Euroleague opens franchises to grow to 24 teams

The Euroleague Basketball has launched an ambitious expansion plan that will mark a milestone in the history of European competition. The official launch of the franchise process represents a decisive step towards consolidating a more competitive and attractive league for European basketball. With this initiative, the organization aims to strengthen its position as a global benchmark and open up new investment opportunities in strategic markets.

Expansion structure and franchise allocation

The expansion plan involves granting up to eight long-term franchises, maintaining a flexible structure to adapt to market opportunities. The Euroleague has reserved two spots specifically for teams qualified from the Eurocup, recognizing the importance of the secondary competition as a breeding ground for new projects. Furthermore, the possibility of granting strategic wildcards has been established to enhance overall competitiveness.

The 13 current shareholder licenses will automatically convert into long-term franchises at no additional cost. This decision explicitly acknowledges the historical trajectory of the founding clubs and solidifies their privileged position within the new competitive structure. The measure ensures stability and continuity for those teams that have been pillars of the Euroleague for years.

Market response and received proposals

The market response has exceeded the organization's initial expectations. According to official Euroleague data, the process has already received over 20 formal proposals in its early stages, representing a potential investment exceeding €1.2 billion. This figure reflects investors' confidence in the business model and the competition's growth potential.

Interested parties include well-established clubs in both the Euroleague and the Eurocup seeking to strengthen their competitive position, as well as new business projects aiming to enter the elite of European basketball. Strategic markets such as Rome, Berlin, and London have sparked particular interest, demonstrating a commitment to cities with a strong sports tradition and economic capacity to develop world-class infrastructures.

Calendar and selection process

The application process opened this month, initiating a calendar that will culminate in the allocation of the first franchises starting in September. The Euroleague has set an ambitious yet realistic timetable, aiming to announce the first selected clubs and strategic markets between September and November, once the final decision has been approved by the organization's competent bodies.

This temporal planning allows new teams enough time to prepare for their entry into the competition in the upcoming seasons. The established deadlines ensure that the selection processes are rigorous and transparent, evaluating not only the investors' economic capacity but also their long-term commitment to basketball development in Europe.

Strategic vision and future prospects

The Euroleague's CEO, Chus Bueno, has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the strategic plan. "Our strategic plan continues to be successfully executed, and we are extremely pleased with the progress we are making," Bueno stated in official remarks. The organization's top official emphasizes that European basketball is experiencing an extraordinary moment, with investor interest growing week by week.

Bueno has highlighted that this expansion represents an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate the sport's growth on the continent. The competition emerges as an attractive and sustainable project capable of generating significant economic returns for investors. The league anticipates that franchise investments will double in value within three to four years, reflecting confidence in the business model and growth prospects.

Describing the Euroleague as "a top-level competition" underscores its aspiration to establish itself as a global reference in professional basketball. This strategic positioning aims to attract not only economic investment but also top-tier sporting talent, consolidating a league that competes with the main European sports competitions in terms of visibility, audience, and commercial appeal.

Expanding to 24 teams will significantly transform the competitive structure, allowing for greater inclusion of European markets and generating more high-level matchups. This growth will benefit players, fans, and cities that will be able to enjoy elite basketball while reinforcing the economic ecosystem of sports in Europe. The initiative marks a turning point in the history of the Euroleague, solidifying its leadership as the premier continental competition.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Euroliga abre franquicias para crecer a 24 equipos