The Euroleague has moved to shield against the threat posed by the landing of the NBA in Europescheduled for the 2027-28 season. This Friday he approved a ambitious package of strategic measures that reinforce its structure in the medium and long term, with the ten-year renewal of the license of the real Madridthe implementation of a permanent franchise system and the expansion to 24 teams from 2027-2028.
The objective is consolidate their position just when the NBA and FIBA They accelerate preparations for their future European league. And after the renewal for 10 seasons of the Fenerbahcehe ASVEL Villeurbanne and the real Madridwho join Anadolu Efes, Armani Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Kosner Baskonia, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Zalgiris Kaunas and CSKA Moscow (the latter with its license temporarily suspended), The Euroleague has guaranteed the continuity of its 13 owner-partners and shareholders
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achieve this keep all teams together who had been identified as possible allies of the NBA Europe project, sending a message of stability against the offensive prepared by the American league together with FIBA. AND to avoid possible temptations from any of its shareholdersonce its main sporting assets have been secured, has redoubled the shielding with anti-NBA superclauses in anticipation of them trying to convince a club with a checkbook.
The 13 founding teams that They have renewed for 10 years they should pay if they breach their contract 10 million and compensation for damages also in the millions which could amount to 200 million taking into account the overall value of the competition of 1.4 billion.
Equitable distribution of exit clauses
that money would be distributed among the 12 remaining shareholders. And from July 1, 2027, the date on which the process of converting all its clubs into franchises will have been completed.the exit or penalty clause will be around 100 million.
Players fighting for a ball in a Euroleague game.
Beyond these million-dollar clauses, the Euroleague’s great push to consolidate its position has been accelerate the transformation of its economic model. The new franchise system will make the licenses of its thirteen founding clubs permanent, with an immediate investment estimated at around 400 million, and an estimated return of 30 million for each of them.
A much more solid structure
The Euroleague offers a much more solid financial structure than NBA Europewhich has not yet defined its parameters, its investors and its teams a year ahead of its hypothetical premiere. This uncertainty is causing many funds that had been interested in investing in the NBA Europe to move closer to a Euroleague. that offers certainties: it is a competition that already exists and works, requires less entry fee (about 80 million for the new clubs), It already has the best teams and involves less risk for investors.
Chus Bueno, CEO of the Euroleague, at the MARCA Sports DNA Awards.
The moment is optimal to invest cheaply and get a lot of returns in a short time before the price of the competition skyrockets (according to the Euroleague it will double its value of 1.4 billion in two years). That It has been captured by many funds that have already shown their willingness to investand at least six teams that have presented their offers, three of them in the last 48 hours.
Expansion and strengthening of the sports ecosystem
Given so much demand, the Euroleague is already working on its sporting expansion. The next campaign will have 20 participants and from 2027-2028 it will grow to 24 teamsmaintaining the principle that all teams face each other during the regular phase. At the same time, it works on the integration of the European calendar, expands the Eurocup to 32 clubs and creates a new SuperCupmeasures that will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening the competitive ecosystem and increasing its commercial attractiveness.
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The executive director of the Euroleague, Chus Buenothe great promoter of this new stage of flourishing, announced that the process to award new franchises will officially begin next Wednesday, July 1. As he explained, There are already seventeen candidates from both clubs and cities such as London, Rome or Berlininterested in joining the project. The formidable work of the former NBA manager since he landed in the Euroleague on January 30 was recognized at this Friday’s Board with a thunderous and unanimous ovation from the representatives of all the teams present.
We are proud to bring together the 52 best clubs from all over Europe in our competitions, representing the most important basketball markets on the continent and, at the same time, opening opportunities for emerging territories
Meanwhile, The NBA keeps its commitment to Europe intact. Your deputy commissioner, Mark Tatumdescribed the future continental championship as the largest investment ever made by the American league outside its market and assured that conversations continue with all the actors in European basketball. However, he also made it clear that The project will continue together with FIBA even if it fails to integrate the current Euroleague clubs.
Strengthening your foundations
The fight for control of European basketball has already begun and the Euroleague has started by winning it strengthening its foundations before the most powerful rival arrives. “We are incredibly proud to bring together in our competitions to the 52 best clubs in all of Europerepresenting the most important basketball markets on the continent and, at the same time, opening opportunities for emerging territories,” stated Chus Bueno.
We have already achieved a market valuation of €1.4 billion, doubling the previous year’s valuation. We expect to double that figure again in two years, and reach a valuation of 4,000 million euros in three to four years
The CEO of the Euroleague highlighted the “great interest” that “clubs, investors and cities” have shown in recent weeks to become franchises of the competition. “Since we launched the franchise plan, We have already achieved a market valuation of 1,400 million euros, which is doubling the valuation of the previous year. With the current dynamics, we foresee double that figure again in the next two seasonswhich would put us on the path to achieving a valuation of 4,000 million euros in three to four years“, he stated.