A London Lions men's game takes place at the Copper Box Arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. Doors open 60 minutes before tip-off, and the game itself is four 10-minute quarters. Allow around two hours inside. Book seats in advance, bring a small bag and a payment card, and arrive early for the pre-show.
How long does a London Lions game last?
Live basketball is fast, loud and easy to follow, even if you have never watched a game before. The score changes every few seconds, the music plays during breaks in play, and the action sits close to every seat. This guide covers everything you need to know before your first London Lions game: where to go, which seats to choose, what happens on the night and how basketball works.
Who are London Lions?
London Lions are the capital's professional basketball club. The men's team plays in Super League Basketball (SLB), Great Britain's top men's league, which FIBA (the sport's world governing body) recognises directly. The club also competes in Europe in the EuroCup, organised by Euroleague Basketball. In 2023-24, the Lions became the first British club to reach the EuroCup semi-finals.
The club is more than one team. London Lions run a women's team, which plays home games at NCC Hackney in Hoxton, and a youth pathway that starts with community sessions for beginners across London. So a first game can lead to plenty more.
Where do London Lions play?
Men's games: the Copper Box Arena
The men's team plays home games at the Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 3HB. It was built for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and holds around 6,000 people. It is fully indoor, fully seated and covered, so the weather never affects the game. Hackney Wick station is about a five-minute walk away, and Stratford about 15 minutes on foot. Our guide to getting to the Copper Box Arena covers every route, including step-free options.
Most men's home games are at the Copper Box Arena, but some domestic games are played at NCC Hackney. Always check the venue on the fixture list and your ticket before you travel.
Women's games: NCC Hackney
The women's team plays at NCC Hackney on Redvers Street, Hoxton. It is a smaller, more intimate venue with unallocated seating, and doors open 30 minutes before tip-off. Women's game tickets are sold through Universe rather than Ticketmaster.
How to choose your tickets
Men's game tickets are sold through Ticketmaster, linked from the official London Lions tickets page. Prices vary by fixture and seat, so check the game you want rather than relying on a figure from a previous season. Check the full fixture list first, because weekend afternoon and evening games suit different groups.
Which seats suit a first game?
There is no bad view at the Copper Box, because the seating wraps closely around the court. The choice is mainly about how close you want to be and what you want from the night.
| Seat area | What it's like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Courtside, Dugout and Baseline | On the floor, at the edge of the court. You hear the players and coaches. Priced higher than other seats. | Special occasions and fans who want to be in the action. Not open to children under five. |
| 100s (lower tier) | A ring of seats around the court at lower level, close to the action with a clear view of plays developing. | Most first-timers, families and groups who want to sit together. |
| 200s (upper tier) | Above the lower tier, with a view of the whole court and the shape of each play. | Watching tactics, larger groups and value-minded fans. |
Layouts can vary by event, so check the seating plan on Ticketmaster when you book. Use the seat printed on your ticket on the night.
Tickets for children
Children aged two and under go free and don't need a ticket. Every child aged three or over needs their own ticket, at the same price as an adult. Children under five can't sit in Dugout, Courtside or Baseline seats at the Copper Box.
Accessible tickets
The Copper Box is a registered accessible venue with accessible toilets and changing rooms. Wheelchair and ambulant tickets are booked online through Ticketmaster: choose the ticket type, set the quantity to one and add the free companion ticket at the same time. Ticketmaster asks for proof of eligibility before the game.
What happens on game night?
A basketball game has a clear rhythm, which makes it easy to plan your evening around it.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| 60 minutes before tip-off | Doors open. Find your seats, buy food and drink, and watch the teams warm up. |
| 30 minutes before tip-off | The pre-show starts: player introductions, music and the build-up to the game. |
| Tip-off | The referee throws the ball up between two players at centre court to start the game. |
| Quarters 1 and 2 | Two 10-minute quarters with a short break between them. |
| Half-time | A longer break. A good moment for food, drink or a stretch. |
| Quarters 3 and 4 | Two more 10-minute quarters. Close games often go down to the final seconds. |
| Final buzzer | Around two hours after doors open. If the scores are level, a five-minute overtime period follows. |
The game clock stops whenever play stops, so 40 minutes of basketball takes longer than 40 minutes of real time. Allow around two hours in the building from doors to the final buzzer.
Basketball basics: the rules in two minutes
You don't need to know the rules to enjoy a game, but a few basics make every play more exciting. British and European basketball follows the FIBA rules.
How scoring works
- Two points for a basket scored from inside the three-point line, the large arc around each basket.
