NBA Opening Stores in China Next Month. Using Olympics to Boost Interest

The NBA is preparing to open two stores in China this month, with 500 to 1000 planned in the future. The first two stores will be smaller versions of the NBA's flagship store in New York and will be located in downtown Beijing. According to NBA China Chief Executive Officer Tim Chen, sales of NBA goods at the 50,000 current licensed outlets may rise 40 percent this year, buoyed by the Aug. 8-24 Olympics. As reported by Bloomberg News: "We've had super growth in the last couple of years and when we look at the potential, it's just amazing,'' Chen said in an interview today. "After the Olympics, people in China will know more about our players and that widens the fan base for the NBA.''Lifted by the success of Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and booming basketball participation, the NBA has come a long way in China since the days when it didn't charge for its television feed two decades ago. Chen said 450 million viewers watch the NBA in Chin...