Las Vegas—The NBA Cup is set to return next season, with Amazon Prime Video continuing to serve as the platform for early-season tournaments. The league highlighted a 90% increase in viewership this year on Amazon, a key reason behind the hefty broadcast rights fees paid by the streaming service. However, the NBA Cup final may not be held in Las Vegas next year.
The league is weighing the possibility of relocating the championship game in the coming season. Reports, including one by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, confirm that next year’s semifinals will no longer be hosted in Las Vegas but rather at the home venue of the higher-seeded team. The league is also exploring options for a neutral-site finals game, which might not take place in Las Vegas either.
While Las Vegas frequently hosts major, high-energy events like the recent F1 race on the Strip, locals rarely mention the NBA Cup. Despite the official attendance figures, there was a noticeable empty section in the Upper Bowl during the semifinals, raising concerns about the impression of low attendance on broadcasts. The second semifinal game saw a livelier crowd, possibly due to a better start time or the presence of popular players, unlike the earlier game impacted by absent stars such as Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
In 2023, the tournament’s debut year, T-Mobile Arena was vibrant and crowded, largely because the Lakers participated. Las Vegas has strong ties to the Lakers, with Southern California fans able to make quick trips to games. Although the NBA Cup is gaining international recognition, the atmosphere this year has differed from that initial excitement. The New York Knicks are scheduled to play in the upcoming NBA Cup Finals on Tuesday.
The league faces challenges in deciding where to hold the title game. Could Seattle host it for a year? What about moving it to non-NBA cities to spark new local interest? These possibilities could increase excitement around the event.
The NBA Cup fulfilled many expectations by adding significance to early-season games, driving conversation pre-Christmas, motivating players with sizable prize money, and generating buzz. It has been embraced by core NBA fans and caught the attention of some casual followers. However, the reception in Las Vegas was less enthusiastic than hoped.
The league remains open and flexible about the future of the NBA Cup location. There’s no binding agreement to keep it in Las Vegas for another year. Collaboratively, the NBA and Amazon Prime Video are assessing whether a new city might be a better fit moving forward.
Fan Take: This development highlights the NBA’s ongoing efforts to innovate and expand fan engagement, especially early in the season. Where the NBA Cup ends up could significantly shape how the tournament grows and connects with fans nationwide, potentially transforming the regular season landscape.
