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Having gained encouraging venue attendances and television ratings over past two years, the NBL is continuing with its experiment to stage season fixtures on Christmas Day.

Having commenced playing matches on one of Australia’s last remaining sport-free days as of Christmas Day 2023, the Tasmania JackJumpers and Sydney Kings will host games as of tomorrow, offering sporting entertainment on a day that has traditionally been reserved for family time.

Advising that attendances and television ratings over two years have vindicated a decision that might have once been considered sacrilegious, NBL Chief Executive, David Stevenson advised “there will be some people who don’t like that we play on Christmas Day in the same way that they don’t like that other sports may play on Good Friday or on Anzac Day, and we’re a very inclusive sport, and so we respect all of those opinions.

“What we’re trying to do is just create a moment for families to be together and enjoy a special entertainment experience, and it seems to be resonating very strongly.”

Stevenson noted that the first Christmas game between Sydney and Melbourne two years ago was the most-watched game of that NBL regular season, and last year’s double-header ranked in the top five highest-viewed games of the last regular season, adding “there are many people who don’t celebrate Christmas in a traditional way from a cultural point of view, and so providing an entertainment option for them is good, and then also for people who perhaps Christmas Day is a lonely day on their calendar.

“To be able to provide that entertainment and joy for each of those groups is a really important responsibility, and we take that very seriously.”

The NBL’s move follows the lead of the NBA in the USA, which schedules games featuring its best teams and biggest names on Christmas Day.

The NFL has also begun to schedule games on 25th December with two to be held this year.

Australian cricketers regularly played on Christmas Day up until the 1960s but the day has largely been reserved for family activities since then, and even the relentless scheduling of the Big Bash League has a hiatus on 24th and 25th December.

Image: The Sydney Kings in action at Qudos Bank Arena.

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