NBA heads at the O2 Arena to drum up support

The NBA is to bring basketball to the O2 Arena for the forthcoming season with confirmation that the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors will play back to back Atlantic Division games on March 4 and 5.

“In Europe the staging of our first regular season games is a milestone for the NBA and the ongoing development of basketball in the region,” said NBA commissioner Dave Stern. “We are fulfilling our commitment to schedule a regular season game in the UK prior to the 2012 Olympics – a natural progression given the overwhelming response to the many friendlies we have played to sold out crowds over the years.”
“This, to us, is in the context of giving as much support as we can to the sport of basketball for the 2012 Olympics,” continued Stern. “Europe to us is second only to China as a potential revenue source.”
Where the knockout stages will be O2 of the 2012 basketball competition will be staged the quarter finals onwards and has already proved an outstanding venue for the last four NBA Live exhibition games and the Great Britain national team during various European qualifying matches. It will host this year’s NBA live fixture in October, Kobe Bryant’s LA Lakers the reigning NBA champions, taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Nets roster recently features NBA All Star Devin Harris, the number three overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft in Derrick Favors and centre Brook Lopez, who earned a place on the T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2009. The team currently came under the ownership of Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov and has since named Avery Johnson the 2005-06 NBA Coach of the Year and an NBA champion as a player with the San Antonio Spurs as its new head coach.
The Raptors meanwhile would expect to feature a number of top European players including Italy’s Andrea Bargnani – the first-ever European No.1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, in 2006 – and Marco Belinelli; Jose Calderon a guard with European and World champions Spain and Linas Kleiza of Lithuania. Head Coach Jay Triano — who became the first NBA coach born and trained in Canada when he served as an assistant coach for the Raptors during the 2002-03 season — will lead Toronto.

At O2 Arena Jolly ol' Raptors to play Nets

As the NBA prepares to release its much anticipated 2010/11 regular season schedule, reports have surfaced that in England Toronto will play two games.
The Raptors will play a back to back series starting on March 4 against the New Jersey Nets in London's O2 arena according to the New York Daily News. The venue will also host a preseason game in October between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Commissioner David Stern is poised to release the 2010-2011 schedule of "marquee games" at 7 pm/ET Tuesday night.
Various other online reports have the Raptors opening its home schedule against the New York Knicks on October 27.

Brit Awards to move to the O2 Arena

The Brit music awrads will move to the O2 Arena after more than a decade at Earls Court.
"The Brits made the decision to change the format of the event and go with an arena format,” says Earls Court commercial director Anna Golden. “We are sad to look them go, but after 13 years at Earls Court we wish them well.”
Golden adds that in the last few years show arrangers have tinkered with the format to keep the event up to date.
According to the Evening Standard, the British Phonographic Industry, arranger of the awards, is looking for ways to cut costs as revenues for the record labels that fund the event continue to fall.

For London’s O2 Arena This October UFC 120 Official

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s next trip to the United Kingdom UK has now been booked, at England's world famous O2 Arena as UFC 120 is official for October 16.
The promotion made the event official earlier today.
The event features a main event between popular British fighter Michael Bisping and Yoshihiro Akiyama, while the co main event slot will be shared by Carlos Condit and Dan Hardy, who are set to face off in the UFC’s welterweight division. Also featured on the card, John Hathaway, who upset Diego Sanchez at UFC 114 this past May, will take on Mike Pyle at the 170 pound mark.
Tickets for the October event in London go on sale this week, beginning with a presale opportunity for those that qualify on July 22 and with the public having the chance beginning on July 24.

O2 Arena: Michael Bisping lined up for UFC return to O2 Arena

ULTIMATE Fighting Champion Michael Bisping is set for a return to the O2 Arena later this year. The Manchester middleweight is reported to be headlining the UFC 120 event at the North Greenwich arena on October 16. He will take on Japanese super star Yoshihiro Akiyama in the same venue where he defeated the USA's Matt Hamill back in 2007. Bisping, 31, is the former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion and former Cage Rage light heavyweight champion. Also reported to be on the card are Brits Dan Hardy, who fights former world champion Carlos Condit, and John Hathaway, who takes on undefeated Korean Dong Hyun Kim.

On O2 Arena show Rooney and Gerrard pull the plug

Rooney and Steven Gerrard ENGLAND failures have cancelled their O2 appearance after their World Cup nightmares. The two players were due to compete on July 17 at the Arena alongside fellow stars Cesc Fabregas, Didier Drogba, David Villa and Cristian Ronaldo. But the Three Lions pair have pulled the plug following their part in England's abject performance in South Africa - costing them an estimated £50,000 each. And that has meant the whole event, named A:3K, has been shelved less than three weeks before it was due to be staged. Director of A:3K Terry Byrne said: "Both Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney have made it clear they believe it would be incompatible for them to participate in A:3K at this time. "We fully understand and respect both players' decisions. We could have replaced them with two other players but feel the players involved are six of the best in the world - and that is what we promised we would deliver."All six players have said they will take part in the competition next summer instead.The arrangers said their priority now was to contact ticket holders offering them a refund or tickets for next year. President of International for AEG Live, Rob Hallett, who was promoting the event, added: "As a football fan I totally understand and respect Steven and Wayne's decision to postpone their involvement in A:3K until next year. We look forward to hosting the event at The O2 arena on the rescheduled date in June 2011."Steven Gerrard scored one goal during England's ill fated World Cup campaign, while Wayne Rooney failed to find the net in four matches and was considered one of the biggest let downs of the tournament.

The Scene's set for O2 Arena gig

Wrexham band The Scene have won themselves a place on stage at London's O2 Arena, performing in front of a big crowd and industry experts.
The five-piece outfit might be more used to playing intimate gigs at the pubs and clubs of Wrexham and Chester.
But they won through regional heats to reach the final of a nationwide competition, Live and Unsigned, and are relishing the prospect of playing in front of judges from the music industry.
Drummer Anthony Turner reckons the band have already 'won', no matter where they finish in the competition.
"It's a chance to play at such a big venue and a chance to try and put Wrexham on the map", he said.
The group have only been together for two years and all come from Wrexham.
As well as Anthony on drums, they are Martin Ford on bass, lead singer Spencer Griffiths, guitarist Gareth Holmes, with Jeremy Stokes on keyboards.
In their short time together the band have already played about 100 gigs.
They've got through four stages of the Live and Unsigned competition, a national music competition for original artists, to reach the live final.
Judges have included Slade frontman Noddy Holder and Radio 1 DJ Greg James as well as music industry experts.
The prize up for grabs is a management and touring contract as well as a substantial financial boost.
Whatever the outcome, the band reckon they'll always remain true to their Wrexham roots.
Currently, they're trying to raise money to hire a coach to take their supporters to London to watch them compete in the indie category (10 July).
"We have great support in Wrexham," said Anthony. "We always pull a good crowd."