About .basketball domain
.basketball is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) introduced through ICANN's 2012 New gTLD Program. The registry is operated by the Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA), the international governing body for the sport, which won the delegation rights in December 2014 in partnership with TLDH and ROAR Domains. The extension was implemented on October 13, 2016. FIBA's stated intent in applying for the TLD was to promote and protect the interests of its stakeholders, including affiliated organizations, players, and fans worldwide.
Who can register .basketball domain
.basketball is an open gTLD, meaning there are no formal eligibility restrictions — anyone can register a .basketball domain regardless of location or organizational affiliation. Individuals, businesses, clubs, media outlets, and fan communities are all eligible to register. No special documentation, membership verification, or trademark credentials are required at the point of registration. However, registrants should be aware that FIBA, as the registry operator, submitted a Public Interest Commitment during the application process, which may inform how the registry handles disputes or policy enforcement over time.
How to register .basketball domain
Search for your desired .basketball domain name using the availability tool at any accredited registrar that carries this extension. Because .basketball is a relatively focused namespace, many short and descriptive names may still be available, though premium names may carry higher pricing set by the registry.
Compare registrar offerings before committing — look at first-year pricing versus renewal rates, as introductory prices can differ significantly from ongoing costs. Also check whether the registrar includes WHOIS privacy protection, which may be offered free or as a paid add-on.
Complete the checkout process by providing accurate registrant contact information and selecting your preferred registration term. Most registrars offer terms of one year or longer, and registering for multiple years upfront can lock in current pricing.
After purchase, verify your contact details via any confirmation email sent by the registrar, then configure your DNS settings to point the domain to your website host, email provider, or other service. Keep your registrant contact information up to date, as inaccurate WHOIS data can be grounds for suspension under ICANN policy.
Typical uses of .basketball domain
.basketball domains are most commonly used by organizations, teams, coaches, athletes, and media properties that want a clear, sport-specific web identity. Amateur and professional basketball clubs use the extension to distinguish their official sites from generic .com alternatives, while coaches, trainers, and sports journalists use it to signal their niche focus immediately in the domain name itself. Fan communities, statistics platforms, and event organizers covering basketball also find the extension useful for building a recognizable brand within the sport's ecosystem.
Tips for registering .basketball domain
- Registration terms are typically available in one-year increments up to ten years; registering for multiple years can protect against renewal price increases and reduces the risk of accidentally letting a domain lapse.
- Watch for differences between introductory and renewal pricing — some registrars offer .basketball at a promotional first-year rate that is significantly lower than the standard renewal price.
- WHOIS privacy (also called domain privacy or proxy registration) may be available through your registrar, helping to shield personal contact details from public WHOIS lookups; check whether it is included or costs extra.
- After registration, most domains are subject to a transfer lock period (commonly 60 days) during which the domain cannot be transferred to another registrar — plan accordingly if you intend to consolidate domains.
- Familiarize yourself with the registry's redemption grace period policies: if a domain expires and enters the redemption phase, recovery fees can be substantially higher than standard renewal costs.