Before Tuesday’s NBA Cup Finals, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver openly discussed the future of the tournament and its possible relocation from Las Vegas. Speaking on Prime’s NBA pregame show, Silver mentioned ongoing talks with Amazon Prime about hosting the finals at unique venues, including renowned college arenas.
Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium is being considered as a top candidate for next year’s event, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Since the league’s contract with the T-Mobile Arena (the current Finals venue) is renewed annually, moving the games poses no contractual issues.
However, challenges arise with shifting the Finals to college venues like Cameron Indoor, Allen Fieldhouse at Kansas, or Michigan State’s Breslin Center. These college arenas often lack the size of typical NBA venues and the timing of the Cup Final clashes with students’ holiday breaks or exam periods. For example, Cameron Indoor Stadium holds just 9,314 fans, significantly fewer than average NBA arenas.
There has been ongoing discussion about the NBA Cup’s lackluster atmosphere in Las Vegas and low in-arena energy. With Amazon Prime heavily invested in the Cup—part of their expansive NBA broadcast rights—they are exploring ways to boost excitement. The NBA has already decided to hold next year’s semifinals in teams’ home arenas, aiming to create more localized enthusiasm. Although this year’s Finals in Las Vegas saw some strong fan presence, especially from Knicks supporters and Victor Wembanyama fans, both Amazon and the NBA desire an even greater impact.
Speculation also includes potentially moving the Finals to non-NBA markets like Seattle, Louisville, or Columbus. Yet, canceling just one local NBA game might not generate the kind of buzz the league and Amazon seek.
The NBA Cup has been successful in many ways, engaging passionate fans, giving early-season games added significance, and motivating players with a substantial prize ($530,000 per winning team player). Still, Amazon and the NBA believe there’s room to enhance the experience further.
Could hosting the Finals on college campuses help achieve that goal?
Fan Take: Moving the NBA Cup Finals to iconic college arenas could dramatically amplify the tournament’s energy and fan engagement, blending the passion of college basketball with the NBA’s growing competition. This shift might redefine how fans experience the NBA Cup, potentially elevating its status and excitement in the basketball calendar.