- Three points for a basket scored from outside that arc.
- One point for each free throw, an unopposed shot awarded after certain fouls.
The clocks
Watch two clocks. The game clock counts down each 10-minute quarter. The shot clock gives the team with the ball 24 seconds to shoot. That rule keeps the game moving and is why possessions change so quickly.
Fouls and free throws
Basketball limits physical contact. When a player makes illegal contact, the referee calls a foul. Fouls during a shot, and team fouls beyond a set number in each quarter, lead to free throws. A player who commits five fouls has to leave the game, so coaches manage their stars carefully.
Watched the NBA? Here's what's different
If you know basketball from the NBA, you'll notice a few changes. NBA games use 12-minute quarters rather than 10, players are allowed six fouls rather than five, and the NBA three-point line is slightly further from the basket. The pace and skill will feel familiar, and a European-style game often places more emphasis on passing and team play.
A tip for following the game
Pick one player to watch for a few minutes, not just the ball. You'll start to see the screens, cuts and switches that create every open shot.
Before you go: a practical checklist
What to bring
- Your ticket on your phone, or your booking reference. Only the person who bought the tickets can collect them from the box office, with photo ID and the card used to pay.
- A small bag. Bags must be roughly A4 size or smaller, and every bag is searched. There is no bag storage.
- A payment card or phone. The Copper Box is cashless.
- Your phone for photos. Professional cameras, video cameras and audio recording equipment aren't allowed.
Food and drink
Food and drink are on sale inside on game days. You can't bring in your own food, bottles or cans. Smoking and e-cigarettes aren't permitted. For a meal before the game, Westfield Stratford City and Hackney Bridge are both a short walk away.
Bringing children
Games suit young children well: they're indoors, seated, and the breaks in play are filled with music and entertainment. Arrive early so children can settle before the pre-show, and choose seats near an aisle if you're likely to need breaks.
How to get more from your first game
- Arrive for the warm-up. Players warm up on court after doors open, and it's the closest look you'll get at their shooting.
- Learn the starting five. Check the roster before you go, so the names in the introductions mean something.
- Make some noise on defence. Home crowds get loudest when the opposition has the ball. That's when your support matters most.
- Stay to the final buzzer. A three-pointer is worth more than a single score in most sports, so a big lead can disappear in a few possessions.
After your first game
If the first game has you hooked, there are several ways to come back. Season tickets cover every SLB home game at the Copper Box and usually give priority access to EuroCup and play-off sales. Women's games at NCC Hackney offer a different, closer-up experience. And if your children want to play, the club's youth sessions run across London, with no experience needed.
Basketball is England's second most popular team sport after football, according to Basketball England's analysis of Sport England's Active Lives data. More than a million children and young people in England play every week, so many families will have a player at home already.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a London Lions game last?
The game is four 10-minute quarters, but the clock stops whenever play stops, and there are breaks between quarters and a longer half-time. Allow around two hours in the arena from doors opening to the final buzzer, plus travel time.
Is a basketball game suitable for young children?
Yes. Games are indoors and seated, with music and entertainment during breaks. Children aged two and under go free without a ticket. Children aged three and over need their own ticket, and children under five can't sit in courtside, dugout or baseline seats.
Do I need to know the rules to enjoy it?
No. Most first-time fans pick up the basics within a quarter. Teams score one, two or three points per basket, have 24 seconds to shoot, and a player who commits five fouls leaves the game. The crowd and the scoreboard will tell you the rest.
Can I take food and drink into the Copper Box?
No. Outside food and drink, including bottles and cans, aren't allowed at the Copper Box, but food and drink are on sale inside. The arena is cashless. At women's games at NCC Hackney, you can bring your own food and drink.
What time should I arrive?
Doors open 60 minutes before tip-off and the pre-show starts 30 minutes before. Arriving when doors open gives you time to clear bag checks, find your seat and watch the warm-up. Allow around 10 extra minutes on busy nights.
For anything else, see the London Lions FAQs.
Sources and references
- London Lions — Tickets
- London Lions — Frequently asked questions
- London Lions — London Lions secure BKT EuroCup place with multi-year Euroleague deal
- FIBA — Statement on the British Basketball Federation and direct recognition of Super League Basketball
- FIBA — Official Basketball Rules
- NBA — NBA London Game: everything to know
- Basketball England — Basketball participation in England at highest levels since Active Lives records began
- Copper Box Arena — Find us
This article was checked against the sources above. Fixtures, prices and venue arrangements can change, so always check the latest details on the London Lions website before you travel.
