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| The Smart Araneta Coliseum has been the PBA's longtime home, but coming soon, the league will have its own arena. Dennis Acosta (file photo) |
MANILA—The PBA may soon hold its games in a place that they can literally call home.
Commissioner Willie Marcial bared on Monday that the league is now looking for a place where it can construct what could be its permanent home arena.
"We're looking at properties in Metro Manila, about two to three hectares ang laki. Malapit na itong matuloy," said Marcial in a news release in the PBA website.
Currently, the second oldest professional basketball league in the world mainly holds games at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, its longtime home since the league was founded in 1975.
The PBA also holds a bunch of its games at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, and Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Last season, the league saw itself returning to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, holding games either at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum or the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The PBA also made a return last season to the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig and held a couple of matches too at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Some 2024 PBA Philippine Cup semifinal games were also held outside Metro Manila, particularly the Dasmarinas Arena and FPJ Arena in San Jose, Batangas.
The 2023-2024 season in general, though, was marred by concerns regarding dwindling gate attendance as evidenced by a huge bunch of vacant seats in games held at the 6,000-seater Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
According to Marcial, confusion as to where the games will be played was a factor in having smaller crowds last season, but with the new arena in place, fans would not have to worry about still getting lost as almost everything PBA will just be in one place.
"Kung matuloy at maitayo ito, hindi na maguguluhan ang mga fans kung saan ba ang venue ng PBA games," the commissioner said.
The idea about having a permanent PBA arena can be traced back to as early as the days of Noli Eala's term as commissioner but has been set aside numerous times due to other issues and needs.
Now, in hopes of attracting a huge live audience again, the new PBA home is being seriously considered.
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