The scale of the Japan Professional Basketball All-Star Game, which resumed after three years, is beyond imagination.
The Japan Professional Basketball B League will hold the ‘B League All-Star Game 2023’ at the Adastria Mito Arena located in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan on the 13th and 14th. Like the NBA, the B-League selects All-Star Week and offers a variety of attractions over two days. On the first day of the 13th, a dunk shot contest, a 3-point shot contest, and a skills challenge were held. In the ‘Asia All-Star Game’, in which Yang Jae-min participated as captain, the Asian All-Stars defeated ‘Rising Star’ 118-114.
The B-League has 54 teams from the 1st to 3rd divisions, and has not only adult teams but also youth teams. On the 14th, the East vs. West U18 All-Star Game will be held. Afterwards, the main All-Star Game between B-League Black and B-League White will be held. 온라인바카라
The reporter covered the NBA All-Star Game twice on the spot. KBL and WKBL All-Star Games have been covered almost every year. I was shocked when I covered the B-League All-Star Game, which resumed after three years. Comprehensively considering the box office economy of the B-League, the meticulousness of event composition, and the passion of fans, it boasted a level that could be called the best league in Asia.
The B-League booked tickets for the All-Star Game in advance. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the price. The cheapest ticket for the ‘all-day pass’, which allows you to see all the events on the first day, was 4,000 yen (approximately 39,000 won). The most expensive seat was 18,000 yen (about 175,000 won). The 2-day all-day pass ranged from 8,000 yen to 50,000 yen (approximately 75,000 won – 485,000 won), but it was sold out a month ago.
A two-day ticket that covers all two days ranged from 12,000 yen to 68,000 yen (approximately 117,000 won – 660,000 won), but it was also sold out. Mito Arena normally accommodates 5,000 people, but it can accommodate about 4,000 people by installing a large stage. When the reporter visited the game on the 13th, there were almost no empty seats in the stadium. Ticket revenue alone is astronomical. The price of this year’s KBL All-Star Game was set at 8,000 won to 100,000 won.
Mito City, the prefectural capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, is a small and medium-sized regional city with a population of about 270,000. When an all-star game was held in a place like this, I wondered, ‘Honestly, will it be a box office hit?’ I wanted to It was the reporter’s arrogance and misunderstanding. The B-League gives the right to host the All-Star Game to the local government that submitted the largest amount. At the level of the city government, a huge budget was invested in promoting professional basketball.
As soon as I arrived at Mito Station, I saw a large banner reading ‘The city where the B-League All-Star Game 2023 will be held’ in the most visible place. Right below it, a ‘pop-up store’ selling B-League products was opened. Since it is located in a place with the highest floating population, people did not stop visiting. City buses are also covered with advertisements for the All-Star Game. There are also posters attached to the street trees. Coming to Mito, I couldn’t help but know that the All-Star Game was going on. It gave off the atmosphere of an American city hosting the NBA All-Star Game.
arrived at the stadium. A large market was opened in the front yard. I was able to enjoy local food and see the PR booths of companies. I was able to eat, enjoy, and buy basketball-related products. A publicity booth for the FIBA Basketball World Cup to be held in Ryukyu in September 2023 was also opened. The promotional phrase, “You can see Donchichi in Japan,” was impressive. Even though the ticket price was hundreds of thousands of yen, interest was hot.
The official sponsors of the B-League each took a seat and handed out prizes as an event. It was an opportunity to receive gifts with both hands full even if you just went without a ticket. The B-League official store sold products related to the All-Star Game. It was also impressive that representative products representing 54 clubs were displayed. T-shirts and uniforms produced by Adidas, the main sponsor of the B League, sold like hot cakes despite high prices. The muffler with the name of Yuki Togashi, the top star with an annual salary of 100 million yen, was also popular.