The Euroleague is transforming: 24 teams and fixed franchises starting in 2027
The Euroleague has announced its expansion to 24 teams starting from the 2027-28 season, with a model of permanent franchises that will secure 21 of the 24 spots. Eleven candidates have submitted binding offers of almost 700 million euros in entry fees.
European basketball has crossed a turning point. The Euroleague announced this Tuesday the most profound transformation in its competitive history. The expansion to 24 teams starting from 2027-28 marks the definitive close of an era and the consolidation of a permanent franchise business model, mirroring the North American system. After the meeting of the ECA shareholder council, the official statement confirmed that 21 of the 24 spots will be fixed, practically eliminating the mobility that has characterized European competition for decades.
The numbers reveal the magnitude of the change. The franchise bidding process, opened in July, has generated more than twenty initial expressions of interest. Of these, eleven candidacies have been pre-approved and are moving to the next phase, while another four remain on the waiting list. These eleven candidates are submitting binding offers around 700 million euros solely in entry fees. The projected total investment exceeds 3.2 billion over five years, a figure that illustrates the investor appetite to access the continental elite.
The architecture of the new model: 13 shareholders plus 8 franchises
The new scheme rests on a base of 13 current shareholders, including Real Madrid, Barça, and Baskonia. Up to eight new long-term franchises will be added, selected from the submitted candidacies. The final result will be 21 permanent spots out of the 24 available. However, the effective count would be 20 while CSKA Moscow retains its status as a shareholder but remains without the right to compete in the competition.
The interest in the new franchises comes from classic territories of European basketball and new investment projects both continental and from the Middle East. The definitive decision is dated: the owners' meeting at the end of September will vote on the transition to the new model and will confirm the number and names of those selected. Chus Bueno, CEO of EuroLeague, emphasized that the binding offers close to 700 million demonstrate the strength of the business model. The process will now continue with a rigorous review of each project to ensure that the selected candidates reinforce both the sports competition and commercially.
The closure of the competition: goodbye to the elevator, hello to the check
The franchise model definitively consolidates the closure of the competition. Those who enter do so to stay, subject to payment of a multi-million entry fee. The guest spots are reduced to a minimal testimonial, marking the end of the mobility that allowed teams to ascend and descend. This transformation represents the culmination of a trend that all signs were already anticipating this summer: the SuperCup in Abu Dhabi, the arrival of Dubai Basketball, the BC Roma project with Doncic aiming for the elite, or the strength of emerging clubs in the market.
The announcement is wrapped in expansion figures that underline the magnitude of the project. The EuroLeague projects a 15% year-on-year revenue growth. A projected aggregate valuation of 4.3 billion for 2027, according to estimates from JB Capital, accompanies the announcement. The creation of ArenaCO will finance the modernization of venues. Framework agreements signed or in the process of being signed with coach (EHCB) and referee (UEBO) unions are added to the existing one with players (ELPA), completing the institutional framework of the new model.
Negotiations with the NBA and FIBA: the big game is still open
A final line of the statement opens a door to the future: management reported recent constructive conversations with high executives from the NBA and FIBA about possible areas of collaboration in European basketball. The NBA Europe project, the most ambitious of all, continues to be played in parallel to this expansion. These discussions suggest that the transformation of the EuroLeague is not an isolated move, but part of a broader global competitive integration strategy.
The selection process for the eight new franchises will be crucial. Candidates must demonstrate investment capacity, sporting viability, and commercial potential. The rigorous review announced by management aims to ensure that those chosen not only pay the entry fee but also contribute real sporting and commercial value to the competition. European basketball thus abandons its historic model of promotion and relegation in favor of a closed structure that prioritizes financial stability and business projection over open sports competition.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La Euroliga se transforma: 24 equipos y franquicias fijas desde 2027
