IBC31 Guide to Delaclava Overview
Welcome to the United Republic of Delaclava! We are a large, diverse nation located in southeast Atlantian Oceania, and we pride ourselves on education and scientific development, culture and music, a well-developed public transportation system, and active lifestyles with an emphasis on recreation and sport. Internationally, we are particularly notable for our book publishing and basket weaving industries; advanced education and research; high quality of living due to low tax rates, greater than average disposable income, and strong community and family structures; and vibrant music and nightlife from the larger cities to the smaller niches. In the sports world, one of Delaclava's greatest claims to fame is the National Athletic Complex, situated in Catherina, the former national capital and to this day an entertainment hotspot. The Complex has hosted a portion of every major championship that Delaclava has organized, across multiple sports.
The Final Group Stage, Consolation Stage, Classification Playoffs, and Finals will showcase a diverse group of locales around the vast geography - old cities to the south now distinguished as artistic and historical hubs; sparkling new metropoleis on the west coast noted for industry and commerce; and a variety of islands off the mainland, each with a different culture on offer. With the advanced public transportation systems available - monorails on the mainland and mass-transit speed boats to the islands - you should have plenty of time to explore not only the cities described below, but any other cities you see on the map (or aren't on the map yet!). Feel free to ask your tour guide (TG
Delaclava) if you have any questions!
Map of DelaclavaDoes not show region of Valhalla, certain minor islands, and other overseas/exclave islands. Group A
AthensAthens is one of the hallmarks of what could be considered Old Delaclava, a seaside architectural marvel known for stone and marble houses and castles, well-preserved historical and government buildings, mountains and foothills, beaches and caves. The city of Athens has often enjoyed the privilege of hosting international sporting competitions due to its distinctive features, even as the population and economy sometimes dwindled. In recent times, it has enjoyed a certain revival thanks to the new influx of tourists, as well as an increase in concerts, golf courses, and tennis courts; Athens also serves as a gateway to Delaclava's major non-contiguous territories, Verceola and Firinsymnia. Competitors in Delaclava's three main sports - tennis, athletics, and cagefighting - as well as cycling have re-discovered Athens an an optimal headquarters for training, and in the basketball world, the emergence of BC Athens - the team of Djordje Zubić, Pekko Ranta, and Zachary Bates - has drawn renewed interest in the city.
Group A games on Days 1-3 and one Quarterfinal will be hosted at the newly-opened Charybdis Hall (seats 45,000) as well as the Triamvos (20,000), home of BC Athens.
AranaThe province of Arana is home to the highest-rated provincial university system in Delaclava, and this city and capital of the same name is defined by the flagship Arana State University. Doctors, teachers, lawyers, and policymakers from all around the nation can trace their academic roots to the slightly inland eastern city, which has an economy and culture committed to its students and professors - as well as its collegiate athletics. The sports programs of Arana State and Arana are routinely in the upper echelon of nearly every sport contested in the Delaclava University Sport Association. Arana also benefits from the economic and financial sphere of influence from the hulking metropolis of Manchester.
Group A games on Days 3-5 will be hosted at Biotheque Center (28,000) and Aces Astro Arena (23,000).
Group B
ValeinaValeina is one of the products of the west-coast explosion in recent years. It is considered the current Delaclav leader of advances in technology, cybersecurity, and software engineering. Due to this industrial focus as well as its location, it is well suited for communication and collaboration with the rest of Atlantian Oceania. Like many cities on the west coast, it retains a character of humility and warmth, but with a more youthful and fast-paced identity. Even in a country renowned for its public transportation system, the light-rail network is a particular standout among metropolitan systems, and combined with the high prevalence of flexible work locations and hours and superior internet speeds, Valeina is one of the cleanest and most forward-looking cities in the United Republic. The Group B teams who start here will really be seeing a new Delaclava.
Group B games on Days 1-3 will be hosted at OmegaComm Center (35,000) and Frostbyte Court (14,000).
QuinnivilleThis old and historic west coast city seems to defy many conventions of large cities, particularly those of Delaclava. It is unassuming, quaint, lush and green. It is a metropolitan area of 3 million people where everyone knows their neighbors; it is a productive yet workers-first economy; the people never put on airs yet regularly demonstrate the best of Delaclava. Yet the more recent west-coast explosion in Delaclava, including even larger cities such as Santa Lourdes, Valeina, Crystal Lake, and Salem, are a natural outgrowth of the Quinniville foundation - bigger, faster-paced, younger and more modern, yet still humble and smiling. Quinniville is also a significant gateway to the rest of Atlantian Oceania, and it is a city that gladly evolves as it takes in migrants and cultural imports, while remaining fixed in its core identity. Recently, Sullivan Stadium, a 70,000-seat gridiron-only stadium that is home to defending DGL champions Quinniville Aces and the Quinniville Institute of Technology football team, hosted two quarterfinals and a semifinal of the 39th World Bowl. The “town” of Quinniville is friendly and charming, but the victorious teams in Quinniville will not be lulled into a false sense of security by the time they take the court - and neither should you.
