The B.League is targeting international markets with the launch of Hospitality Tickets at the All-Star Game.
The 2024 B.League All-Star Weekend was held at the Okinawa Arena in Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, from December 12-14. The B.League, which has grown by leaps and bounds in a short period of time through aggressive investment and excellent marketing strategies, introduced the Hospitality Ticket at the 안전카지노사이트 All-Star Weekend.
The Hospitality Ticket is a premium service created by the B.League for overseas fans. They were sold for 30,000 yen (about $270,000) on the 13th, when the Asian All-Stars and Japan Rising Stars faced off, and 35,000 yen (about $320,000) on the 14th, when the main All-Star Game took place. That’s a lot of money, but you get what you pay for. The B.League invited 20 Asian journalists from South Korea, the Philippines, China, and Taiwan to experience the hospitality program.
An official from the B.League, who met at the Okinawa Arena on Thursday, said, “The Japan Tourism Agency is planning a lot of travel products centered on sports. That’s why we are introducing hospitality tickets for the first time. Large gymnasiums are being built in Japan, and we can’t fill them with our own fans, so we prepared to target the overseas market.”
“But there was a problem. The sales period was too short, so there were some overseas fans who couldn’t come because of visa issues. We originally targeted overseas fans, but inevitably sold to Japanese fans as well. We need to consider these things more next time,” he added.
Fans who purchase a hospitality ticket will be the first to enter the gym. Upon entering, they will receive a free gift such as an access card necklace, eco-bag, and water bottle. Fans can also enjoy unlimited food, including chicken and hot dogs, and beverages, including juices and alcohol, in the lounge on the first floor. Food and drinks can be consumed freely in the lounge or at the gym seats.
The interior of the lounge also stood out. The tables were made from backboards and rims, and there were basketballs everywhere. It was clear at a glance that this was a basketball lounge. TVs were set up throughout the lounge so fans could watch the game while grabbing food and drinks.
On the 13th and 14th, special talk shows were held for hospitality ticket holders. On the 13th, Korea’s Yang Jae-min (Sendai), Kai Soto (Hiroshima), and Ryo Sadahara (Nagoya) appeared, and on the 14th, Lee Dae-sung (Mikawa), Ronjay Avarientos (Shinshu), and Allen Hachimura (Gunma) joined them. Fans were also able to win autographed jerseys through a raffle.
The most important gym seats were assigned to the first floor, close to the courts. We had a good view of the game without any obstructions and could hear the players. B.League officials were in the stands from time to time, checking in on the hospitality ticket holders.
The ultimate goal of the B.League’s hospitality ticket program is to reach international markets. If the hospitality tickets are successful, we may see tourism products that include access to the B.League All-Star Game in Korea. It’s easy to see why they’ve grown so much in such a short time.