The Magic are making their return to Mexico.
Orlando will take on the Atlanta Hawks in a regular-season game at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Nov. 9, the NBA announced Wednesday morning.
The matchup will mark the league’s 32nd game in Mexico since 1992, more than any country outside the United States and Canada. For the Magic, it will be their fourth game in Mexico since 2012 and first since ’18 when they faced the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz.
The Hawks will be playing their first game in Mexico after facing the Milwaukee Bucks twice in Abu Dhabi last season.
“We’re excited to welcome the Hawks and Magic to Mexico City next season and give our passionate fans the opportunity to see some of the brightest young stars in the game,” Raul Zarraga, NBA Mexico VP and managing director said in a statement.
The matchup will serve as a Magic home game (40 at Amway Center). The full schedule for the upcoming season will be released mid-to-late August.
The NBA Mexico City Game 2023 will air live in Mexico on ESPN, Star+, TUDN and NBA League Pass. Through television, digital media and social media, the game will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories.
In addition, the Mexico City Capitanes will host Orlando’s G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic, on Nov. 10 as part of the NBA G League’s Showcase Cup schedule. Additional details about the 2023-24 G League season will be available at a later date.
“There is so much momentum around basketball in Mexico, and this game and the surrounding events will serve as the ultimate celebration of the NBA for fans across the country and throughout Latin America,” Zarraga said.
The Magic have played outside of the U.S. multiple times. They played a 2016 regular-season game in London and went to Rio in ’15 for a preseason game against Brazilian-team Flamengo, a club they’ve hosted twice at Amway Center. Flamengo is returning again this preseason on Oct. 20.
“With the Magic having been to London twice, Japan, China, Brazil and Mexico City previously, we love representing the NBA and the City of Orlando when we have the opportunity to play in these Global Games,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said via statement.
“We’ve had the opportunity to be in Mexico City before, and we know the passion of the fans and are really looking forward to bringing our team back to Mexico City to play.”
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
