ONE of the biggest events in British basketball will take place next month in Glasgow's new Emirates Arena.
It will be the first time in its 25-year history that the British Basketball League Trophy Final will have been held in Scotland.
Organisers have decided to take the event to Glasgow because of the sport's growing popularity north of the Border.
The final, on Saturday March 9, will bring together two of the country's top basketball sides.
It will be contested by the winners of the semi-finals between Cheshire Phoenix and One Health Sharks Sheffield, and Worcester Wolves versus Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders.
No Scottish teams are involved in the final but organisers believe the growing success and popularity of the Glasgow Rocks basketball team will ensure demand for tickets is high.
The team moved to the Emirates Arena in October and played their first home match, against the Newcastle Eagles in front of a record crowd of 5000.
Prior to the main event next month, Scottish basketball teams City of Edinburgh Kings and Clark Eriksson Falkirk Fury will compete for the Always Ballin BBL Challenge Shield.
There will also be perform-ances from the British Basketball League cheerleaders, the All Star Acrobatic Dunkers and FOXY, the BBL mascot.
Andy Webb, the league's chief operating officer, said: "The BBL is really excited about bringing the Trophy Final to Scotland for the first time.
"There is huge interest in basketball throughout Scotland right now and we felt it was the right time to bring his historic BBL cup competition to the fantastic new Emirates Arena.
"BBL finals are always great family occasions and we are sure all those in attendance next month will enjoy the best of British basketball while having a memorable day out."
Rocks general manager Daniel Bajwoluk said: "Having the BBL Trophy Final at the Emirates Arena is a clear indication basketball is on the rise in Scotland. We have had record crowd numbers throughout the 2012/13 season and we are hoping to continue to build this fanbase in the years to come.
"Unfortunately we will not be in the Trophy Final to contest for silverware in March but I am sure the Scottish public will come out in their thousands to witness what should be a great show and some of the very best basketball Britain has to offer.
Glasgow Life chairman Archie Graham said: "Basketball now has a fitting home in Scotland at the Emirates Arena and the Glasgow Rocks have firmly established themselves as one of the top sides in the BBL."
Tickets for the final are available from www.theticket factory.com or 0844 3388 000.
vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk
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