One thing NBA Commissioner Adam Silver "has continued from his predecessor David Stern is the league’s dedication to expanding its brand internationally," and as such, the Kings will "give up a home date and host the Celtics" Thursday at Mexico City Arena, according to Gary Washburn of the BOSTON GLOBE. The league’s exploration into Mexico City "is just another bold step in its quest to become a true international sport." League officials "are hoping that placing meaningful, regular-season games in these large international markets will help popularize the sport." NBA Senior VP/Latin America Philippe Moggio said, "Mexico is a very large priority market for the NBA. It’s been so for a long time. I think the level of the fan base, they want to see regular-season matchups." Moggio estimates that approximately 850,000 Mexican fans "participate in the league’s Facebook page." He also noted "strong television ratings for the ESPN NBA package and for the NBA Finals." Moggio said that the league "has no plans to expand to Mexico City, although it may be the most feasible market." These games "are simply a teaser to entice those fans who have become intrigued by the sport to become more interested" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/3). SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's Chris Mannix wrote the league said that there "are 13 million NBA fans in Mexico (population: 122 million), with 2.2 million in the greater Mexico City area." Those figures "would give Mexico City the league’s third largest fan base," behind N.Y. and L.A. The league "has been selective about its Mexico matchups." The Spurs and Rockets were chosen for past games for "obvious geographical reasons." Moggio said that the Celtics are "one of the five most followed teams in Mexico," and the league tabbed the Kings "largely due to a desire to have a cross-conference game" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 12/2).
INT'L APPEAL: In Boston, Mark Murphy wrote given the Celtics’ "popularity and recognition in international markets (they’ve already played exhibition games in Milan and Madrid this season), it’s a wonder they haven’t been called on before for this particular assignment." Celtics President Rich Gotham said, "I’m curious to find out what the reception is because when we’ve traveled in the past outside the U.S., there’s a huge Celtics following. It’s everywhere you go, whether it’s Milan, Madrid, Istanbul, London, we’ve always had arenas full of green jerseys." He added, "We’re not the home team down there, so I don’t know if there will be more Sacramento fans or more Celtics fans. I’m looking forward to seeing that. But our brand travels pretty well." NBA Mexico Dir Raúl Zárraga said that based on data compiled in '14, the Spurs, Bulls, Heat, Lakers and Celtics "command the largest followings in Mexico" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/2). In Sacramento, Jason Jones wrote tonight's matchup is "more than just a regular-season game for the NBA." Tonight's game will be the NBA's 22nd in Mexico, and since '91, the league has "held 33 games in Latin America and the Caribbean." Kings coach George Karl said, "It's not going to slow down. ... That's exciting to me, knowing when I first got into the game it wasn't this global and knowing it's becoming extremely popular everywhere" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/2).
