Local sports scene gains momentum with NBA and global stars

Joe Tsai, Vince Carter, David Beckham and Patrick Dumont

The city’s push to raise its international sports profile received a boost over the weekend as the National Basketball Association (NBA) returned to The Venetian Macao for preseason games, drawing large crowds and star-studded attention.

The NBA held two preseason games, billed as the “China Games 2025,” with the Phoenix Suns edging the Brooklyn Nets 111–109 at Sands China’s Venetian Arena yesterday.

In a fireside chat yesterday morning at The Parisian Macao, Patrick Dumont, president and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, said Macau has the potential to host major sporting events while appealing to global visitors beyond its traditional gaming attractions.

The executive, who also owns the Dallas Mavericks, spoke on a panel featuring Nets owner Joe Tsai and football icon David Beckham.

The discussion was moderated by former professional basketball player Vince Carter and was attended by basketball fans and stars including Yao Ming.

Dumont has stressed Macau’s growing appeal among sophisticated travelers seeking more than just gaming.

“If you think about Macau 20 years ago, when our company was first getting started here, there really wasn’t a lot of business tourism. There was a lot of leisure tourism, but it was very quick. And so with the infrastructure that was built here, it allowed for business tourism to occur,” Dumont said.

“There’s been an evolution in the type of tourism that actually comes to Macau. With the advent of further investment, better hotel rooms, better restaurants, better retail, more people come for longer. And the great news is there’s been a huge amount of infrastructure that came in around Macau over the years that has allowed people to come from farther away more easily,” he added.

Dumont also pointed to the NBA China Games, the first in six years, as an example of the city’s expanding sports presence.

When asked whether other events, such as the WNBA, might come to Macau, he responded playfully, “No pressure on Joe, but we’ll see if we can work something out to make that happen.” The comment referred to Tsai’s co-ownership of the WNBA’s New York Liberty alongside his wife, Clara Wu Tsai.

“Macau really is a city of entertainment and sport,” the Las Vegas Sands CEO said, adding, “the goal is to bring more sports over time and highlight the city’s capability.”

The executive also noted that digital engagement has become a key driver for sports tourism.

Fans now interact with teams through platforms like Tencent and Douyin, connecting global audiences in real time. “It ties back to social media and how impressions are created. We spend a lot of time on it. In some ways, it’s changing the game,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Tsai stressed the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in sports content.

AI-driven tools can recreate games, simulate matchups, and enhance fan engagement through immersive digital experiences.

Just last week, a partnership with Alibaba Cloud to power NBA China’s app was announced, providing advanced content and analytics for fans.

“Social media is changing the way people think about interaction in sports. It allows people to share experiences, follow players’ highlights, and connect with teams they’re not geographically near, and it has created a network of people that can talk about and share sports,” Tsai said.

The Alibaba chairman highlighted the role of AI in sports content, noting that Macau and China should serve as key hubs for testing new approaches.

“Use China as the laboratory for content creation, for social media distribution. And then whatever is invented here can be applied back in the United States to the whole market,” he said.

Meanwhile, Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami and Salford City FC, added that his experience growing football in the US offers lessons for Macau.

“Investment in grassroots programs, academies, and community engagement is crucial. Sports teach life skills like teamwork, discipline, and respect,” he said.

“The combination of grassroots investment, innovative digital platforms, and AI technology is reshaping how basketball grows globally,” Tsai echoed.

Promoting sports as

part of education

Basketball development in Asia faces cultural challenges, but Tsai says sports can play a key role in education and personal growth.

“Asian culture is not very conducive to developing great athletes and great sports teams, especially team sports. Parents want their kids to get good grades, focus on exams, and enter top universities,” he said.

However, Tsai encouraged that participating in sports teaches “teamwork, discipline, time management, and just how to be a good human being.”

“Respect for the game, your coach, and your teammates – it’s all part of life lessons embedded in sports,” he added.