Celebrate NBA Tip-Off 2025 at Universal CityWalk
Basketball is bouncing back to NBC — and Universal CityWalk is ready to party like it’s 1995. 🏀
On Tuesday, October 21, Universal Orlando is hosting the ultimate NBA Tip-Off Celebration at NBC Sports Grill & Brew, marking the league’s return to NBC and Peacock for the first time in 23 years. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., guests can enjoy themed entertainment, live music, and special menu items crafted just for the season opener.
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Before tip-off, CityWalk’s plaza will turn into a mini basketball block party. Expect high-energy stilt referees, interactive arcade basketball games, and the incredible Robyn Slain, one of only three women in the U.S. who can spin ten basketballs at once. A live DJ will keep the hype going all night long as fans get ready for the 7:30 p.m. game inside NBC Sports Grill & Brew.
And of course, no Universal event is complete without food that scores big. Chef Robert Hainer and his culinary team have put together a slam-dunk lineup of limited-time dishes that are perfect for game day:
• Slam Dunk Chicken Skewers – Marinated chicken and grilled veggies with brioche bread and a balsamic dipping sauce you’ll literally want to slam dunk into.
• Free Throw Fries (or Tots) – Piled high with melted cheese, bacon, Colby Jack and cheddar, pico de gallo, and a drizzle of cilantro lime crema.
• Post Up Pork Ribs – Flash-fried ribs coated in a sweet bourbon sticky sauce that’ll keep you coming back for more.
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The celebration also honors the iconic legacy of the NBA on NBC, which originally aired from 1990 to 2002 and helped define basketball’s golden age. For fans who grew up watching legends like Jordan, Shaq, and Iverson under that unmistakable theme music, this event is pure nostalgia mixed with Universal’s signature energy.
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