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Giant step for Manchester basketball as BBL club moves to NBPC

Manchester Giants today announced that from the 2020-21 BBL season, the club will make the National Basketball Performance Centre their new home.

In an exciting new partnership, the Giants will work closely with Manchester City Council to energise basketball at all levels in the city.

The National Basketball Performance Centre at Belle Vue Sports Village is one of the UK’s premier purpose built basketball arenas, with three courts, including a central show court and seating for 2,000 people. Fans in the city and wider region will be treated to some of the best basketball facilities that the UK has to offer in the home of the Great Britain basketball teams.

Whilst the move of the BBL team will grab the headlines, the day-to-day activities of the partnership could have the farthest reaching impact on the city.

“We welcome the announcement that the Giants will be returning to Manchester at our elite-standard National Basketball Centre and look forward to the positive impact our relationship with the club will bring to basketball at grass roots level throughout the city – from primary schools to youth basketball and beyond,” said Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council.

“Nationally, basketball is the second most popular team sport for young people to take part in and we are keen to cultivate the huge interest that exists in Manchester, as part of our ongoing mission to maximise local sporting participation.”

The Giants will join the Belle Vue Aces and Manchester Thunder as part of an increasingly impressive line-up of teams making their home at the Belle Vue Sports Village.

“I am delighted that the Giants are moving into the National Basketball Performance Centre,” added Ian Harkins, Head of Service, GLL. “Players of all levels have benefited from this facility and now the centre can be used in the way it was originally designed for; development, community and performance basketball.”

The move was top of Owner Jamie Edwards’ agenda in February and he is excited about the benefits of the partnership.

“This isn’t about reinventing the wheel,” said Edwards. “Manchester City Council, GLL and MCR Active have successfully modelled partnerships in other sports. The Club, the fans, and the game itself will benefit enormously from this collaboration.

“A BBL fixture at Belle Vue is something the clubs will look forward to on the schedule. Our current great fans and future fans will relish welcoming away teams and creating new BBL memories in this venue.”

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