MGM Resorts International on Thursday said it has agreed to an expanded, multi-year partnership with USA Basketball.
The two parties said MGM Resorts will be the official Training Camp home of the USA Basketball Men’s and Women’s National Teams, as well as an official integrated resorts partner of USA Basketball and an official USA Basketball Exhibition Tour partner.
In addition to the Training Camps for the two American National Teams, MGM Resorts will host four additional countries in Las Vegas next month, which officials said will create an international basketball competition prior to the teams’ departure for Tokyo.
With Clark County and Las Vegas reopening all businesses to full capacity on June 1, fans will be able to attend seven USA Basketball Men’s and Women’s National Team exhibition games July 10 to 18. The lineup includes a rare opportunity to see both the USA Men’s and Women’s National Teams play live on the same day, July 16 and 18, as well as opportunities to see three matchups involving the other foreign national teams.
Each of the five days of exhibition games will be doubleheaders. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 16.
After opening camp on July 6, the USA Men’s National Team will tip off a five-game exhibition series against Nigeria on July 10, then Australia on July 12, Argentina on July 13, Australia for a second time on July 16, and Spain on July 18.
The USA Women’s National Team members will arrive from their respective WNBA teams at the start of the Olympic Break and are scheduled to face Australia on July 16, immediately preceding the USA Men’s National Team vs. Australia game, and then will take on Nigeria on July 18, immediately preceding the USA Men’s National Team vs. Spain game.
International teams also will play each other in Las Vegas, including the men’s side Argentina vs. Australia on July 10, Argentina vs. Nigeria on July 12, and Australia vs. Nigeria on July 13.
Officials said comprehensive health and safety protocols will be in place, including mandatory and regular Covid-19 PCR testing, administered to athletes, coaches, officials and staff in accordance with FIBA and USA Basketball recommendations and CDC guidelines.
The rosters for training camps are to be announced, but they will be comprised of members of the USA Men’s and USA Women’s National Teams.
The USA men are led by head coach Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs) with assistant coaches Steve Kerr (pictured, Golden State Warriors), Lloyd Pierce and Jay Wright (Villanova University), with Jerry Colangelo as the USA Men’s National Team managing director.
The USA women are guided by head mentor Dawn Staley (South Carolina) and assistant coaches Dan Hughes, Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) and Jennifer Rizzotti (Connecticut Sun president).
“USA Basketball is proud to expand its partnership with MGM Resorts,” Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO, said in a statement. “We are excited to bring our national teams to their properties as we prepare for the challenging competition that lies ahead this summer. Training camps are such an important foundation for our preparation and having such a strong commitment from MGM positions us for great success.”
Lance Evans, SVP of MGM Resorts, sports, added, “MGM Resorts and Las Vegas have an extensive history with USA Basketball. This expanded partnership will allow us to showcase our resorts as we host multiple USA Basketball games at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay, as well as a variety of USA Basketball-related activities. We look forward to offering hoops fans another reason to visit the Sports Capital of the World.”
