On March 14, the press conference for the 2026 Guangdong Sports City League officially announced the arrangements, highlights, supporting activities, and market development plans for two major events: the Guangdong Provincial City Basketball League ("YueBA") and the Guangdong Provincial City Football Super League ("Yue Super"). Spanning all 21 prefecture-level cities in the province, this sports extravaganza centers on "Southern-style Football" and "Guangdong Basketball." Teams from various cities have already been assembled, with "grassroots heroes" from all walks of life actively preparing to compete for hometown pride. The YueBA opening match will kick off in Guangzhou on March 21, while the Yue Super is scheduled to begin in late April. From late March through October, the two leagues will feature 248 matches played under a home-and-away format, ensuring that nearly every weekend will host games across the province.
The 2026 government work report emphasized the need to "stimulate residents' intrinsic motivation to consume and implement pro-consumption policies to drive sustained consumption growth." As China's largest provincial economy, Guangdong is projected to see its sports industry exceed 900 billion yuan by 2025, supported by a vast consumer market and a strong sports foundation. Beyond the playing fields, Guangdong will introduce initiatives such as "one ticket, multiple benefits," cross-city "consumption passports," and promotions across various sectors to ensure that spectators can enjoy perks simply by attending events or visiting the province. These efforts aim to foster cross-sector integration and value creation among sports, culture, tourism, commerce, and technology.
At the press conference, Li Yun, Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, stated: "The city league is a high-quality IP with inherent appeal. Hosting the event successfully will attract crowds, boost consumption, and energize cities." Using sports as a medium, the unique characteristics and charm of Guangdong's 21 cities will be showcased throughout the competitions. With the starting whistle blown, the spirit of "fighting for city glory" and the "courageous, pioneering" ethos of Guangdong will be further amplified as the events progress.
The core concept of the league is "One Fight, One Fame; The More You Fight, The Braver You Become." The former emphasizes competing for city honor and recognition, while the latter reflects the daring and innovative character of Guangdong people. Focusing on basketball and football, the league adopts a "one city, one team, every city a home court" model to create a sports IP with broad public participation. Team lineups for YueBA have already been finalized. The regular season will use a single round-robin home-and-away format, while the knockout stage will apply the "Golden Nine Points" rule, a signature feature of the Guangdong Men’s Basketball League. The Yue Super will be divided into regular season and knockout phases, incorporating intra-region home-and-away matches and cross-match advancement rules to provide grassroots athletes with competitive experience while enhancing spectator appeal.
Both leagues are divided into eastern and western zones based on the Pearl River. The top two teams from each zone will advance directly to the provincial quarter-finals, while the third to sixth-placed teams will compete in cross-zone matches to determine the remaining four quarter-final spots.
The ability to host such a large-scale provincial sports league stems from Guangdong’s deep-rooted popularity of football and basketball. The province boasts over 15 million basketball enthusiasts and more than 16 million football participants. From the legend of "Soccer King" Li Huitang to the enduring spirit of "Zhixing Style," sports traditions in Guangdong have been passed down through generations and integrated into daily life. In Dongguan, a national basketball city, courts are found everywhere from towns and villages to enterprises, fueling passion in every corner. In Meizhou, known as the "hometown of football," over 5,000 matches are held annually, making the sport an integral part of local life.
At the recent National Games, Guangdong excelled in both competitive and mass sports categories for basketball and football. The provincial men’s basketball team clinched the gold medal in the adult group after a 12-year gap, while the mass sports group secured five gold and two silver medals. In mass football events, Guangdong led the nation with six gold, one silver, and one bronze medals, showcasing the strength of its amateur football scene.
This success is supported by solid sports infrastructure. Guangdong has over 350,000 sports venues and 383,000 social sports instructors actively engaged in communities. More than 4,500 sports events are held each year, with 38.3% of the population regularly participating in physical exercise. With a resident population of 128 million and over 125 million people currently in the province, the league can tap into a vast pool of "grassroots stars" to ensure high-level competition while attracting spectators across all age groups.
The necessity of hosting the league also lies in Guangdong’s broader goals of building a strong sports province and pursuing high-quality development. While each of the 21 cities possesses unique sports resources, they have lacked a unified IP to connect them. The city league serves as a crucial link between public fitness and industrial development, unleashing the economic and social value of sports, upgrading related industries, and fostering urban cohesion.
Xie Changjing, President of the Guangdong Football Association, expressed high expectations: "Teams will develop distinct styles reflective of their cities—Meizhou’s precise coordination, Guangzhou and Shenzhen’s open and aggressive play, Zhanjiang and Chaozhou’s tenacity. This diversity will enhance the spectacle and strengthen regional pride among fans."
Vice Governor Li Yun emphasized that the event goes beyond wins and losses on the field, aiming to create a cross-sector carnival for all. "It is not only an exciting competition but also a fun, engaging, and enjoyable experience." To leverage the games for urban development, officials from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Culture and Tourism pledged "enjoy upon arrival" and "enjoy in Guangdong" initiatives. Affordable tickets priced at 8.8 yuan or 18.8 yuan will offer additional benefits, allowing holders to access discounts on dining, shopping, accommodation, and tourist attractions, extending the event’s impact to citywide consumption.
The league promotes the idea of "one city, one home court; each home court, a city名片." Cities are encouraged to draw on their sports culture, historical heritage, and unique stories to create experiential elements both on and off the field, enhancing their brand appeal and attracting development resources. Notably, the popular "Big Bay Chicken" has been appointed as the league mascot, with city-specific versions—such as a Foshan lion dance edition, a Meizhou football edition, and a Zhanjiang sea harvest edition—showcasing the cultural traits of each municipality.
While empowering individual cities is a fundamental goal, connecting all 21 cities to promote coordinated provincial development represents a higher aspiration. The home-and-away format and cross-city matchups will facilitate exchanges among teams and encourage fans to travel across the province. In parallel, Guangdong will introduce cross-city recognized "consumption passports" and "cultural tourism passports," as well as curated "Follow the Games to Tour Guangdong" travel routes. These initiatives aim to link cultural and tourism resources, leveraging the substantial consumption potential generated by sports events to stimulate inter-city mobility, cultural exchange, and business collaboration, transforming isolated development into synergistic growth and supporting high-quality economic expansion across the province.
Zhang Dongjin, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau, noted that the league is only the beginning. The ultimate goal is to establish the city league as a model for public fitness, a catalyst for sports consumption, an engine for sports industry growth, and a showcase for the vitality of Guangdong’s cities. With government support, the event aims to turn spectators into co-creators and active participants, further unlocking the multifaceted value of sports.
At the press conference, sponsors including Li-Ning Sports, Dongyangguang Pharmaceutical, China Telecom, Ximuyuan, and Grandview Mall were announced. Li-Ning secured the naming rights for YueBA. Guo Fei, General Manager of Li-Ning’s Sports Resource Management Department, stated that partnering with the Guangdong Sports City League is a strategic move for the company. "We will provide professional athletic gear for players and develop fan merchandise inspired by the league’s culture and the distinct sports identities of the 21 cities." Wang Xiangjiang, Vice President of China Telecom’s Guangdong branch, pledged to use AI and 5G-A network technologies to ensure seamless live streaming, allowing audiences to enjoy every thrilling moment.
"Step onto the court, and you become a hero. Fighting for your city and playing for passion is both an honor and a joy. In 2026, welcome to your home court," Li Yun warmly invited in conclusion.
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