FIRST NBA STORE IN MIDDLE EAST OPENS IN DOHA, QATAR

FIRST NBA STORE IN MIDDLE EAST OPENS IN DOHA, QATAR

- Store Features Latest Assortment of NBA Merchandise,

including Nike Jerseys, Footwear and Apparel -

- Official Store Opening Attended by NBA Champion Richard ‘Rip’ Hamilton –

DOHA AND LONDON, Jan. 13, 2018 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Al Mana Fashion Group announced the official opening of the first NBA Store in the Middle East, located at Doha Festival City in Doha, Qatar.  

The official store opening was attended by three-time NBA All-Star and 2004 NBA Champion Richard ‘Rip’ Hamilton, who was joined by Al Mana Sports Division General Manager Tom Foley and NBA EMEA Vice President, Global Merchandising Vandana Balachandar.

The 162 square-meter retail space, managed by Al Mana, features a wide selection of authentic NBA products, including current and former player jerseys, fan apparel, headwear, footwear, basketballs, toys and more, providing a one stop shopping experience for NBA fans in the region.

“The NBA Store is an exciting new concept to our portfolio.” said Foley. “With the support of the NBA, we have managed to bring this concept to Qatar. The store has great merchandise and delivers the real NBA experience, which will inspire the Qatari basketball consumer.”

“Our first NBA Store in the region will meet the growing demand that Qatari fans have for authentic NBA products,” said Balachandar.  “We are excited to partner with Al Mana Fashion Group to bring the latest NBA merchandise to fans in the region to help them celebrate their passion for the NBA.”

Fans can purchase a Nike NBA Connected Jersey, the first NBA jersey that gives the wearer an all-access pass into the world of their favorite team and players.  Fans can also personalize jerseys exclusively at the NBA Store in Doha.  The store also offers youth apparel, a range of autographed memorabilia, and an interactive zone where fans can hone their NBA 2K skills.

The flagship NBA Store in Doha, which builds on the league’s network of more than 300 NBA-branded retail locations globally, features products from brands including Nike, Mitchell & Ness, New Era, Spalding, Stance, Under Armour, Jordan Brand, adidas and Bleacher Creatures.  The store is open Sunday to Wednesday from 10am to 10pm and Thursday to Saturday from 10am to midnight.

NBA fans in the Middle East can sign up to receive the latest offers and updates from the NBA Store in Qatar at nbastore-me.com.

About Al Mana

Al Mana is a Qatari conglomerate operating over 55 companies in 8 countries and employing over 3500 personnel.  Industry activities include automotive distribution and services, real estate and investments, retail, food and beverage, engineering, technology, media and entertainment. The group covers most areas of retail including luxury goods, beauty, fashion, sporting goods, home interiors, watches and jewelry.  Operating over 300 outlets, Al Mana represents some of the largest and most successful brands in the world.  The group is owned and operated by Hisham Saleh Al Mana, Kamal Saleh Al Mana and Wissam Saleh Al Mana, sons of the late Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana, in their capacity as executive directors.  For more information: http://www.almana.com/.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League, set to launch in May 2018.  The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2017-18 season featured 108 international players from a record 42 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.4 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.