With just one month to go in the 2024-25 National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season, it’s time to start looking ahead to the NBA playoffs. For sports bars and restaurants, showing the NBA playoffs and finals can be a great way to score some additional business. Be sure your customers can watch every assist, alley-oop and slam dunk with DIRECTV for BUSINESSSM.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the NBA playoffs and how to make it a win for your business.
Get in the game with DIRECTV for BUSINESS? Check out our packages today!
Why Show the NBA Playoffs in Your Sports Bar or Restaurant?
While the NBA playoffs aren’t as popular as March Madness, they still attract a sizable fan base in the United States. According to an article by SportsPro, the 2024 NBA playoffs were watched by an average of 4.53 million viewers. Even more people tuned in to watch the 2024 NBA finals, which averaged 11.3 million viewers. Showing the NBA playoffs can also be a great way to keep some of that momentum going from college basketball, which ends with the 2025 NCAA® championship game on April 7, and help establish your sports bar or restaurant as the go-to place to watch all the basketball action.
When Do The 2025 NBA Playoffs Start?
The 2025 NBA playoffs start on Saturday, April 19, after the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, which is played from Tuesday, April 15 through Friday, April 18.
Key Dates For The Rest of The NBA 2024-25 Season
Check out the schedule to help your business plan for a winning NBA playoffs and finals.
- End of regular season: Sunday, April 13
- 2025 SoFi Play-In Tournament: April 15-18
- First Round Games: Week of April 19
- Conference Semifinals: May 5-6*
- Conference Finals: May 21-22**
- NBA Finals Game 1: Thursday, June 5 on ABC
- NBA Finals Game 2: Sunday, June 8 on ABC
- NBA Finals Game 3: Wednesday, June 11 on ABC
- NBA Finals Game 4: Friday,June 13 on ABC
- NBA Finals Game 5 (if necessary): Monday, June 16 on ABC
- NBA Finals Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, June 19 on ABC
- NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, June 22 on ABC
*May be moved up based on first round results
**May be moved up based on Conference Semifinal results
How to Score More Business During NBA Playoffs & Finals
Here are a few things you can do to get your sports bar or restaurant ready for the NBA Finals.
- Create A Hometown Hangout: You’ll definitely want to be showing the NBA playoff games if your bar or restaurant is in one of the cities or surrounding areas with a team in the NBA playoffs. Show off your team spirit by hanging up fun decor, basketball jerseys and other NBA memorabilia.
- Slam-Dunk Food & Drink Specials: Get creative with fun food and drink specials. You could also host happy hour specials during the games to encourage people to watch the games at your bar or restaurant instead of watching at home.
- Keep Fans Coming Back With Giveaways: Host basketball trivia nights, game-day giveaways and other promotions. And be sure to let people know you’ll be doing these events through social media, targeted eblasts and posting on your website.
- Provide Courtside Viewing: Make sure you have plenty of big-screen TVs and comfortable seating so there’s not a bad seat in the house.
- Get customized materials with MVP: Order branded coasters, brackets, posters, banners and more with the MVP Marketing Program – all customized with your business name and logo.
Set Your Business Up For Success With DIRECTV
From NBA League Pass to Regional Sports Networks to NBA TV, DIRECTV for BUSINESS has everything you need to provide your customers with a winning experience. And with 99% worry-free signal reliability, you’ll never have to worry about your customers missing a second of the NBA playoffs or finals. DIRECTV for BUSINESS also gives businesses hassle-free customer service and free standard professional installation. Plus, DIRECTV’s Sports Bar Finder provides an easy way for pro basketball fans to find bars that offer DIRECTV. Learn more here.
Get DIRECTV for your sports bar or restaurant today!
