In Shenyang's autumn, sports and passion intertwine like a symphony: When the "Little Dong Brother Skewer Team" lifted the championship trophy high, the cheers of "See you next year at Shenyang Street BA!" echoed through the night sky of Hongmei Cultural and Creative Park. Basketball instantly became the pulse of the city—32 grassroots teams fought until the last second on the court, skewer shop owners made diving steals, office workers hit game-winning shots, and thousands of citizens cheered for these everyday heroes. In the venues of Tiexi Industrial District, the sounds of rebounds in "Factory BA" and the chants of "Lao Tie" (local slang for "buddy") resonated with the city's industrial heritage and sports fervor. During spring and autumn, the city's playing fields witnessed the "Factory Super League," spreading a wave of mass sports across neighborhoods. From street basketball to factory tournaments, from single events to a citywide sports matrix, Shenyang has woven sports events into its industrial legacy, people's livelihoods, and urban revitalization, creating a model for the integration of culture, sports, and tourism while answering the call for the rejuvenation of old industrial bases.
As emphasized at the recently concluded National Basketball Work Conference, "further strengthening grassroots promotion and solidifying the foundation of basketball development," "Street BA" and "Factory BA" vividly showcase the diverse forms of community basketball. The outdoor court at Hongmei Cultural and Creative Park, home to "Street BA," has become a viral hotspot.
**Rooted in Industry, Making Sports Part of Life** "Before, we had to travel far to watch games, but now, whether at the cultural park, community courts, or even factory grounds, we can see skewer shop owners strategizing at halftime or making clutch steals, or office workers rushing straight from work to hit game-winners. That’s what makes watching games exciting!" This sentiment from a Tiexi District fan captures the essence of Shenyang’s sports events—rooted in local life, embedded in the city’s fabric, and making sports a natural part of daily routines.
This accessibility is reflected in seamless integration with everyday settings. "Street BA" is held at the MAKE ONE outdoor court in Hongmei Cultural and Creative Park, running for a month and connecting nearby shopping districts, markets, and craft shops, creating a leisure model of "shopping for crafts by day, watching games and eating barbecue by night." Meanwhile, "Factory BA" breaks the confines of single venues, building a network across "enterprises + universities + neighborhoods + communities," covering spaces like Shenyang Machine Tool and Northern Heavy Industries, university gyms, and popular landmarks, bridging old districts and development zones. This ensures "games right at your doorstep," bringing sports from professional arenas into the streets and factories, extending naturally into work and life.
This approach aligns with the *Guidelines on Further Promoting Basketball Reform and Development* (hereafter *Guidelines*), which calls for "expanding grassroots basketball events and deepening integration with commerce, tourism, and culture."
**Igniting Mass Enthusiasm, Centered on the People** "Everyone can join, regardless of skill or profession"—this is the ethos of Shenyang’s "Street BA" and "Factory BA," embodying a people-first philosophy and implementing the *Guidelines*' directive to "promote diverse, localized basketball events across all demographics."
With no barriers to entry, these events become stages for all. "Street BA" welcomes 32 teams and over 500 players, including students, workers, and residents, with female participation up 4% year-on-year. Special rules like "Sweet Moment" give amateurs their time to shine. "Factory BA" expanded from 32 to 42 teams, inviting industrial squads from across the province. These initiatives not only expand grassroots basketball but also leverage events like the National Games and National Fitness Games to make basketball a regular activity for all ages and groups, transforming it from a "professional sport" to a "mass spectacle."
Innovative engagement and public benefits make the events resonate. "Street BA" features family zones, community performances, and accessible viewing areas, drawing crowds to open-air courts—kids on parents’ shoulders, couples cheering hand-in-hand, elders waving homemade banners, all embodying the spirit of sports. "Factory BA" taps into local culture with mascots like "Lao Tie Family" and industrial-themed merchandise, while partnering with companies to donate sports equipment to schools.
"Street BA" also drives commerce, with game attendees enjoying discounts at nearby businesses, boosting daily foot traffic at Hongmei Cultural and Creative Park by 30% and generating over 5 million yuan in revenue. It even inspired exchanges with Changchun’s "Street BA," fostering intercity connections. "Factory BA" launched a "Small Ticket, Big Rewards" campaign, linking with Tiexi’s "Summer Festival" to create a full-spectrum experience of dining, lodging, travel, and entertainment, deepening the fusion of sports with commerce and culture.
**Writing a Revitalization Story: Sports as a Catalyst for Urban Renewal** Shenyang’s "Street BA" and "Factory BA" follow the legacy of national "Super" events—using sports to connect livelihoods, industrial culture, and urban renewal, extending "people-centered" values from participation to development, and evolving "Street BA" from a summer spectacle into a citywide sports brand.
This integration exemplifies synergy among culture, sports, tourism, and commerce. "Street BA" forms a "watch + spend" loop at Hongmei Cultural and Creative Park, while "Factory BA" pioneers a "Culture-Sports-Tourism Carnival," linking factories, universities, and creative hubs, turning 300 million online views into real economic impact. Plans for 2026 include college "Vitality Games" and interregional "Championship Challenges," ensuring the events grow with the city.
Beyond entertainment, these events reshape industrial revitalization and urban identity. "Factory BA" merges industry and sports, with 42 corporate teams serving as dynamic ambassadors for local manufacturing. "Street BA" fosters intercity exchanges, with potential to spark a "Northeast Street BA League," energizing regional sports.
Most significantly, the events drive infrastructure upgrades: Shenyang has built 110 fitness parks, 421 walking trails, and a "10-minute fitness circle," using sports to strengthen urban foundations. Over 500 ordinary citizens have found their moment in the spotlight on these courts, making the city warmer and more vibrant.
"Whether 'Street BA,' 'Factory BA,' or 'Super' events, the core is returning sports to the people and serving the city," said a Shenyang sports official. The secret lies in spatial accessibility and people-first values, aligning with the *Guidelines* to convert sports energy into urban revitalization.
From street courts to factory arenas, from mass participation to integrated empowerment, Shenyang is writing a new chapter—where every game reflects citizens’ joy, every cheer sounds the horn for industrial renewal, and every moment testifies to China’s thriving grassroots sports movement.
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