Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai, has had its best year ever, said Michael Enoch, GM there for AEG-OPG China. With 90 events in the arena and 82 in the theater, it is also the most events ever.
Now, they’ve added a new one. The first regular season NCAA basketball game ever played outside the U.S. will take place Nov. 12 at Mercedes-Benz Arena. The Pac12 has a three-year contract with AEG to present regular season games. The first pits the Universities of Texas and Washington, both of which have large alumni groups expected to attend.
“The Pac12 realized their growth is in Chinese students, so they are outreaching into China with sports games,” Enoch said. The games are enhanced with a Pac12 student fair. Aired live on ESPN, the game takes place at noon so it can be shown in the U.S. The PAC12 has done smaller-scale athletic events with gymnastics and other sports in China, but this is the first regular season basketball game.
It’s important to understand that Mercedes-Benz Arena is a vertical entertainment district, Enoch added. The complex, all under one roof over six floors rather than spread out over a district, includes the arena, a 1,000-seat nightclub, nine restaurants, 21 retail shops, a six-screen movie theater, and an Olympic ice skating rink open 10-10.
This fall through October, Mercedes-Benz Arena will host Bon Jovi, Muse, and three Taylor Swift shows, all of which soldout in three hours. Swift’s show will be the highest grossing of the year.