Masai Ujiri Plans Continental Expansion of Zaria Court to Boost Sports and Entertainment in Africa
Kigali, Rwanda Masai Ujiri, the former Toronto Raptors executive and founder of Zaria Group, has revealed ambitious plans to expand his innovative Zaria Court concept from Kigali to multiple African cities, aiming to revolutionize the continent’s sports and entertainment sectors.
Since its opening in July, Zaria Court has served as a multi-purpose hub, combining an 80-room hotel with a 2,000-seat arena, two five-a-side football pitches, a gym and wellness center, a sports bar, and a playground park. The facility has already hosted a range of events, including basketball games, music performances, and fashion shows, establishing itself as a catalyst for local development.
Ujiri, a former NBA player turned businessman, shared his vision with American publication Semafor, stating, “He plans to establish a chain of facilities modelled along Zaria Court in other major cities to support sports and entertainment on the continent.”
He emphasized the importance of developing sports infrastructure across Africa, noting, “We lack arenas on the continent, even in the big markets. Sports is suffering on the continent due to inadequate facilities, a gap he hopes to close by building venues that can host both athletes and artists.”
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Target cities for expansion include Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, and Abidjan, where he believes the lack of suitable venues has hindered growth in sports and live entertainment. Ujiri highlighted Rwanda’s role in this vision, crediting government support and the country’s burgeoning tourism and sports sector as key factors.
During a recent visit to Rwanda, Ujiri told The New Times that President Paul Kagame’s partnerships with the NBA and global football clubs have played a significant role in creating new opportunities: “When you look at what’s happening in Rwanda, especially around sports infrastructure, it’s clear they’re setting an example for the rest of the continent.”
Beyond infrastructure, Ujiri expressed his desire for Zaria Court to inspire youth, seeing sports as a gateway to education, leadership, and entrepreneurship. “I want young people to believe they can be even bigger and better than I ever was,” he said, reflecting on his upbringing in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. “I grew up with so many talented kids, and I know there’s so much in Africa that can be better and bigger.”
While acknowledging that expansion may require additional private capital and negotiations with government entities, Ujiri reaffirmed his commitment: “All these places need this… we’re going to talk to all these governments.”
