World Club Basketball Tournament

What World Club Basketball Tournament does

The World Club Basketball Tournament (WCBT), operating as World Club Basketball Tournament C.I.C, is a UK-registered Community Interest Company founded in 2015 by Eric Douglin in East Sussex, England. The organization hosts an annual international Pro Am basketball tournament for senior men's teams, framed as the UK's No1 international basketball event and endorsed by Basketball England. The flagship UK tournament ran in Hastings from 2015 through 2023 and relocated to Canterbury Christ Church University Sports Facility in Kent from 2025 onward; WCBT2026 (22-23 August) will mark the 10th edition. The tournament has expanded into a small multi-jurisdiction franchise with WCBT-Washington (USA, hosted by Kitsap Admirals) and WCBT-Lanzarote (Spain, operated with the North Atlantic Basketball Academy).

The core product is the annual tournament itself: an 8-team, two-group format with group-stage matches, A and B semi-finals and finals, contested across a weekend. Supporting offerings include live streaming of matches, statistical tracking, post-event video content (highlights, top plays), free youth coaching clinics (ages 8-14) hosted by visiting professional teams, official merchandise (Always Ballin Brand partnership with charity donation per sale), and downloadable sponsorship packages. Underlying technology is limited to live streaming, video production, and match statistics — no proprietary software platform or AI components are disclosed.

WCBT generates revenue from four streams: spectator ticket sales (sold via Eventbrite with limited availability and on-door sales), multi-tier sponsorship packages, team registration fees, and merchandise. Go-to-market is event-driven: the annual tournament acts as the primary acquisition and retention vehicle, with marketing via Facebook, YouTube highlights, press coverage (BBC, Hastings Observer, Yahoo News), direct email outreach to international teams, and partner-driven cross-promotion. Customer segments comprise international semi-pro basketball teams, local spectators and families, youth players (8-14), and sponsors. The organization maintains charity partnerships with Kidney Research UK (since 2015), Bowel Research UK (since 2023), Colostomy UK, Gift of Living Donation (GOLD), and Black Living Donor Choir, reflecting the founder's personal experience with kidney transplant and bowel surgery.

Name

World Club Basketball Tournament

Legal name

World Club Basketball Tournament C.I.C

Website

https://worldclubbasketballtournament.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

World Club Basketball Tournament is a UK-registered Community Interest Company that organizes an annual international Pro Am basketball tournament (and US/Spain satellite events) for senior men's teams, generating revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, team registration, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Event Management - Basketball Tournament Hosting

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Spectator Sports (71121)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAAAD

Basketball Leagues

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Professional Sports Leagues (Domestic & International)

SECONDARYMPAGAMAB

Team Sports Matches (Club & National)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Live Sports Events

SECONDARYMPAKACAJ

Sport-Specific Amateur Leagues & Circuits (Non-Professional)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

Keywords

• International basketball tournament
• Pro Am basketball event
• Youth basketball coaching
• Sports event management
• Basketball tournament hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Canterbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: Spectator tickets sold via Eventbrite platform with limited availability; additional tickets sold at the door on event days
2. Sponsorship packages: Multi-tier sponsorship opportunities providing brand exposure through event networking channels, with sponsorship information pack available for download
3. Team registration fees: International teams pay registration fees to compete; registration closing dates enforced with limited spots available
4. Merchandise sales: Partnership with Always Ballin Brand for official merchandise; £5 from each WCBT2025 T-shirt sale goes to Kidney Research UK

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WCBT organizes and hosts annual international Pro Am basketball tournaments featuring senior men's teams from multiple countries competing in group stages and finals across venues in the UK, USA, and Spain. The core product is the multi-court championship event, supplemented by live streaming, match video highlights, statistics tracking, and youth coaching clinics. Revenue is generated through team registration fees, ticket sales, multi-tier sponsorships, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

