NBA Preseason A Hit In China

A National Basketball Association preseason game between the Houston Rockets and the New Jersey Nets at the Wukesong Arena in Beijing Oct. 13 was completely sold out by Oct. 10, according to an announcement from the NBA, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sport and the game’s promoter and co-organizer, Taihe Interactive Media.

The sellout was hardly surprising given that China’s favorite basketball son, Yao Ming, plays for the Rockets.

AEG operates Wukesong and completed a major renovation of the arena in October 2009 following the Olympics there. It re-launched with a Beyoncé concert.

Taihe’s managing director, Adam Wilkes, said in a statement, “This sellout is clear evidence of China’s growing demand for live entertainment. It’s a thrill to be working again with the NBA on the China Games and fans couldn’t be more excited to witness their national hero Yao Ming return to the game.”

It was the NBA’s fifth set of preseason games in China.

Taihe was also involved in the 2009 China games and handled the Harlem Globetrotters’ recent five-city tour of China.