EuroLeague accelerates reform towards franchises with 100 million clause

The European basketball competition is undergoing a significant change. Although the final list of teams for the Euroleague and Eurocup has not been confirmed yet, the transition towards a commercial structure is progressing steadily. According to Eurohoops sources, Real Madrid has been instrumental in driving this transition, despite not having signed its new ten-year contract with the organization yet.

The White Team proposed to expedite the transition from clubs to franchises immediately, and that proposal has gained traction in the executive offices. The CEO of the Euroleague, Chus Bueno, has recently explained the reasons justifying this structural change. One of the pillars of the new architecture will be a €100 million buyout clause that clubs wishing to move to other competitions must assume, a mechanism designed to safeguard the value of the remaining franchises.

Ten-year Licenses and Franchise Access

Only teams that have extended their license for a decade will have the right to become franchises. For this reason, it is expected that Real Madrid will formalize its contract renewal soon. Currently, eighteen clubs have confirmed licenses for the upcoming season, most of them long-term, leaving two wildcard spots with annual validity.

Paris Basketball is almost certain to take one of those two available positions. For the second spot, Monaco remains the favorite, although Besiktas, the EuroCup finalist, has become a strong candidate, something that just a month ago seemed unthinkable. The Turkish team has significantly improved its position in the race to access the European elite.

Monaco Seeks Assurances Before the Deadline

Monaco presented its proposal to the Euroleague board with plans described as promising and ambitious. The French club has the support of Jamal Mashburn, a former NBA star and investor, along with other individuals and organizations reinforcing its candidacy. However, the timing of the administrative transition could pose an obstacle.

The Euroleague must confirm participating clubs before the end of the current month. There is a possibility that Monaco may not manage to present the solid guarantees required by the organization in time to secure its place. Should they fail to meet these requirements, the Monégasque team would compete in the Eurocup instead of the premier continental competition.

Other proposals have come from teams like Hapoel Jerusalem, but instability in Israel limits their chances. Besiktas emerges as the most probable candidate to take the second spot if Monaco fails to present the necessary assurances. The final decision will be announced in the upcoming Euroleague board meeting scheduled for June twenty-sixth.

Expansion and New Franchises for 2027-28

Beyond immediate decisions, the organization is exploring expansion for the 2027-28 season. There are franchise offers from existing clubs, investment groups, and individuals interested in cities like Rome, London, and Berlin. The total value of these proposals could reach six hundred million euros. The board will start evaluating all applications on July first, although not all will align with the final expansion plans.

Regarding the Eurocup, there are currently thirty confirmed clubs, with two more needed for the official announcement of the complete list. The second-tier competition is also undergoing structural changes, albeit less intensely than the Euroleague.

This transformation process reflects a global trend in professional sports: the pursuit of more stable and profitable business models. Franchises offer owners greater control over their operations and a more predictable revenue structure. The €100 million buyout clause serves as a deterrent to prevent owners from hastily leaving the competition, thereby safeguarding the integrity and collective value of the project.

Real Madrid, as the driving force behind this change, aims to position itself advantageously in the new European architecture. Its role as a catalyst for reform demonstrates the influence that major clubs exert in the governance of continental competitions. With their ten-year contract still pending, the White Team retains a certain leverage in the final negotiations.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Euroliga acelera reforma hacia franquicias con cláusula de 100 millones