One of the hosts of the Final Group Stage in IBC7 - including several of host Delaclava's games - the venues of that time have been kept in great condition and are considered for usage to host the Group Stage games and a Quarterfinal. Delaclava has already played one game at Morrison Court in this IBC, and the fans of Quinniville are ready to welcome more visitors with the same hospitality.
Group B games on Days 3-5 and one Quarterfinal will be played at TeQIT Arena (30,000) and Morrison Court (23,000). Morrison Court previously hosted games in IBC7.
Group C
CorcorranCorcorran was the first city of Delaclava - in fact, it still carries the "First City" moniker - as well as the country's first capital, and as Delaclava first grew its international presence, Corcorran was one of the most frequented Delaclav cities by tourists. Although still for many decades the second-most populous city after the founding and development of Catherina, Corcorran became somewhat of a big "ghost town" as citizens realised there were many other places in the nation to live. The isolation era of Delaclava facilitated somewhat of a revival for the First City, which first found its footing as a historical city notable for its distinctive stucco and brick architecture, to a once-again booming research city and tourist attraction. In recent times, it has also formed somewhat of a "supermetropolitan area" with the Olde Trapezoid that also includes Christiana, Cleopatrana, and Beliri, each a former major city that has come back as a cultural and economic centerpiece of south Delaclava.
In all the ebbs and flows, Corcorran has remained a centerpiece of Delaclav sports history, routinely hosting key home matches as well as international events, including part of the Final Group Stage of IBC 7. The teams who come here will have the opportunity to play in historic venues in front of an enthusiastic, appreciative crowd - including fans of the Corcorran Flash, which stars Phoenixes small forward and captain Rick Jones. The people here are largely no-frills, hard-working and humble, and passionate about bringing events to a large yet intimate community such as their own. There's a lot of history to be found here - and now you'll be part of it too.
Group C games on Days 1-3 and one Quarterfinal will be played at Flash Forum (14,500) and Press Court (13,500). Press Court previously hosted games in IBC7.
CarnstoneSanta Lourdes is without a doubt the entertainment capital of Delaclava. But it's not everyone's speed: some people want to live in a smaller city, a more intimate community, a culture that's a lot less "pop" and more artistic. Carnstone has recently become the answer to that desire, and it may well be Delaclava's best kept secret. It's a favored hot spot for indie, alternative, and symphonic music, and is also a key piece of Delaclava's booming education and book publishing industry. With a diverse array of entertainment and dining options, it is welcoming to tourists without ever being saturated by visitors. In the sporting world, Carnstone has become a niche for the resurging domestic baseball and lacrosse leagues, with the Carnstone Coyotes the two-time defending champions of the United Lacrosse Tour, and the Carnstone Cardinals reaching the most recent DBL Super Series. Some of the more familiar cities represent the past and present of Delaclav sport - perhaps Carnstone represents its future.
Group C games on Days 3-5 will be played at Crème de la Crema Hall (12,000) and St. Ives Hall (9,500).
Group D
Crystal LakeAnother city resulting from the rise of the Delaclav west coast, Crystal Lake is in many ways cut from a similar cloth to its progenitor city of Quinniville. It's a bit smaller and quieter, quaint and idyllic, with lush green landscapes and vibrant seaside communities. But like Carnstone, it's also a little bit indie, a little bit hip, home to a kind of edginess and counterculture. In a time where Delaclav is becoming more traditional and socially conservative, Crystal Lake remains a haven of youth and liberalism, nudity and polygamy, a sex-drugs-rock 'n' roll mentality that sometimes clashes, yet usually somehow co-exists with young professionals, a healthy middle class, and quiet retirees alike. There's something for every citizen and tourist here, and the teams that make it through this group won't just be the best basketball squads - they may also be the players disciplined enough to avoid temptation here.
Group D games on Days 1-3 will be played at Spydr Court (24,000) and Onyx Productions Arena (15,500).
