NCC Partner with Lions to Refurb Hackney Facility

Work is now underway to transform the sports hall at New City College’s Hackney Campus into London’s first dedicated, elite-level basketball facility - a game-changing development for the London Lions and the future of the sport in the capital.

The £250,000 refurbishment, funded by New City College, marks the next stage in our near decade-long partnership with NCC.

This state-of-the-art upgrade will become the home of the London Lions Women’s professional team from the 2025/26 season and the central training and competition venue for the London Lions Academy.

The redevelopment includes a brand-new oak sprung floor to FIBA regulation specifications, professional-grade scoreboards, new goals and backboards, motorised bleacher seating, and striking London Lions and NCC branding throughout.

The space will not only serve as a high-performance training and competition venue but also as a vibrant hub for basketball activity in East London.

From September, academy athletes will benefit from coaching, strength and conditioning, and player development sessions delivered by our professional staff – with direct pathways to our Super League men’s and women’s teams.

Students will also have access to our Workforce Development Program (WDP), gaining practical experience in basketball operations, coaching, media, marketing, and event management, all led by Lions professionals and leading figures from British and European basketball.

Lenz Balan, London Lions CEO, said:

“This is a landmark moment for basketball in London. Our partnership with NCC has always been about raising the bar for player development and opportunity – and now, with a purpose-built facility, we’re creating an environment that matches our ambitions. This venue will be a home for elite performance, a hub for our community programmes, and an inspiring space for the next generation.”

Alongside professional training and academy delivery, the facility will host the Lions’ SLBW home games on Saturday game days, with NCC students running game-day operations as part of their studies.

This unique integration of education, elite sport, and community engagement aims to raise the bar for what a professional club and academic institution partnership could look like.

To register your interest for the academy at NCC for 2025-26 sign up here or to take part in the WDP, register your interest here, meanwhile you can also register for future community sessions for all age groups here.

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