Basketball legends and celebrities to headline NBA Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi

LA Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be at NBA Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi on Friday. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE)
Short Url
Updated 05 October 2023
Follow

Basketball legends and celebrities to headline NBA Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi

  • NBA District from Oct. 5-8 at Manarat Al-Saadiyat will feature appearances by former NBA stars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ray Allen and Gary Payton
  • T-Pain, AJ McLean and Michael B. Jordan to Participate in First NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 6 at Etihad Arena

ABU DHABI: The US National Basketball Association and the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi have announced that six-time Grammy Award-winning artist, producer and songwriter T-Pain will perform at the first NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi on Friday, Oct. 6 at Etihad Arena.

American singer and Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean and actor and producer Michael B. Jordan will also participate as special guests.

The NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi also announced that NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ray Allen, Gary Payton and Tim Hardaway Sr. will attend NBA District, an interactive fan event that will return to Manarat Al-Saadiyat from Thursday, Oct. 5-8.

NBA Fan Appreciation Day will also feature appearances by players from the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves, Abdul-Jabbar and NBA legends Shawn Marion, Sam Perkins and Kenny Smith.

Activities will include a skills challenge and three-point contest featuring Mavericks and Timberwolves players; performances by the Mavericks Entertainment Team, the Timberwolves Dunk Team, and the team mascots; and a slam dunk contest featuring professional dunkers.

At NBA District, fans will be able to meet Abdul-Jabbar, Allen, Payton, and Hardaway Sr. as well as participate in skill challenges, three-point contests and knockout games on a full-size NBA court.

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 presented by ADQ will feature the Mavericks and the Timberwolves playing two preseason games on Thursday Oct. 5 and Saturday Oct. 7 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.


King Fahd Stadium to host 2027 Asian Cup final

Updated 02 March 2026
Follow

King Fahd Stadium to host 2027 Asian Cup final

  • Popularly known as “The Tent” because of its roof, inspired by a traditional Bedouin dwelling, the stadium is the largest of the eight venues hosting the soccer showpiece

KUALA LUMPUR: Riyadh’s King Fahd Sport City Stadium will host the opening and closing matches of next year’s Asian Cup, officials announced Monday, the football showpiece seen as a precursor for the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia was awarded the World Cup but first will host the Asian Cup from Jan. 7 to Feb. 5, 2027.

“The King Fahd Sports City Stadium ... will provide the backdrop for both the eagerly anticipated final as well as the opening match, featuring hosts and three-time Asian champions Saudi Arabia,” the AFC said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur.

The 70,000-plus venue in Riyadh will also host four group stage battles, a round of 16 tie and a quarterfinal match before the final in early February, the AFC added.

Popularly known as “The Tent” because of its roof, inspired by a traditional Bedouin dwelling, the stadium is the largest of the eight venues hosting the soccer showpiece.

Asian Cup matches will also be played in Jeddah and Alkhobar.

Match pairings and kickoff times will be confirmed at the AFC’s final draw on April 11 in Riyadh, the AFC said.

Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, staged and won the Asian Cup two years ago.

The tournament was supposed to take place in China in 2023, but was moved out of the country because of the country’s COVID policies at the time.