What started in Mumbai is now landing in Delhi, just bigger
When the NBA teamed up with Budweiser for BUDX NBA House last year, it didn’t feel like just another event being added to the calendar.
It felt like a new format taking shape. Basketball, music and culture all sitting in the same space and actually working.
More than 6,000 fans showed up in Mumbai. That alone said enough.
Now they’re bringing it to Delhi. Same idea, but clearly scaled with a lot more intent.
BUDX NBA House is set to take over Bharat Mandapam on May 9 and 10, and this time it feels less like a one-off and more like something they’re building.
The game is just one part, but it’s a fun one
Isiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins are stepping in as coaches, with teams featuring Shanaya Kapoor, Rannvijay Singha, Varun Sood, Sonia Rathee and more.
There’s a 3v3 celebrity game on May 9, but this isn’t the kind you quietly sit through.
It’s a mix that leans more towards energy than competition, which honestly works better for a setting like this.
And then the music lineup pulls its weight too
This is where it starts opening up beyond just basketball.
NAV and Oppidan are headlining, with Yashraj, Reble, Fijiana, The Bausa and Chor Bazaar also performing.
At some point, it stops feeling like a sports event with add-ons and starts feeling like a full weekend plan.
The kind of brands backing this says a lot
The way this is coming together, the brands aren’t just sponsors sitting on the sidelines.
AB InBev is leading from the front as Title Partner, with India Basketball League in as Featured Partner. Alongside them, Tissot, Visit California, Brand USA and District by Zomato are part of the mix.
And you can see it in how the whole experience is shaped. It’s not just about visibility, it’s about being part of something people actually show up for.
There’s a lot more happening around it
Beyond the main lineup, there’s enough happening to keep you moving through the space.
Meet-and-greets, the Larry O’Brien Trophy, Slamson, the Kings dance team and dunk squad, all of it adds to the experience.
Then there are BUDX Masterclasses curated by Budweiser, along with streetwear showcases, food and beverage zones and interactive setups across the venue.
And it’s not just limited to the venue either. With metro activations across Delhi, BUDX NBA House is showing up in the middle of people’s everyday routes, so you’re likely to come across it even before you get there.
You don’t really come here for one thing and leave. You keep finding something else to get into.
This also tells you where the NBA is heading in India
If you look at the bigger picture, this feels like a clear shift.
The NBA is not just bringing games to India anymore. It’s building experiences around the culture of it.
And something like BUDX NBA House makes that shift easier to see.
If you’re in Delhi that weekend, this is hard to miss
Tickets are already live.
May 9 and 10. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
And if last year was any indication, this one’s only going to get bigger.
