Australia-USA Melbourne basketball ticket details released

SPORTS fans hoping to witness the Australia-USA series — the biggest basketball matches to be played on Australian soil — will this month get their chance to score a seat at the Melbourne blockbusters. Here’s how.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 6: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers controls the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on April 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

SPORTS fans hoping to see the biggest basketball matches played on Australian soil will get their chance to score a seat this month.

But the public will have to wait for a pre-sale deal that gives Visa customers first shot.

Eagerly anticipated tickets to the Australia-USA series at Docklands on August 22 and 24 next year go on sale to the public at 1pm on August 29.

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The series could see the likes of NBA great LeBron James take on Aussie stars such as Ben Simmons. Picture: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFP

But Visa customers will be able to buy tickets a week earlier and people on a waitlist will have access two days earlier.

Ticket prices to the series, which could see LeBron James take on Aussie stars such as Ben Simmons, start at $89.90 for adults and $69.90 for kids.

Victorian NBA star Matthew Dellavedova said the two match series would be like nothing seen before in Australia.

“I think it’s going to validate what we all believe and feel about basketball in Australia,’’ Dellavedova said.

“I think the people that may not know or have heard but may not 100 per cent ­believe or see what is happening, it’s really going to show people what is happening.”

“Basketball is rising and rising pretty rapidly and there is a huge interest in basketball in Australia.’’

About 110,000 people are expected to pack Etihad Stadium on August 22 and 24 next year for the Australia-US series, to be staged in the lead-up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

Geoff Jones, chief executive of event promoter TEG, said more than 80,000 people had registered on a waitlist, set up in March when the Sunday Herald Sun revealed the series was coming to Melbourne.

Visa pre-sale is from 10am on August 22 to 9.59am on August 24, while NBL and WNBL members and TEG Live wait list members will be able to access tickets from noon on August 27 til 11.59am on August 29.

General admission tickets will go on sale at ticketmaster.com.au from 1pm on August 29.

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