The World Club Basketball Tournament (WCBT) is a multi-award-winning international Pro Am basketball event franchise offering tournaments across multiple locations: the UK (Canterbury, Kent), USA (Washington, Las Vegas), and Spain (Lanzarote). The core offering is the annual international tournament featuring senior men's teams from around the world competing in group stages and finals, supplemented by youth coaching sessions, live streaming, match videos, match statistics, merchandise, and sponsorship packages. The UK tournament is the flagship event, endorsed by Basketball England with £5 million public liability insurance coverage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• World Club Basketball Tournament (UK) The flagship annual international Pro Am basketball tournament hosted in the UK, featuring 8 senior men's teams from countries including USA, France, England, and Netherlands competing for the WCBT championship title. Endorsed by Basketball England with £5 million public liability insurance coverage.
• WCBT-Washington (USA) International basketball tournament hosted in Washington, USA by Kitsap Admirals as part of the WCBT global franchise, providing teams an additional pathway to compete and qualify for the UK event.
• WCBT-Lanzarote (Spain) International basketball tournament in Lanzarote, Spain operated in partnership with North Atlantic Basketball Academy (NABA), including a professional exposure combine where local professional coaches recruit for rosters.
• WCBT Merchandise Official tournament merchandise including branded T-shirts sold through the Always Ballin Brand partnership, with proceeds supporting charity Kidney Research UK.
• WCBT Sponsorship Packages Sponsorship opportunities providing global brand exposure through the World Club Basketball Tournament event networking channels, available in multiple tiers with a downloadable sponsorship information pack.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 22 teams from across the globe have competed in WCBT events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North Atlantic Basketball Academy (NABA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to bring teams from around the world to participate in WCBT events in Lanzarote, Spain. NABA runs exposure combines with local professional coaches recruiting for rosters. Partnership with local club CB Conejeros and municipality.
• Kitsap AdmiralscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023WCBT Washington USA event hosted by Kitsap Admirals under Ashley Robinson. 6-team high calibre event with teams vying to compete in the UK event.
• Maximum Basketball League (MBL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership affiliation with MBL (formerly Midwest Basketball League) providing guaranteed entry for MBL teams at all future WCBT events. The partnership delivers global exposure for teams, players, brands, sponsors and businesses. MBL has over 40 semi-pro teams across 8 conferences.
• Basketball EnglandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe tournament is endorsed by Basketball England, the governing body for basketball in England. WCBT is covered by £5 million public liability insurance for Basketball England registered members.
• Always Ballin BrandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial merchandise partner producing WCBT2025 T-shirts with £5 from each sale going to Kidney Research UK.
• Hoop ChipsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial nutrition partner for WCBT2025 providing gluten-free plantain chips to players and spectators. 23p per pack supports UK grassroots basketball through Hoop Chips Foundation.
• Kidney Research UKcoreOthersPrimary charity partner since the first event in 2015. WCBT Founder Eric Douglin received a kidney transplant from his wife in 2010. Partnership raises awareness for organ donation with over 6,000 people waiting for kidneys in the UK.
• Bowel Research UKminorOthersCharity partner for WCBT2023 onwards. WCBT Founder Eric Douglin received lifesaving surgery after his bowel ruptured in 2021 and became an ambassador for the charity.
• Gift of Living Donation (GOLD)minorOthersCharity partner for WCBT2024. Organization raises awareness of living donation in the Black community which is severely underrepresented. Founded by Dela Idowu.
• Black Living Donor ChoirminorOthersCharity partner for WCBT2024. Performs at the tournament and shares stories about living donation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Quai 54: World's largest streetball tournament held annually in Paris, attracting top international teams and major brand sponsors. Closest European parallel to WCBT in terms of international Pro Am field, brand-building ambition, and lifestyle/community programming.
• Entertainers Basketball Classic (EBC) at Rucker Park: Iconic NYC streetball tournament featuring Pro Am-style teams and international talent. Comparable tournament-format event, similar hardcore fan base, and analogous profile of semi-pro/former-pro participants.
• American Basketball Association (ABA): Long-running US semi-pro basketball league featuring regional teams in Pro Am-style competition. Comparable grassroots team composition, similar franchise/regional model, and overlapping player pool with WCBT's US entrants.
• BIG3: US-based 3-on-3 professional basketball league founded by Ice Cube featuring former NBA stars. Comparable event-driven summer basketball product, similar headline-grabbing format, and overlapping sponsorship/category competition.
• Drew League: Legendary LA Pro Am basketball league running since 1973 with summer tournaments drawing international talent. Comparable grassroots/community model, similar target audience of basketball purists, and analogous Pro Am positioning to WCBT.
• Nike Hoop Summit: Annual international basketball exhibition matching top young players from USA vs. World teams. Comparable international talent showcase format and similar blend of competitive play and content/brand-building.
• Maximum Basketball League (MBL): US-based semi-pro basketball league with 40+ teams across 8 conferences. Active strategic partner of WCBT providing guaranteed team entries, and the closest peer in organizational structure and team-supply model.
• Bounce Classic: Toronto-based Pro Am basketball tournament attracting US and Canadian teams. Comparable Pro Am event format, similar international team recruitment playbook, and directly comparable to WCBT's Canadian team entries (e.g. Toben Basketball, ABA Toronto Knights).
• The Basketball Tournament (TBT): US-based $1M winner-take-all basketball tournament featuring teams of former professionals, college alumni, and overseas pros. The most direct peer to WCBT given its similar Pro Am/grassroots roots, event-based model, and team-recruitment playbook.

Broad incumbents

• EuroLeague Basketball: Top-tier professional basketball competition across Europe. Not a direct competitor but operates in the same international basketball ecosystem where WCBT positions its Pro Am event as a grassroots complement to elite play.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/worldclubbasketball
• Xx.com/WorldclubBbal

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about World Club Basketball Tournament