The Indiana Pacers are slated to participate in an international contest during the 2026-27 NBA season, traveling to Mexico City for a prominent fixture in November as part of the league's recurring Mexico City Game initiative. This regular-season matchup will feature the Pacers against the Denver Nuggets on November 7, a date strategically chosen to align with the vibrant Día de Muertos festivities, which will influence the arena's thematic presentation.
This event offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with our expanding fan base in Mexico and throughout Latin America, while also acknowledging the robust Hispanic and Latin American communities within Indiana, stated Mel Raines, President and CEO of the Pacers. The game will be held at Arena CDMX, a venue that has hosted the Mexico City Game for over a decade. The NBA has a long history of staging regular-season games in Mexico City, dating back to 1997, with preseason games held even earlier. This will be the league's 35th game played in Mexico, surpassing all other countries outside the United States and Canada. The broadcast on ESPN in Mexico is expected to reach audiences in more than 200 nations. Both the Pacers and Nuggets have recently competed in the NBA Finals, with Indiana reaching the championship series in 2025 and Denver securing a title in 2023, promising an elite basketball display for the fans in Mexico City.
The NBA Mexico City Game consistently provides fans in Mexico with an intimate connection to the league, its franchises, and its athletes. This 35th game in the country underscores the deep relationship between the NBA and Mexico, highlighting the event's crucial role in showcasing global basketball to local fans, across Latin America, and worldwide, remarked Raul Zarraga, NBA Latin America and Canada Senior Vice President and Head of Operations. Last year, the Pacers ventured to Paris for the NBA Global Games, competing twice against the San Antonio Spurs, a journey that proved to be quite demanding due to the extensive travel. However, the proximity of Mexico City to the United States will mitigate such travel fatigue, allowing both Indiana and Denver to seamlessly integrate this game into their regular season schedule. For the Pacers, this marks their 12th game played outside the U.S. or Canada, including eight overseas preseason matches and three regular-season contests, one in London and two in Paris. The Nuggets have also participated in six preseason games internationally, including a previous visit to Mexico in Monterrey in 2006. This upcoming game will be the fourth international encounter between these two storied franchises.
The global reach of sports like basketball exemplifies how shared passions can unite diverse cultures and communities. By bringing high-caliber competition to international stages, the NBA not only expands its fan base but also fosters mutual understanding and appreciation across borders, celebrating the universal language of athleticism and teamwork.
