Masai Ujiri is steering Zaria Group’s first hotel in Kigali, a $26 million project that anchors an 80-room property with a 2,000-seat arena, two five-a-side pitches, a gym and sports bar. Backed by Helios Investment Partners, the plan is to build a network of sports‑driven hotels across Africa, with arenas in major cities like Lagos, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Accra and Abidjan to catalyze a continent‑wide sports economy.

The Kigali debut comes as Africa’s hotel market expands, tourism climbs and the BAL footprint grows. Rwanda’s government supported the land deal, and high-profile visitors like Paul Kagame and Aliko Dangote attended the opening, signaling political buy‑in. Ujiri wants to transform Africa’s view of sports as business, not just philanthropy, and to create venues that can host concerts and events, helping to unlock talent development and new revenue streams.

Risks linger: regulatory hurdles, the need for more private funding, and geo-political sensitivities tied to continental conflicts. Yet Kigali offers a testing ground, with tourism contributing a record $1.3 billion in 2024 and BAL events elevating Rwanda’s status as a sports destination. If successful, the model could propel a broader network of arenas that reshape player pipelines, sponsorships and fantasy sports opportunities across Africa.