Beijing, China
The NBA also sells its products outside the United States, most notably in China. The NBA's international operations only provide 10 percent of total profit; however, the NBA has seen a recent increase in possible business opportunities abroad.
Statistics revealed that 300 million out of China's 1.3 billion population played basketball, additionally "83 per cent of males between 15 to 61 years old are interested in the game," and the NBA was reported to be "the most popular sports league in the country." In 2006, it was reported that the NBA was planning to open its first store in Beijing, China (on Wangfujing Street) or Shanghai, China. Partly due to Yao Ming (1st overall pick in 2002) and Yi Jianlian's (6th overall pick in 2007) popularity in their home country, the NBA now sells its products in some 30,000 to 50,000 retail locations in China. During the 2006 season the NBA broadcast its games in 215 countries and had 83 foreign players, about a quarter of the total players. In 2008, it had 75 players from 32 different countries.
On January 14, 2008, the NBA announced the formation of NBA China ("a joint venture of the NBA, broadcaster ESPN and Chinese companies"), "that will conduct all of the league’s businesses in Greater China", the new entity will be led by Tim Chen (former CEO of Microsoft Greater China). In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics in China, the NBA opened a flagship store in Beijing; the JuneYao Group was chosen to lead marketing operations for the retail chain-store.
The NBA currently has two stores in China (both in Beijing) and according to CEO Chen plans to expand "up to 1,000 in the next five years." The first store was opened on July 15, 2008; it has "300 square meters of retail space" and sells about 400 different items; about 1,000 people showed up for the opening. According to the International Herald Tribune, merchandise sales in China were expected to increase by 60 percent in 2008. About one third of the traffic received at nba.com comes from their Chinese area (china.nba.com) written in Mandarin built by the Plus Factory, a New York City firm with offices in Beijing.
Reports on NBA jersey sales over the last three years (2006–2009) reveal that Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is the most sold jersey in China; however, Yao Ming fell from 6th to 10th and then back to 6th while his Houston Rockets teammate Tracy McGrady remained ranked third for two straight seasons then fell to fourth in 2009.
| Season | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | 9. | 10. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008/2009 | Kobe Bryant | LeBron James | Kevin Garnett | Tracy McGrady | Dwyane Wade | Yao Ming | Chris Paul | Allen Iverson | Dwight Howard | Carmelo Anthony |
| 2007/2008 | Kobe Bryant | Kevin Garnett | Tracy McGrady | Paul Pierce | Allen Iverson | Gilbert Arenas | LeBron James | Dwyane Wade | Dwight Howard | Yao Ming |
| 2006/2007 | Kobe Bryant | Allen Iverson | Tracy McGrady | Dwyane Wade | LeBron James | Yao Ming | Kevin Garnett | Tim Duncan | Carmelo Anthony | Gilbert Arenas |
Read more about this topic: NBA Store
Famous quotes containing the word china:
“Consider the China pride and stagnant self-complacency of mankind. This generation inclines a little to congratulate itself on being the last of an illustrious line; and in Boston and London and Paris and Rome, thinking of its long descent, it speaks of its progress in art and science and literature with satisfaction.... It is the good Adam contemplating his own virtue.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)