competitions, and for the development of youth basketball.
Connect with USA Basketball at USAB.com and on Facebook (USABasketball and USABYouth), Twitter (@usabasketball, @USABYouth, @USAB3x3), Instagram (@USABasketball) and YouTube (therealusabasketball).
About Melbourne, Australia
The world’s most liveable city for the past seven years, Melbourne is a leader in staging international cultural and sporting events including the Australian Open Tennis Championships, Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, Melbourne Cup Carnival, Melbourne Winter Masterpieces and White Night. Its friendly people welcome visitors from around the globe to a city that is famed for its laneways and café culture, known as Australia’s coffee capital and home to a vibrant arts, music and fashion scene. Melbourne’s culinary credentials is attracting global attention and the city is the gateway to regional Victoria, including 21 wine regions, the iconic Great Ocean Road scenic drive and abundant native Australian wildlife.
About Visit Victoria
Visit Victoria is the State’s primary tourism, marketing and major events company that leads the tourism, business and major events sector in demonstrating the depth and diversity of Victoria’s inspiring experiences to maximise yield from intrastate, interstate and international visitation.
www.corporate.visitvictoria.com
About TEG
TEG is Australasia’s leading Ticketing, Live Entertainment and Data Analytics company. TEG includes Ticketek, TEG Live, TEG Dainty, TEG Analytics, TEG Rewards, Softix, Qudos Bank Arena, Eventopia, Life Like Touring, The Entertainment Store, The Brickman Experience, TicketCharge in Malaysia, International Ticketing and TEG Asia.
Basketball Australia
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