The NBA is considering part of Battersea Power Station’s undeveloped estate as a potential arena site for a London team in its planned European competition, sources with knowledge of discussions told The Athletic.The NBA is targeting autumn 2027 for the launch of a 16-team competition in Europe, with London among 12 cities expected to host permanent franchises. Potential investors in the London team include a consortium led by American technology billionaire Nikesh Arora, in addition to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as previously reported by The Athletic.The sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, say discussions have taken place between intermediaries regarding the Battersea Power Station proposals and the site is one of many locations being considered as a potential arena venue for the franchise.The land under consideration forms part of the wider Battersea Power Station redevelopment rather than the Grade II*-listed power station building itself. One of London’s most recognisable landmarks, the former power station was decommissioned in 1983 and reopened to the public in 2022 following an eight-year restoration.
Premier League club Chelsea unsuccessfully bid to buy the power station in 2012 and proposed incorporating its four chimneys into a 60,000-seat stadium before the site was acquired for its current redevelopment.The building now contains shops, restaurants, offices and apartments, and forms the centrepiece of a 42-acre development beside the River Thames. The remaining 16 acres cover phases four to seven of the development and have outline planning permission for up to 3.2million square feet of residential, commercial, cultural and leisure space.Battersea Power Station is an iconic London landmark (Leon Neal/Getty Images)No separate planning application specifically for an arena has been submitted. Battersea Power Station Development Company says it expects to submit an application to Wandsworth Council in September to amend the existing planning permission as it revises the masterplan for the remaining phases.Arora, the chief executive of Palo Alto Networks, has assembled a consortium of investors prepared to offer more than $1billion (£740million) for the London team.Arora led the group of technology executives that acquired a 49 per cent stake in London Spirit, the Hundred cricket franchise based at Lord’s, in 2025. Several other groups are competing for the London franchise, with PIF previously expected to bid.PIF leads the ownership group at Premier League club Newcastle United and has made several other investments in global sport.
