Leicester to host Great Britain's first game in World Cup European Qualifiers
LEICESTER (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - British Basketball announced that the Leicester Arena will host the Great Britain national team's first game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers.
Great Britain, who have never appeared at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, will face off against Greece on Friday, November 24 at the Leicester Arena, which is the home to the 2016-17 British Basketball League (BBL) champions Leicester Riders.
Our senior men and Greece go head-to-head at @LeicesterArena in November.
— GB Basketball (@gbbasketball) August 8, 2017
Ticket details: https://t.co/HbeokhO9LA#6thMan pic.twitter.com/JmFS4tN9Lh
"One of the messages I have heard most often is that we need to stage more senior internationals in different parts of the country," British Basketball Chief Executive Lisa Wainwright said. "We've listened and we're acting on that desire. This is another part of the jigsaw where the whole game works together and we look forward to working with our partners to put on these games."
Kevin Routledge, the chairman of BBL champions Leicester Riders, is excited to give the fans of the club and city a chance to see the senior national team in action in the Leicester Arena, which opened in January 2016.
"We are delighted to be staging such an important game for the Great Britain men in Leicester at our new arena, and we are certain the atmosphere will be electric," he said.
"One of the messages I have heard most often is that we need to stage more senior internationals in different parts of the country. We've listened and we're acting on that desire. This is another part of the jigsaw where the whole game works together and we look forward to working with our partners to put on these games."
Great Britain's second game in Group H of the European Qualifiers will be away on November 27 at a team coming from the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers. Great Britain then play at Israel on February 22, 2018 and at Greece on February 25, 2018. Their final two qualifiers are at home - against the to-be-determined team on June 29, 2018 and versus Israel on July 2, 2018.
The venues of the other two Great Britain home games will be announced at a later date.
FIBA
