The Maccabi Haifa basketball franchise is one of the top Israeli professional basketball teams playing in the Israeli Basketball Super League (Israel’s top division). Maccabi Haifa, also referred to as the “Greens”, has a long and storied legacy as they were one of the original eight teams to form the Israeli Premier League (also known as the “Super League”) during the 1953-54 season. In the early 1970’s and mid-1980’s, Maccabi Haifa’s home court, Romema Arena, was one of the loudest and toughest venues for opponents to play at in Israel. The team’s success on the court led them to an Israel State Cup Final appearance in the 1970-71 and 1984-85 seasons.
In July of 2007, Maccabi Haifa was bought by American businessman Jeffrey Rosen, who quickly revitalized the franchise and the team’s passionate fanbase in Haifa. Under the ownership of Mr. Rosen, the team has reached the Israeli State Cup Finals or Israeli League Finals five times (2 State Cup Finals, 3 Israeli League Finals). The Greens won their first-ever championship in franchise history in the 2012-13 season, defeating perennial powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv and were one basket shy of earning the team’s second title this past season.
Maccabi Haifa’s four–team NBA tour against the Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors will mark the fourth time in five years the Greens will travel to North America to play against NBA competition. In three trips to the United States, Maccabi Haifa has faced six NBA opponents (New Jersey Nets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies). At the conclusion of the North American tour, Maccabi Haifa will rank second all-time among international basketball teams in games played (10) against NBA opponents.
To watch Maccabi Haifa’s games Live and on-demand online in English, please visit www.triangleinternet.tv or visit the team’s official website at www.mhbasket.co.il/en/.
Did you know?
• Maccabi Haifa qualified last season for the Eurocup, reaching the Last 32 bracket.
• Maccabi Haifa’s die-hard fans are known as the “Green Apes”.
• Maccabi Haifa was the first international basketball team to have its own TV magazine show in the US, “Inside Israeli Basketball”, which has earned two NY Emmy ® Award nominations. “Inside Israeli Basketball” is aired on four Regional Sports Networks from January through June and can be viewed online at www.insideisraelibasketball.com.
• The team’s “Haifa Hoops for Kids” charity program, a joint initiative with the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest New Jersey, has hosted over 20,000 underprivileged and special needs children in northern Israel at Maccabi Haifa games over the last five seasons.
• Fans can follow Maccabi Haifa’s season through the team’s official social networking sites, including Twitter (@MaccabiHaifa), Facebook (Maccabi Haifa Basketball), Instagram (#mhbasket) and YouTube (youtube.com/MaccabiHaifaTeam).
• Haifa is Israel’s third-largest city (nearly 1 million people live within the Haifa metropolitan area), located in northern Israel.