Basketball in Rome

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Did you know that next to football, basketball is the second most popular spectator sport in Rome?  Italians definitely love football – in fact, it can easily be considered as a national passion – but there’s still room for one more sport in the form of basketball.

Looking back, the sport of basketball was invented in 1891 by Canadian James Naismith. It was not until the National Basketball Association or the NBA in the United States was formed in 1946 that the popularity of the game became known in all parts of the world.

Michael Jordan and other great names in basketball became synonymous with the sport – and since then, this beloved hoops game has been widely played and watched from all parts of the world.

Where to Watch Basketball in Rome

Now, if you are visiting Rome, the capital of Italy, what would you do if you want to catch a game of the local Rome basketball?

If you are a tourist who would like to view an NBA game on television, you may want to check out the local sports bars or Irish bars in Rome which showcase the game.  However, since football is considered to be the sport that everybody else in the nation is watching, you may not have much luck if a football game is on.

However, if you are hoping to catch a live basketball game, there’s no better venue than the Lottomatica Roma which is located at the Piazza Apollodoro.  The venue is also called Palattomatica – and it is home to the Euroleague Basketball.

Those who are fans of the NBA may know that former Serie A star Andrea Bargnani now plays for Toronto. On the local Rome basketball scene, Virtus Roma is the team to beat.  They are a former champion of the Euroleague Basketball – and they have also made one appearance after another in the league’s top 16.

The team Virtus Roma was founded way back in 1960 and since then, they have carved a name for themselves in the sport. 1980 was a glorious year for the team, where they grabbed a lot of championship titles.  During the 1990’s, the superstars included basketball players like Radja, Mahorn, Brian Shaw and Danny Ferry.

Today, Jasmin Repesa plays the role of head coach and Bodigora, a retired head coach, serves as general manager.

When to Watch Basketball in Rome

If you are looking forward to catching the Euroleague games in Rome, the regular basketball season starts from October up to the months of January to April – with May being the month when the final games are usually held.

Getting Tickets to Rome Basketball

Finally, if you want to grab tickets so that you can watch a Rome basketball game, go online so that you can reserve tickets. You can also call the office of the venue where the games will be held for ticket inquiries.

In every nation, there is always room for one more sport – which specifically applies to the role that basketball plays in the heart of the Italians.