The British Basketball League has donated £10,000 worth of free advertising to local businesses throughout October in celebration of Black History Month.
As part of its commitment to support local communities, the League has offered Black-owned businesses located near each of its 10 clubs in-game free advertising until November 03 2023.
Clubs in the League – which earlier this year appointed Jose Garnes as its new chief content officer – called on their fans to nominate a local Black-owned small business they felt deserving of the free in-arena advertising before each club randomly selected a winner.
During select Thursday and Friday games broadcasted on Sky, both the home team and the away team will have their selected local business advertised on digital courtside LED boards with an approximate advertising value of £1,250 per game.
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Some of the businesses randomly selected include; Bristol Flyers: CMBC, a Bristol-based community basketball club; Cheshire Phoenix – Mimes Reusables, a sustainable solution to single-use plastic bottles; and B.Braun Sheffield Sharks: Gems Hygiene Supplies, which assists companies and individuals in reaching their hygiene goals.
In addition to providing free advertising, players from across the League will visit local schools in an aim to educate school children about the importance of Black History Month.
The initiatives follow in the wake of basketball being named one of the most diverse sports leagues in the country, with 70% of the British Basketball League players come from BAME backgrounds.
“To mark Black History Month and its importance, we are honoured to be able to provide small businesses that serve our clubs’ communities with free advertising to enhance their exposure to potential new customers both locally, and across the UK,” said British Basketball League Aaron Radin.
“The League is extremely proud to have players, coaches, staff and fans from all backgrounds; basketball has a powerful impact on bringing people together and promoting inclusivity, which is at the centre of everything we do.”
The British Basketball League’s initiatives comes amid other publications and companies donating advertising space to independent black businesses.
Last month, the Independent supported Black-led brands with a donation of £120k worth of free ad space, while Channel 4 teamed up with Lloyds Bank to award black-owned businesses £500,000-worth of free TV advertising.
