February 11, 2015
The NBA All-Star Game has taken a new approach to pleasing as many fans as possible this year. Instead of just one typical epicenter for fan excitement in the heart of the hosting city, there will be two hubs fans can access during this year’s game in New York City.
The NBA House presented by BBVA Compass will be held at Moynihan Station in Manhattan and the LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre over the week – the first time the All-Star Game has ever hosted two separate primary portals for the weekend’s festivities.
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Starting Tuesday, the NBA House will be open in Manhattan for all fans with tickets. The event will run through next Monday, offering dozens of fan-interactive games and gadgets to fans in the heart of Midtown Manhattan.
Among the biggest events offered in the Manhattan-based hub are the Buzzer Beater, 18-foot Rim Shot, Playstation Zone and NBA Fit Court for Kids. The Buzzer Beater allows fans to follow a similar step-for-step pattern to the biggest shots of the season, including big-time buckets by James Harden, Blake Griffin and Kemba Walker.
The 18-foot Rim Shot sponsored by Sprint gives fans the opportunity to aim high for a prize. If the shot is made, fans are awarded with a small prize for their unlikely success. The NBA Fit Court for Kids offers children competitive drills and educational instruction on the fundamentals of the game.
If shooting around and working on your game doesn’t tickle your fancy, there are a variety of gaming systems and historical videos available. Playstation has sponsored an area of Moynihan Station for fans to play the latest NBA video games, including NBA Live and NBA 2K15.
All around the NBA House are odes to New York City basketball legends and All-Star Games of the past. Hanging from the ceiling are the numbers of players from the New York Area and on the walls are pictures of past All-Star moments, like Michael Jordan in the 1998 Slam Dunk Competition.
20 miles to the southeast, the neighboring borough of Brooklyn will welcome the NBA House at Paramount Theatre from Wednesday to Sunday. The event features a full-size court that will run clinics and skill competitions. Several NBA legends are expected to attend during its six-day stay at Paramount Theatre.
Whether practicing your jumper on the court or on Playstation, this year’s NBA House will give fans plenty to do in Manhattan and Brooklyn. BBVA is a recurring sponsor for the NBA Skills Competition, which will be held on All-Star Saturday Night at the Barclays Center this weekend.
Tickets for the Brooklyn NBA House are $10, while the cost for the NBA House in Manhattan is $20.
