"Public Viewing in Cinema" by NBA Rakuten, where you can watch NBA games live in a movie theater.This third time, a much-anticipated match between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns was showcased.The super plays by star athletes, and the direct confrontation between Japanese players Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe, are bound to excite.Many of the booth visitors and basketball enthusiasts exclaimed in awe in front of the powerful screen.

Previously held only in Tokyo, the “Public Viewing in Cinema” event has expanded its scale in its third edition.Miyagi Prefecture, Tokyo (Futako-Tamagawa and Minami-Machida), Kanagawa Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, Ehime Prefecture, and Fukuoka Prefecture.The audience gathered to watch the live broadcast held in movie theaters in eight cities and nine locations, simultaneously shared the enthusiasm of the local site, which is over 9000km away from Tokyo and has a time difference of 16 hours with Japan.The match took place at the Phoenix Suns’ home ground, the “Footprint Center” in Phoenix, Arizona.The starting lineup includes LeBron James (Lakers), who reigns at the top of the NBA’s all-time scoring list, as well as Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, who are referred to as the Big 3 of the rejuvenated Suns. This lineup is filled with top-tier players.After the start of the match, it wasn’t long before both Hachimura and Watanabe players took to the court.The audience heightens their anticipation for the matchup between the two.During that time, cheers erupt for the high-level offense and defense of the NBA, the home of Basketball.The venue is streaming local broadcasts in real time, so all the content is in English.Mr. Chris Sasaki and Mr. Akira Kato each provided Japanese commentary for the Rakuten Group’s video distribution service, ‘NBA Rakuten‘.

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“In February of this year, we recorded and broadcasted the All-Star game, and in June, we live-streamed the fourth final match between Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat. We felt a significant response.”Despite the ticket prices being around 10,000 yen for the finals, they sell out quickly, which makes me feel that the NBA is gaining popularity in the domestic market,” says Mr. Inoue, the representative of NBA Rakuten, who is in charge of this event.Even for this expanded “Public Viewing in Cinema”, tickets are 5500 yen for regular seats and 6500 yen for premier seats.Even though it comes with an original T-shirt, it’s certainly not cheap.

The original T-shirt sold as a set with a ticket.This day, a rare piece that can only be obtained at the screening venue.

Despite this, the number of applications exceeded the expected number, with Futako-tamagawa in particular receiving nearly double its venue capacity of 360 people, with over 600 applications.I attempted to add a screen due to an unexpected development, but I couldn’t manage it, so I decided to hurriedly add a movie theater in Minami-machida.”The method of screening in movie theaters is basically determined by the sales of pre-sold tickets, which can change the screen on which the movie is shown.”The reason why seat reservations can only be made a few days before watching a movie lies there.”Of course, it’s possible to decide on the screening screen from the beginning, but due to this being a new attempt, the trends are unpredictable, and there’s no denying that we are still groping our way.”

To begin with, why a movie theater?And why are the tickets so expensive?The answer is based on the desire to share the excitement of the NBA.The reason for holding the event at the movie theater is to create an opportunity to watch seriously on a big screen without any time difference.To put it in extreme terms, as long as you can transmit the images, the scale of a movie theater can be expanded indefinitely, so at this point in time, I believe it’s the best choice.That being said, we also feel that the fees are high.Movie theaters usually have a provision for a 2-hour screening slot, and to broadcast a full NBA game, it is necessary to secure two slots.With that in mind, it’s a simple calculation, but the seat fee is doubled. Moreover, this time we are including a T-shirt, so we are hoping to avoid a deficit and liven up the event, which is the current situation.Public viewings at movie theaters are held primarily on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays so that people of all ages can enjoy watching.The other side is fraught with endless risks and struggles.

Even if thorough preparations are made to ensure that communication does not cut off until the end, if the crucial game ends in a tie and goes into overtime, there is a risk of exceeding the time slot allotted for the use of the cinema.That being said, when it comes to events held in halls other than movie theaters, there’s a limit to the number of people that can be gathered in one place, and it’s also difficult to expand the scale of the event.Furthermore, the need to provide services such as alcohol has arisen, resulting in costs exceeding those of a movie theater.Above all, the most worrying aspect of live screenings is that the progression of the match may not necessarily heat up.Despite facing various challenges, Mr. Inoue believes, “The essential value of sports is the sense of being live.”After all, if you knew the outcome, you couldn’t get involved and it wouldn’t be interesting.”We want to continue to create an environment where everyone can enjoy an even situation,” he said, setting high aspirations.

Merchandise such as uniforms, T-shirts, and caps, which are indispensable when watching sports.The attendees each arrived at the venue, dressed in their favorite outfits.By the way, the venue in Futako-Tamagawa was notable for its prominent display of Lakers merchandise.One of the appeals of the NBA is its high sense of fashion.From casual wear that can be worn effortlessly to serious uniforms, those who want to find items that suit them should definitely check out the official NBA items offered by NBA Rakuten.

As a text-based AI, I’m unable to translate images or image-related text. I apologize for the inconvenience. If there’s any Japanese text you need translated, please provide it and I’ll be glad to assist.

Right now, the NBA is undoubtedly interesting.Of course, there are Japanese players making their mark worldwide, but there are also exceptional shooters aiming for goals from far behind the 3-point line, and tall rookies with the nimble movements of a guard, among others.The ferocious dunks unleashed by the roughnecks, and the numerous perverted dribbles and passes dished out by the genius players…Even if you’re not familiar with the rules, you should be able to find a player who catches your interest just by watching a game, and you’re bound to be captivated by that fervor.Such initiatives like “Public Viewing in Cinema” certainly play a significant role as a catalyst for these encounters.

TEXT : Keisuke Honda PHOTO: Ryo Kuzuma EDIT: Yohsuke Watanabe (IN FOCUS)