NBA champion Masai Ujiri unveils the blueprint for a new model of sport-anchored real estate investment.
By Napoleon Mugenzi | July 29, 2025
KIGALI: A flagship $26 million development heralding a novel approach to sport-anchored urban investment in Africa officially launched in Rwanda this week. Zaria Court Kigali, the inaugural project from Zaria Group, marks a significant moment for the continent’s sports, entertainment, and cultural infrastructure landscape.
Co-founded by NBA champion executive Masai Ujiri in partnership with Helios Sports and Entertainment Group, the project drew hundreds to its opening adjacent to Kigali’s BK Arena and Amahoro Stadium. Attendees included business magnate Aliko Dangote, WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike, NBA Africa’s Amadou Gallo Fall, and Rwandan development chief Clare Akamanzi (Rwanda Presidency Gallery).
“Today signifies more than a building opening – it’s the start of something transformational,” stated Ujiri. “We’re building foundations for a cultural renaissance, understanding that courts foster communities, venues generate value, and ecosystems drive economies.”
Anchoring Development Through Sport
The complex realises Zaria Group’s ‘arena ecosystem‘ strategy, featuring:
- 80-room boutique hotel and 2,000-capacity event space
- Podcast studio and creative co-working facilities
- Public sports facilities and curated dining
- Children’s playground and public spaces
Projected to create over 500 jobs with emphasis on women and youth opportunities, it leverages Rwanda’s status as an innovation hub.
President Paul Kagame noted its catalytic potential: “Sport’s unifying power in Africa is undeniable – it inspires growth across numerous development areas” (Kagame Remarks).
Blueprint for continental expansion
The launch initiates Zaria Group’s plan for five flagship sites by 2030. Managing Director Andrew Feinstein explained: “Africa deserves infrastructure reflecting its ambition” (African Business Magazine).
Strategic collaboration
Financing was secured through BK Capital and Bank of Kigali, with expertise from Helios Sports and Entertainment Group. The sustainably designed complex was conceived by NLÉ Works (architect Kunlé Adeyemi), built by Rwandan firm Real Contractors, with management by Aleph Hospitality and QA Venue Solutions.
Creative economy catalyst
Timed with surging investment in Africa’s cultural economy, the complex addresses infrastructure gaps during what PwC’s 2025 Outlook projects as 9.1% annual growth for the continent’s entertainment sector.
