The NBA is continuing its global expansion with two regular-season games in Europe in January 2027, featuring the San Antonio Spurs and the New Orleans Pelicans. These teams will face off first on January 14th in Paris’ Accor Arena and again in Manchester at Co-Op Live on January 17th.
The Spurs played two matchups in Paris in 2025 against the Indiana Pacers, but this will be their first appearance in England. As for the Pelicans, this will be the franchise’s first appearance in both cities, as well as their first regular-season matches abroad.
These games will mark Paris’ 14th NBA game, while Manchester has hosted just one preseason game. As the NBA pushes for international influence, regular-season games will continue to be hosted abroad – with plans for matchups in Berlin and Paris in 2028.
What this means for fans
Fans of both sides are losing one regular-season home game in 2027 – meaning they will only have one chance to see the Spurs vs. Pelicans at their respective local arenas. While Spurs fans may be used to this, Pelicans fans may need to adjust their plans for the season.
On the other hand, these games are a fantastic opportunity to travel abroad, see your favorite teams, and possibly plan a trip around other sporting events.
Fans traveling to Paris for the January 14th contest can opt to catch a Ligue 1 match, with two teams located in Paris, and another 16 teams located around France.
A similar opportunity can be found for fans looking at the Manchester game, as they will be landing in a traditional Premier League weekend. Manchester has two Premier League teams (United and City), while nearby Liverpool has another two (Everton and Liverpool). Official dates and kickoff times have not yet been announced, but our Ultimate Sports Calendar will be updated as soon as they are released.
Next Steps
While official ticket information for the Spurs and Pelicans international games has not been released, fans can register for ticket updates from the NBA by clicking here for Paris, and here for Manchester.
For those who might be inclined to attend the games if they can find tickets, it may not be a bad idea to book a refundable hotel reservation, since booking in advance might save you some money. The same strategy might apply to flights, as long as they are fully refundable/cancelable as well.
