MEXICO CITY (AP) — A few hours before the regular season game between the Washington Wizards and the Miami Heat in Mexico City, the NBA announced Saturday that it signed a contract extension to continue bringing more games to Mexico in the next few years.
The meeting between the Wizards and the Heat will be the 14th of the regular season on Mexican soil and the last of a previous agreement between the organizers and the NBA.
Since 2012, NBA games in Mexico have been organized by the company Zignia Live, a massive event promoter that was created in 2003 and is the administrator of the Mexico City Arena, home of NBA games.
“Zignia Live has been a trusted partner of the NBA for more than 10 years and shares our commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for our passionate fans,” said NBA Latin America Chief Operating Officer Raúl Zárraga. “We look forward to continuing to work together to bring the live NBA experience to Mexico for years to come.”
Neither the NBA nor Zignia Live specified the duration of the agreement, nor its financial data. It was also not reported if the matches will be regular season.
So far, the NBA is the only American league that has confirmed games in Mexico for next year. The Major League deal has expired and no renewal has been announced, while the NFL will not return until renovations to Azteca Stadium for the 2026 World Cup are completed.
“We are happy and grateful for the trust placed in Zignia Live to organize the best sporting event of the year,” said Zignia Live director Alejandro Arce Saldívar. “The CDMX Arena once again opens its doors to welcome the league, the teams and of course the fans so they can fully enjoy the sport of basketball.”
Mexico has hosted matches in the most important basketball league in the world since 1992 and is the country, after the United States and Canada, with the most games held.
