Priceless: Beijing Ducks Moving to MasterCard Center for 2015-16 CBA Season

Reigning Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) champions Beijing Ducks are moving to new digs for the 2015-16 season. Instead of playing, way, way out west at the Shougang Basketball Center, the Ducks will be moving to the Near West and the MasterCard Center.

The move makes sense on every level. Not only is the MasterCard Center more easily accessible by road and subway, it's a nicer venue, and was purpose-built as a basketball arena. Although since its starring role in the 2008 Olympics as the basketball venue it has been used for concerts as much as for sports, it's about time that it became a full-time athletic venue. Especially since we don't have concerts in this city anymore.

MasterCard Center already has a number of happy memories for the Ducks, as all three of their CBA championships were won there, wtih the playoffs and CBA finals moved to the Center after the regular season.

"I'm excited about the future here. I think it shows the direction that CBA heads to," the Beijinger February 2015 cover man and Beijing Ducks living legend Stephon Marbury told the Xinhua News Agency. The move also means greater gate receipts for the Ducks, as it holds about 10,000 more fans than Shougang.

Photo: Wikipedia