Two NBA franchises selected City St George’s as their London training base, as elite professional basketball came to Clerkenwell alongside a week of Junior NBA activity
CitySport was proud to play a vital role in staging the NBA Europe Games 2026 – held this year in Berlin and London – serving as the official London training base for two of the league’s most recognisable franchises. The Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic were on site during a landmark week that combined elite professional preparation with wide-ranging community engagement.
From Monday 12 to Saturday 17 January 2026, CitySport hosted a packed programme of activity, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner for NBA organisations.
Selected for its prime central London location and one of the city’s largest indoor sports facilities, CitySport once more demonstrated its ability to meet the demanding operational and technical standards required by the NBA. The facility has a proven record in this regard, having previously hosted Team USA training sessions ahead of their gold-medal-winning campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, alongside visits from other NBA organisations in recent years.
Elite NBA teams in residence
While basketball activity ran throughout the week, the atmosphere shifted markedly as the end of the week approached and the two NBA teams arrived to take up residence.
The Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies arrived on Friday evening, with CitySport transformed into a full NBA-standard training environment. The Saddlers Sports Hall was fully equipped with regulation shot clocks, scoreboards, and 3-point lines, while NBA operations and security teams were on site throughout, working closely with CitySport staff to deliver a seamless, tightly managed operation across a compressed timeframe.
Saturday also included official NBA media availability windows, with accredited press granted escorted access following security checks, offering rare behind-the-scenes insight into professional team preparation at the very highest level of the sport.
Inspiring the next generation through Junior NBA
Running alongside the elite professional activity was a vibrant programme of Junior NBA engagement.
From 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday, CitySport hosted daily Junior NBA Clinics, delivered by NBA Development Coaches in partnership with Basketball England. The sessions brought around 20 young players from the community into a professional-standard environment. This allowed them to develop their skills, learn directly from elite coaching staff, and experience the culture of the NBA up close.
“One of the standout moments of the week saw children designing and painting their own basketballs alongside NBA personnel and players,” said Luke Church, Business Development Manager at City St George’s.
“The activity blended sport, creativity and hands-on interaction, quickly becoming a favourite among participants and offering a memorable point of connection between the league and the local community.”
Additional activations later in the week included an Art Activation workshop involving the Memphis Grizzlies and local young people, alongside the NBA Experiences Shootaround and Kids’ Clinic, giving families further opportunities to engage with NBA players.
From CitySport to O2 Arena
The week’s activity culminated at O2 Arena, where the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic faced off in front of a packed London crowd as part of the NBA Europe Games 2026.
The Grizzlies delivered a commanding performance, maintaining a 20-point lead for much of the game before securing a 126–109 victory, bringing the curtain down on a week that had showcased both the spectacle of the NBA and the depth of preparation required behind the scenes.
A trusted partner for the NBA
For CitySport, the week represented more than a high-profile visit. Hosting two NBA franchises simultaneously reflects long-standing trust in the quality, discretion and professionalism of the facilities and staff, and reinforces CitySport’s reputation as the destination of choice for elite US basketball teams travelling internationally.
Behind the scenes, City St George’s Sport and Leisure teams worked in close collaboration with NBA operations to deliver a complex programme that balanced elite performance requirements with meaningful community engagement.
Luke Church said: “CitySport is proud to have hosted this prestigious NBA programme and looks forward to welcoming the league back to London in the future, with potential scope for further events and the full NBA set-up returning in 2028–2029.”
About CitySport
CitySport is the Clerkenwell and Moorgate venue for sport at City St George's, University of London. The sports and leisure facility in Clerkenwell (EC1), on the borders of Islington, central London, opened on 2 February 2015.
CitySport provides fitness, wellbeing and sporting opportunities to City St George's students, staff and alumni, as well as students from other universities, local residents and corporate organisations. The building is rated BREEAM excellent and prides itself on its environmental responsibilities.
