Match Preview
London Lions ring in the New Year at the Copper Box Arena on 2 January 2027 with a Saturday afternoon SLB Championship fixture against B. Braun Sheffield Sharks — one of British basketball’s most established derby encounters and an ideal post-New Year sporting occasion in east London. Sheffield Sharks remain one of the most competitive and well-supported clubs in British basketball, and a January trip to the Copper Box has become a fixture for the travelling Yorkshire contingent who make the journey to Hackney Wick. The Lions will be several months into their dual campaign at this stage — EuroCup group results will be forming the playoff picture, and the SLB Championship standings will be taking clear shape — making this January home game a significant domestic milestone with playoff implications potentially already in view. The Saturday afternoon slot is one of the most family-friendly on the Copper Box calendar: an earlier start means a post-match return in good time, and the New Year period typically sees a bump in first-time attendees looking for something different to do with the quiet days between the holidays. The arena is fully open and operational through the festive period; Stratford station connections remain excellent. Tickets via Ticketmaster and Lions’ own channels; StubHub and Viagogo for resale. A great way to open 2027 with live professional basketball in London.
