Shanghai has seen a slew of amusement parks and centres set up camp in the city in 2016, ranging from the massively hyped (Shanghai Disneyland), to the small-but-intriguing (Legoland Discovery Center); the NBA is now adding to the mix, with their NBA Playzone.
Located in Xintiandi's Hubin Dao Shopping Mall, the zone is a basketball-themed family entertainment centre set to open in late June 2016. With the sport enjoying a huge following in China, organisers have spared no expense on the facility, offering kids 10 interactive features that include play courses that challenge children to jump and climb through a variety of obstacles, trampoline-based dunk zones, party rooms and a swaggy, on-site merchandise store.
While opening the world's first NBA Playzone in the basketball-mad Middle Kingdom is definitely a savvy move, NBA China CEO David Shoemaker cites the centre's emphasis on kids being able to relax in a safe, controlled environment as one if its top features. 'Safety and cleanliness are important to us,' says Shoemaker. To that end, pre-installed air purifiers are present and play equipment is sanitised and cleaned religiously at the end of every day.
'Everything is padded in the zone to minimise the risk of injury in a high-energy, active environment,' he continues. A statement that's doubly reassuring in a country where air pollution is a constant issue and poorly constructed public facilities can be worryingly common.
Aside from the centre's top-notch facilities and dedication to safety, families can also look forward to the Playzone acting as a conduit for attracting visits from some of the NBA's top players. Stars such as Isiah Thomas, D'Angelo Russell of the LA Lakers and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves are all slated to make appearances at the centre.
Maybe most of all though, Shoemaker wants the centre to continue to build fans' love and appreciation of the game. 'The NBA Playzone is part of our effort to inspire young people throughout China to use the sport of basketball to lead healthy, active lifestyles,' he says.
If you're one of those fans and are itching to try out the Playzone, you're in luck as Time Out Family is hosting an exclusive sneak peek of the centre on Wednesday 15 June, a couple of days before the zone opens to the public. Kids aged 4-9, accompanied by an adult, will be able to try out exciting new games and interactive features from 2.30-4.30pm, without the crowds!
Interested? Simply RSVP to icyzhu@timeoutcn.com, to nab your spot now.