"The effect of three gold medals has already kicked in" KBL opens with a 'sellout streak'... Standing tickets sold, Busan even opened the third floor

*This content was translated by AI.

The heat for Korean basketball ignited at the Asian Games is spilling over onto professional basketball courts. As soon as the 2026-2027 KBL season curtain rose, news of sellouts came from all corners, signaling a green light for box office success.

Korean basketball achieved its best results at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The men's 5-on-5 national team defeated host Japan 67-57 in the final, reaching the top of the podium for the first time in 12 years since the 2014 Incheon Games. The Yeo Ja (CEO) team also won 75-70 against Japan in the final, reclaiming the gold medal after 12 years.

Good news continued in 3-on-3 basketball as well. The Nam Ja (CEO) team defeated Qatar 19-10 to win the first gold medal in Asian Games history. The Yeo Ja (CEO) team also secured a bronze medal, standing on the Asian Games podium for the first time.

Three gold medals and one bronze. Korean basketball harvested medals in all four events it participated in.

And amid the hot atmosphere created by the national teams, the new KBL season immediately began.

From day one, the foot traffic of fans visiting basketball arenas was unusual.

A whopping 7,330 spectators flocked to the official opening game between Busan KCC and Changwon LG held on the 3rd at Busan Sajik Indoor Gymnasium.

Initially, KCC sold seats on the first and second floors, but tickets sold out early, forcing them to additionally open general seating on the third floor. Interest was so intense that they had to open more seats up to the top of the arena from the very first game of the season.

The game between Goyang Sono and Daegu Korean Gas Corporation held at Goyang Sono Arena on the same day also sold out.

All online seats were sold, and the final attendance was tallied at 6,300. Sono's home game sellout streak, which continued from last season's playoffs, persisted.

Anyang was also hot.

4,714 people entered the home opening game between Anyang Jeonggwanjang and Ulsan Hyundai Mobis. After all seats were sold out, standing tickets were sold on game day to accommodate the influx of fans.

A total of 18,344 spectators visited the arenas for just the three games held on opening day.

The box office heat is expected to continue on the 4th as well.

In particular, interest in Wonju DB's home opening game is intense.

DB will play its first game of the season against Goyang Sono at 2 p.m. on the 4th at Wonju DB Promy Arena. The club had already announced that all seats for the home opening game were sold out.

There is a reason why Wonju fans' expectations are high.

DB is considered a strong championship contender in the KBL this season.

Under new head coach Lee Gyu-seop, they have built a formidable 'Big 3' lineup consisting of Lee Sun Albano, Henry Ellenson, and Raison Hammonds.

Their firepower already exploded from the open match day.

In their first live game against Seoul Samsung, Ellenson recorded 33 points and 12 rebounds, Hammonds had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Albano posted 12 points and 7 assists, with the three players combining for a whopping 69 points. DB thoroughly defeated Samsung 101-83.

They then also defeated Seoul SK 103-85. Pouring out over 100 points in both open matches, they foreshadowed formidable offensive power for the new season.

Evaluations from other clubs were no different.

At the KBL opening media day held last month, each club's head coach was asked to name one team, excluding their own, as the strongest championship contender.

Out of nine head coaches excluding Lee Gyu-seop, a whopping seven chose DB.

This combined with solid team strength and the passionate cheering heat of Wonju fans.

DB, evaluated as the strongest championship contender this season, recorded a sellout from its home opening game, foreshadowing a good start not only in performance but also in box office success.

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*This content was translated by AI.