The Dog days of Summer: Recapping NBA G League hoops and hounds games.
If you’re a dog person, you know that the worst part of the day is leaving your furry friend on the couch to head out for the day. Some G League teams have capitalized on that, with the simple solution of hosting dog-friendly basketball games! Check out some of our favorites from the 2022-23 season below.
This season, the Iowa Wolves invited dogs to the Wells Fargo Arena in January for “Hoops and Howls” night, and again in February for Alpha’s Puppy Bowl.
Hoops and Howls tickets went for $16, with $6 going back to support the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. Dogs were free, and the first 200 canines received an Iowa Wolves branded waste bag holder. The first 1,000 fans in the door also received a winter hat.
Fans and doglike fans were also able to enjoy Alpha’s Puppy Bowl before the big game on Sunday, February 12. Alpha is the Iowa Wolves’ mascot, part of the canine community. The first 100 ticket purchasers came with a 2023 Limited Edition Hot Pack of Sauces from Brown Dogs Farm. The first 250 dogs to arrive received a special “Howl Yeah!” bandana, and the first 1,000 fans in the door will receive a special Howl Yeah! bandana, and the first 1000 fans received “Howl Towels.”
The Windy City Bulls also hosted “Dog Day” in March, with a $25 Pup Pass combination ticket including entry for the owner and the dog. The ticket also included a Windy City Bulls-branded dog waste bag dispenser, and a portion of the ticket was donated to participating animal shelters. The Bulls had a dog photo station available and entertained fans with hosting an on-court dog race and costume contest.
Also this season, the Memphis Hustle hosted two games inviting fans to bring their dogs. The first game featured Strut Your Mutt at halftime, and the second featured the players in fan-submitted dog photo jerseys. The jerseys were auctioned off to support Blue Sky Dog Rescue.
For information on future dog-friendly games, reach out to the following for each team: