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Sixers to partner with Temple ahead of preseason trip to China

Both Temple and the Sixers are looking to expand their footprint in China.

Brett Brown and his Sixers team are going to China next month.
Brett Brown and his Sixers team are going to China next month.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer

As the 76ers prepare for two exhibition games against the Dallas Mavericks in China, they will announce on Monday a partnership with Temple University.

Both the Sixers and Temple are looking to expand their footprint there. According to the Sixers, more than 700 million viewers watched the NBA on television in China last season. Meanwhile, Temple says that about 40 percent of its international students are from the country.

Temple is leveraging this partnership with the 76ers for a special pregame reception in Shanghai, designed to develop and strengthen its relationships in China.

The Sixers and Mavericks will play Oct. 5 in Shanghai and Oct. 8 in Shenzhen.

"We are honored to partner with Temple University prior to our team's first-ever trip to China," Sixers senior vice president of marketing partnerships Chad Biggs, in a statement released by the team. "Temple University was a natural fit for the 76ers as both iconic organizations are working to expand their reach across China."

The Sixers and Temple are hosting a media send-off event at the Sixers training camp complex in Camden on Monday.

"We are delighted to partner with the Philadelphia 76ers to give them a send-off for their exhibition games in China," Temple University President Richard M. Englert said in a statement. "Exposure to different cultures is critically important to a well-rounded educational experience."

The 76ers-Temple partnership will continue in February, when the Sixers host their annual Chinese New Year Celebration game, which will be presented by Temple University. The game, on Feb. 5, is against the Toronto Raptors.