PLAYOFFS MOVE TO NEUTRAL VENUES - Hoopsfix.com

PLAYOFFS MOVE TO NEUTRAL VENUES

Morningside Arena is the new host of the 2021 BBL and WBBL Playoff Finals.

With government restrictions on crowds effectively ruling out any reason to play the end of season showpieces at London’s 02 Arena, MVP has learnt the two finales will now be held behind closed doors in Leicester on Sunday 16 May and screened live on Sky Sports.

The post-season for both the men’s and women’s competitions are to be held at neutral venues with some of the games broadcast on television.

There will be a fortnight gap for some teams with London Lions, who have a fixture backlog, given dispensation to finish off their outstanding league games with Manchester and Sheffield after the scheduled end of the league campaign.

League sources confirmed Newcastle will host all four single-leg quarter-finals of the WBBL playoffs on May 1 and 2 with the Vertu Arena also the venue for the opening legs of the two-legged BBL last eight ties on May 3 and 4.

Worcester will stage the second legs of the BBL quarter-finals on May 5 and 6.

The University Arena will additionally be the site of both WBBL semis on May 7.

The remaining games of the domestic season will all be in Leicester – and shown on Sky – with the first legs of both BBL semi-finals on May 11 and the second two days later, leading into a conclusion for what has been a challenging campaign for organisers.

The Riders, who lead the BBL Championship, are the only team to have officially booked a post-season spot.