Sydney Kings Break All-Time NBL Attendance Record

The Hungry Jack’s NBL has reached a commercial and operational milestone, with 18,373 fans filling a sold-out Qudos Bank Arena for Game 3 of the NBL26 Championship Series.

The clash between the Sydney Kings and the Adelaide 36ers officially set the record for the largest crowd in the league’s history, eclipsing the previous mark of 18,124 set by the Kings during the NBL23 Grand Final series.

This record-breaking attendance is the 61st sellout of the 2025-26 season, a campaign that has seen the NBL attract its highest cumulative viewership and live attendance figures to date. For the third consecutive year, the league has surpassed the one million supporter mark for total season attendance, solidifying basketball’s position as a tier-one commercial property in the Australian summer sporting landscape.

Strategic and Commercial Impact

The scale of the Game 3 crowd reflects the NBL’s successful “big city” strategy, particularly in the Sydney market.

emphasising the importance of local engagement following the game, Sydney Kings head coach, Brian Goorjian, said: “Looking up at that sign on the door saying sold out, I’m really proud of what we built.”

“A big part of this is taking advantage of the game of basketball in a series like this. Getting the city of Sydney behind this team by playing a style they embrace,” Goorjian said. 

Key takeaways from the NBL26 record include:

• Market Dominance: Sydney continues to prove itself as the league’s primary engine for high-volume ticket sales and corporate hospitality.
• Fan Engagement: The atmospheric “electric” environment described by players like Tim Soares provides a high-value product for broadcast partners, enhancing the league’s media rights proposition.
• National Momentum: Beyond Sydney, the series has seen consistent sellouts in Adelaide, demonstrating a robust national appetite for elite domestic basketball.

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