The NBA’s growth outside of the US – largely by picking up international audiences through streaming – has led to incredible investment opportunities for savvy portfolio builders and sports fans. Thanks to the growth of international streaming and the rise of interconnectivity, even people on the other side of the world are aware of King LeBron James!
Basketball’s popularity is never going to wane – and for many foreign investors, this offers a tempting opportunity to build portfolios in some of the sport’s best-known franchises.
What’s Driving The Global Basketball Push?
The NBA has been the driving force behind basketball entertainment for decades. However, it’s not just the league’s overseas development that has resulted in the sport becoming more popular internationally.
Thanks to the Olympic Games, increased investment in sport programs and the development of specific international leagues, basketball has finally gone global, and not before time.
Basketball is famously a game that’s accessible to many, and it’s famous for being highly inclusive. Also, with the growth of the internet, it’s easier than ever for international fans and budding players to get involved. It’s never been easier, for example, to find local basketball clubs, explore basketball odds, buy tickets for local games and even watch online streams.
What’s more, international investment in basketball sponsorships, league building and media coverage has led to increased awareness and interest in the sport. That said, along with awareness and interest come new challenges to expand franchises and to satisfy growing audiences – which is where increased capital investment comes in handy.
Where Is Much Of The Increased Revenue Coming From?
The NBA’s expanded audience overseas has opened up lucrative new markets in areas outside of the court – such as in apparel. Basketball apparel increasingly became popular outside of the US in the 1990s, and interest in getting favorite players’ names on shirts and jerseys has never really gone away.
However, with the expansion of NBA streaming and increased awareness of different stars and teams, the apparel market no longer revolves around one or two big names. Given that international fans now have access to NBA games and stats 24/7, there is a near-unlimited opportunity for merchandising sales. This, among other reasons, is a key reason why people invest in boosting NBA franchises.
What’s also propelling international interest and investment in the NBA is the monetization of streaming overseas. While it’s entirely possible to watch highlight streams and clips on YouTube and TikTok, fans who are deeply into basketball can now pay per view outside of the US and, in some cases, pay for subscription passes. This is, for example, available in some territories through Amazon Prime.
Therefore, it’s easy to see where much of the money is coming from – international streaming and merchandising are solid income streams for the NBA and its various teams, and this is unlikely to slow down. For some investors, getting into basketball might be seen as safer than, say, purchasing a racehorse!
Will The Basketball Bubble Burst?
It’s highly unlikely that the basketball bubble will burst anytime soon, if ever. You only have to look at the long history of the NBA and the increased interest worldwide to see this as a safe bet – it’s unlikely to wane for at least a generation. By the end of this year, the global market is projected to be worth more than $11bn.
Therefore, the thrill of the game will always propel streaming and merchandise sales – meaning that investing in any property in the sport could be seen as a safe move.