NBA preseason game slated at MOA Arena?

MANILA, Philippines - There is a plan to host an NBA preseason game at the soon-to-be-launched P3.5 billion Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena and if ever it pushes through next year, the NBA players should feel right at home in the state-of-the-art 64,085 square meter facility which is patterned after the Atlanta Hawks’ stadium Philips Arena.   

No matter from where you watch, there will be no nosebleed seats at the six-level facility which is scheduled to open its doors for basketball when the NCAA season begins in June, said MOA Arena operations senior manager Jacob Macapagal yesterday.

The seating capacity for basketball is 14,549 excluding provisions for a special courtside section and standing-room-only.  The configuration allocates more lower box seats of 4,459 than general admission of 4,075.  The upper box will hold 3,498, patron 1,746 and corporate suites, 771.  Macapagal pointed out that the general admission section will have individual seats not wooden or cement planks.

“Every seat has a clear view of the court,” said Macapagal.  “We also have facilities which are PWD (People With Disability) friendly in every section.  There are eight elevator openings in each floor, two in every corner, and 12 toilets also in each floor. Players will have access to the dressing room from the basement where there are parking slots for 85 cars and four buses.  Four dressing rooms are linked to a meet-and-greet lounge with a direct entrance to the court.”

Macapagal said the US architectural company Sink Combs Dethlefs used the Philips Arena as its model.  “Our first basketball game will be played during the NCAA season opening,” said Macapagal.  “All the UAAP games will be played at the MOA Arena starting in July.  We are now talking with the PBA to hold some games. Next year, we hope to host an NBA preseason game or an NBA invitational exhibition like the All-Star Game that was held in Manila during the lockout.”

This season’s UAAP host is National University which is owned by the Sy family’s SM group that also controls the MOA Arena.

Macapagal said after the MOA Arena stages its inaugural show, the Lady Gaga concert, on May 21, the Robbins maplewood hardcourt will be installed and the NBA Spalding basketball goals will be put up.  The 47-ton, eight-sided, center-hung LED scoreboard will be hoisted within two weeks.  A team from Daktronics, the South Dakota company supplying the P76 million octagon and data system, will arrive today to supervise the installation, according to Amigo Entertainment Technologies head and contractor Wopsy Zamora.

A distinct feature of the state-of-the-art MOA Arena is the third level where 41 corporate or VIP boxes will be situated. A corporate box will be leased for P9 to P15 million a year, depending on the size.  The seating capacity for a box ranges from 15 to 30.  There are 31 corporate boxes available for annual leasing while 10 will be held for rental on an event-to-event basis.  Each box has its own toilet, sitting room, mini-bar and gallery seating.