Basketball: BK Arena to be open for second round league games
Friday, April 05, 2024
Fans at the BK Arena during a past match. The venue will be opened for the second round of the Rwanda Basketball League.

Officials at Rwanda Basketball Federation (Ferwaba) have announced that the BK Arena will be open to host league games during the second round of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL).

During the first round which took place from February to April 6, no single league game was played at the BK Arena, the country’s largest indoor sports facility.

In a statement, Ferwaba explained that the lack of basketball games at the BK Arena during the first round of the RBL was due to prior bookings of the venue for various events.

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"BK Arena, being a multi-purpose indoor facility, serves not only as a basketball court but also accommodates a variety of other events such as concerts, corporate functions and numerous other engagements. Regrettably, the absence of basketball games at the arena is due to prior bookings for these alternative events which have occupied the space during the intended basketball scheduling,” the statement read.

It further noted that the basketball governing body is working to streamline the scheduling process and facilitate smoother access to the court that can host a big number of fans, thereby enabling the seamless continuation of basketball competitions in alignment with our shared objectives.

"Ferwaba remains steadfast in its commitment to the development and promotion of the sport within the country. To ensure the accessibility of courts for basketball activities, particularly during the crucial stages of the Rwanda Basketball League's second round and playoffs, Ferwaba is actively collaborating with BK Arena management,” the statement further read.

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Meanwhile, Ferwaba also explained the recent increase in ticket prices, from Frw 3,000 for ordinary seats and Frw 10,000 for VIPs, to Frw 10,000 and Frw 15,000 respectively.

"Ferwaba acknowledges the necessity for sustainable financial practices and as such, adjustments to ticket pricing have been made. This decision is rooted in our objective to ensure the long-term viability of basketball development initiatives. It's worth noting that previous games at LDK (Lycee de Kigali) Gymnasium have consistently been sold out, indicating a strong demand for basketball events,” the statement read.

"The increased ticket prices is for ensuring that Ferwaba can generate the necessary revenue to continue investing in the growth and success of basketball in Rwanda,” it further read.