Orton CityOrton City has evolved as an industrial and manufacturing focal point, centrally located between the capital of Catherina, western port cities such as Santa Lourdes and Quinnville, and the rest of Atlantian Oceania to the north and west. Orton City civil and transportation engineers were also the driving force behind a separate, underground industrial transportation matrix. A largely working-class, no-frills city, the Orton City council and tourism board has made great strides to enhance the culture of the area, with a more robust downtown area, gaming and gambling outlets, and bringing to the city sports teams such as the gridiron Orton City Oilers. Orton City is relatively new to bringing in such an international presence, but it is one of the most financially stable and thriving cities in the nation, and has now the opportunity and willingness to take part in this international event.
Group D games on Days 3-5 and one Quarterfinal will be played at Brass Motors Arena (16,000) and Forest Hills Garden (11,000).
Consolation Stage
CatherinaThis large, sparkling, opulent, real-life “city on a hill” could not be a more perfect national capital, both in physical geography and design. It is located in the center of the large Atlantian Oceanian mainland, on a massive and sprawling plateau adjacent to the Alexandria Mountains and surrounded by the “Three Rivers” - Alexandria, Ulysses, and Odysseus. In pre-isolation Delaclava, the city continued to grow and develop its infrastructure and culture, shaped by global exchange, and in its own right was representative of Delaclav culture and society to the rest of the world. During social and government reforms that took place in the isolation era, the people sought to perhaps find a new location as the Delaclav capital - but a better-suited locale simply did not exist. Thus, Catherina proudly remains the capital, outfitted with new ideals but retaining its usual splendor.
Catherina has been chosen to host the Consolation Stage for two reasons. For the fans: even though Manchester has been selected for the Finals, Catherina and the DNAC have been such a gracious and capable host of so many international events, the people of the capital deserved to see some elite basketball. For the teams: your trip to Delaclava may not be as long, or as high-stakes, so we hope to show you as much of Delaclava as we can - and what better way than to bring you to the jewel at the center of it all, the hub in which you can see and do anything, and from which you can go anywhere? So come on over and make the most of your time here!
The Catherina games will be played at the National Athletic Complex, unquestionably one of the most distinctive characteristics of the Delaclav capital. The Complex has been home to virtually every single international competition that Delaclava has hosted. The United Republic has countless regions, cities, and venues to showcase to the rest of the world, but ultimately all roads have led to the DNAC. Most notably for this competition, the DNAC hosted the final stages of the 7th International Basketball Championships. The following courts will be used:
- The Amphitheatre (~40,000, air-conditioned and weather-proof outdoor)
- Peterson Arena (30,000)
- Gerhart DeNancy Court (8,000)
- Rydan Woodsmith Memorial Court (8,000)
- Jason Pierce Court (5,000)
- Green Court (5,000)
Finals
ManchesterManchester is to the modern United Republic what Catherina was to pre-isolation Delaclava: the largest and most populous city, the center of economic growth and technology, the heartbeat of mainstream culture, the flocking point for immigration, new beginnings, fresh ideas and innovations. Unlike the centrally located Catherina, Manchester is located on the east coast, occupying a sharply tapered peninsula penetrating the sea, pointing out towards Paripana and to the rest of the world. Fittingly for this competition, it also maintains an impressive sporting legacy - to name a few points, it is home to the St. James University Eagles, the most decorated athletic program of the past century; the new Pride of Manchester, the 110,000-seat stadium that recently opened and has hosted numerous World Cup qualification matches; and the Manchester Grass Court Championships, the most prestigious competition in the Delaclav national sport of tennis. Recently, Eagles Stadium, a 75,000-seat gridiron-only stadium that is home to the St. James Eagles football team, hosted two quarterfinals and a semifinal of the 39th World Bowl.
Due to its population, infrastructure, and basketball heritage - from prolific national champions St. James Eagles, coached by Phoenixes head coach Jim Levins, the alma mater of Rick Jones, and the current team of backup center Jordan George; and consistently excellent professional team Manchester Lions, whose lineup includes Phoenixes starting point guard Simon Rybakov - Manchester was the obvious choice to host the Finals, yet it is the first time a major championship will ever be decided here, and the people could not be more excited for this distinction. Played here will be every classification match, all the way up from 30th place to the Final Four and the championship. It will be staged in ascending order over the final few days of the competition, drawing the fans in with the increasing level of skill and pressure all the way until IBC31 is decided. Regardless of what place you compete for while you're here, the people of Manchester can't wait to see you play. You'll hear the energy and feel the noise, and you'll know it's your time.
All final placing games, the Semifinals, the 3rd place playoff, and the Championship will be played at the 60,000-seat Red and Black, home of the St. James Eagles basketball teams.