NBA Jam India- 5 reasons basketball in shopping malls is a hit

Visual appeal

A setting at the NBA Jam event in Mumbai equipped with a DJ to boot

Basketball is quite unlike football and cricket in that it is played both outdoor and indoor. The visual appeal of indoor and outdoor basketball is miles apart. Of course a basketball event at a mall can also be on the outdoor premises of the mall, but the visual appeal still holds strong. The moment you are getting out of the confines of a traditional basketball court, be it at an indoor stadium or outdoor, you open up a door to endless possibilities.

Now a structure like this may not be easy to create at an indoor stadium due to permission issues, wariness that the floor may be damaged, etc. But a shopping mall is designed for the explicit purpose of having items which carry a strong visual appeal. There are systems in place for erecting these structures at malls.

Cost effective

In a country like India where indoor courts are few and far between, having an event at a mall provides a relatively inexpensive alternative to reap the benefits of an indoor setup without the extravagant costs of a setup at an indoor stadium. The rent can be above Rs 60,000 for an indoor stadium. Now a mall’s rent can be substantial, but if the basketball event being hosted is of a high enough profile, the malls will themselves go out of their way to accommodate the event at a low cost if not no cost. Because you are bringing publicity with the international spotlight you bring to the event. Plus you don’t necessarily have to bear the charges for lights if the event is in close enough proximity with the mall. Its going to be illuminated anyway.