UK Government and NBA Announce £10m Grassroots Basketball Investment

The UK Government has announced a EURO10 million (AUD17.9 million) partnership with the NBA aimed at expanding grassroots basketball participation and facilities across England, marking the first time its EURO400 million (AUD717 million) Community Sport Facilities Programme will invest beyond football-led projects.

The initiative, presented following the State Visit of the US President and First Lady, will see both parties contribute EURO5 million (AUD8.9 million) each. The government’s portion, allocated in 2026/27, will fund multi-sport facilities designed to broaden access for under-represented groups, including women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.

The NBA’s matching investment, to run through 2028, will scale its grassroots programs, which already engage more than 50,000 young people annually in the UK. According to government figures, basketball is the second most popular team sport among young people in England, with 1.15 million playing weekly.

Sharing how the collaboration would widen access and strengthen communities, Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: “Basketball is booming in Britain – and this investment will help take it to the next level, opening up the game to thousands more people right across the country.”

The announcement arrives as the UK prepares to host regular-season NBA games for the first time since 2019, with fixtures confirmed for London in 2026 and Manchester in 2027. These matches are projected to generate more than EURO100 million (AUD $194.5m) in economic impact, with discussions continuing around additional games and long-term opportunities, including NBA Europe.

Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, positioned the deal as part of the government’s wider Plan for Change in sport, which includes EURO500 million  (896 million) earmarked for major event investment alongside the community facilities program.

Highlighting the broader significance, NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum, added: “The UK Government shares our commitment to using basketball to drive socioeconomic development and teach the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle.”

“We thank them for their investment in facilities that will provide safe spaces for people of all backgrounds and abilities to learn and play the game,” Tatum expressed.

With participation levels already strong and NBA fandom among UK adults up 24% over the past three years, the partnership reflects a push to convert grassroots demand into long-term commercial growth, both locally and through potential European expansion.

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