Last season the London Lions won everything. All four domestic trophies – the Championship, the Cup, the Trophy and the play-off title, sealed with a 104-81 win over Cheshire Phoenix at The O2. Only three British teams in the history of the top flight had ever done it before.
This season they’re defending it, and they’re doing it about fifteen minutes’ walk from our front door.
If you’ve never been to a Lions game, this is the one to start with. Here’s everything you need.
Where They Play
Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 3HB.
It’s the venue built for handball at London 2012, nicknamed “the box that rocks” during the Games because of how loud it got. It holds up to 7,500 with the retractable seating out, and around 6,000 for basketball.
Which is the right size. Big enough to feel like an event, small enough that you’re genuinely close to the floor.
Home Fixtures: September to December 2026
The Lions play in three competitions – Super League Basketball (the domestic league, which replaced the BBL), the SLB Cup, and the BKT EuroCup against European sides.
| Date | Opponent | Tip-off | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 10 Sep | Śląsk Wrocław | 17:30 | Lions Invitational |
| Fri 11 Sep | TBC | TBC | Lions Invitational |
| Sun 20 Sep | Newcastle Eagles | 16:00 | SLB Championship |
| Sun 27 Sep | Liverpool Basketball | 16:00 | SLB Championship |
| Tue 6 Oct | La Laguna Tenerife | 19:30 | EuroCup |
| Thu 15 Oct | Skyliners Frankfurt | 19:30 | EuroCup |
| Sat 24 Oct | Bristol Flyers | 18:00 | SLB Championship |
| Wed 28 Oct | Türk Telekom Ankara | 19:30 | EuroCup |
| Fri 30 Oct | B. Braun Sheffield Sharks | 19:00 | SLB Championship |
| Tue 10 Nov | Umana Reyer Venice | 19:30 | EuroCup |
| Fri 13 Nov | Surrey 89ers | 19:30 | SLB Championship |
| Tue 17 Nov | Šiauliai | 19:30 | EuroCup |
| Fri 18 Dec | Manchester Basketball | 19:30 | SLB Championship |
| Wed 23 Dec | U-BT Cluj-Napoca | 19:30 | EuroCup |
Fixtures and times can move – always check thelondonlions.com before you travel.
Doors open an hour before tip-off and there’s a pre-show from thirty minutes before. Worth arriving early for it.
Which Game Should You Go To?
For atmosphere, go to a EuroCup night. Midweek European games have a different feel – proper travelling support, and the standard is high. Venice on 10 November and Türk Telekom on 28 October are the pick of them.
For a first-timer, go on a Sunday. The 16:00 tip-offs on 20 and 27 September are the easiest sell to someone who isn’t sure about basketball. Afternoon start, home before the evening.
For the biggest domestic test, Sheffield on 30 October and Manchester on 18 December are the fixtures that tend to matter come spring.
The Team
Last season’s play-off final MVP was Joel Scott, who put up 22 points and 17 rebounds in the final. Aaryn Rai, Chaundee Brown Jr., Kam McGusty and Shavar Reynolds Jr. all scored in double figures that night.
For 2026-27 the club has brought in Keenan Evans, a 6’3″ guard on season-long loan from Žalgiris Kaunas who averaged 17.3 points in the EuroLeague, and Landrius Horton, a 6’4″ guard who averaged 18.3 last season.
Roster announcements were still coming at the time of writing, so check the club site for the full squad.
A Note on the Women’s Team
Worth knowing if you’re planning a trip: the London Lions women’s team does not play at Copper Box this season. Their home venue for 2026-27 is New City College Hackney on Redvers Street, N1 6NE – nearest station Hoxton on the Overground.
Some listings still say both teams play at Copper Box. That’s out of date. Women’s tickets also sell through a different platform, so check the club site rather than assuming.
Getting There
Hackney Wick on the Overground is the closest station – about a five-minute walk.
Stratford is around fifteen minutes on foot and gives you far more options: Central and Jubilee lines, Elizabeth line, DLR, Overground and National Rail.
Driving is a bad idea. There’s no parking at the arena and the club sends drivers to the Westfield Stratford City car parks, which on a match night is its own adventure.
Where to Go Before Tip-Off
Here’s the thing about a 19:30 midweek tip-off: you finish work, you get to Stratford at half six, and you’ve got an hour to fill. Standing in a concourse queue is not a great use of it.
We’re Draughts Stratford, at 5 Aquatics Walk, inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It’s about a fifteen-minute walk across the park to Copper Box, past the Orbit and the stadium – a genuinely nice walk, and one that takes you through the best bit of the park.
We’re a bar, restaurant and board game café with over 1,000 games. Come for a proper meal rather than an arena hot dog, have a drink, play something for forty-five minutes, then walk over.
It works just as well after. Sunday afternoon games finish around six, which is exactly when you want somewhere to sit down and go over what just happened.
Book a table in advance, especially on a Friday fixture night. draughtslondon.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the London Lions play?
The London Lions men’s team play at Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 3HB. The women’s team play at New City College Hackney, Redvers Street, N1 6NE for the 2026-27 season.
What is the capacity of Copper Box Arena?
Up to 7,500 with retractable seating extended, and around 6,000 in a basketball configuration. It was built for the London 2012 Olympics, where it hosted handball, goalball and the fencing element of the modern pentathlon.
What league do the London Lions play in?
Super League Basketball, which replaced the British Basketball League as the top flight of British basketball. The Lions also compete in the SLB Cup and in the BKT EuroCup against European clubs.
Did the London Lions win anything last season?
Yes – the 2025-26 season was a domestic quadruple. The Lions won the SLB Championship, the SLB Cup, the SLB Trophy and the play-off title, beating Cheshire Phoenix 104-81 in the final at The O2. Only three British teams had achieved a clean sweep before.
How do I get to Copper Box Arena?
Hackney Wick station on the Overground is a five-minute walk. Stratford station, served by the Central line, Jubilee line, Elizabeth line, DLR, Overground and National Rail, is about fifteen minutes on foot. There is no parking at the arena.
What time do doors open at Copper Box Arena?
Doors open one hour before tip-off for men’s games, with a pre-show starting thirty minutes before. For women’s games at NCC Hackney, doors open thirty minutes before.
How much are London Lions tickets?
Prices vary by fixture and are not published on the club website. Men’s tickets are sold via Ticketmaster and season tickets are available for 2026-27. The club also runs a student discount scheme. Check the official club site for current pricing.
Where can I eat near Copper Box Arena?
Draughts Stratford is at 5 Aquatics Walk, inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, about a fifteen-minute walk from Copper Box Arena. We serve food and drinks to your table alongside a library of over 1,000 board games, which makes it a better option than queuing at the arena before a midweek tip-off.
Are London Lions games good for first-timers?
Very. Copper Box is small enough that you’re close to the action wherever you sit, games last around two hours including breaks, and the atmosphere is family-friendly. Sunday afternoon fixtures with a 16:00 tip-off are the easiest introduction.
What is the EuroCup?
The BKT EuroCup is a pan-European club competition run by Euroleague Basketball, sitting one tier below the EuroLeague. The Lions play thirteen EuroCup fixtures in 2026-27 against clubs from across the continent, including sides from Spain, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Lithuania and Romania.
