2K to fund court refurb in conjunction with City of Birmingham Rockets

By Sam Neter on November 23, 2020

City of Birmingham Rockets 2k basketball court refurbishment

2K and the City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club have announced that 2K Foundations funding will be issued to the club to rejuvenate its current facilities and offer more community programmes in 2021.

The basketball club’s venue at Nechells Wellbeing Centre in Birmingham will undergo a full refurb, with two improved training courts, a show court enabling the club to host home games with a full audience, improved lighting facilities, new hoops and scoreboards.

The funding will also deliver an extensive local school and community programme, further weekly games via a new 2K league, additional sessions and support with transport to the facilities for those who need it across the city.

2K, publisher of NBA 2K – launched 2K Foundations in 2018 to support underserved communities across the United States by refurbishing basketball courts and offering enrichment programming in neighbourhoods that needed them most. The funding and support provided to the City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball club marks the programme’s first project in Europe.

“We are delighted to bring the 2K Foundations programme to the UK,” said Simon Turner, Director of Marketing & Communications at 2K UK.

“We know there are an army of passionate basketball and NBA 2K fans here in the UK. Via initiatives like this, we are able to celebrate them and pay it forward to the basketball communities. Being able to support the team in Birmingham with its work is something we are very proud of.”

Rob Palmer, Managing Director of the City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club added:

“The funding to refurbish our training centre and offer more opportunities to play and enjoy basketball in our city is hugely exciting.

“The 2K UK team recognising our work and wanting to support us in this is wonderful.”

It’s a further boost to Birmingham in the run up the Commonwealth Games in 2022, which will feature 3×3 basketball.

“Over the years, I have watched this Basketball Club provide a service for thousands of young people from the Birmingham Community at Nechells Wellbeing Centre,” said Kirk Dawes, QPM and Chair of the Board at the City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club.

“Our gratitude to 2K Foundations for its investment in the Club and our home facility can only be described as ‘beyond measure.’

“The capital will allow us the opportunity to attract more young people at a time when health, wellbeing, sport and education sit squarely at the top of the agenda for the future of society. Rockets is a family, and every family needs a home; this will make Nechells the home we have always dreamed of.”

Refurbishment works will take place at the centre later this year, with a view to the new facilities opening and community programmes beginning in early 2021.

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