The Euroleague opens its doors to eight new franchises until 2027-28

The Euroleague has taken a decisive step in its competitive transformation. The Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) Shareholders Council met on August 25 to assess the progress of the franchise expansion process, an initiative officially launched in July 2026 with the goal of granting up to eight new long-term franchises for the 2027-28 season.

The process has generated massive interest in the market. More than twenty formal expressions of interest and proposals have been received by the competition, coming from both existing clubs in the Euroleague and EuroCup as well as from new investment projects looking to join the competition. Of these, eleven proposals were pre-selected following an initial evaluation based on established criteria and valuation levels, while four others remain pending further assessment.

Investment of €3.2 billion over five years

The eleven pre-selected candidates are submitting formal binding offers with a total value of nearly €700 million for franchise rights. This figure represents an expected total investment of over €3.2 billion over the next five years, a magnitude that reflects confidence in the future of elite European basketball.

The interest comes from a wide range of markets. It includes European territories with a strong basketball tradition and new investment projects from continental Europe and the Middle East. This geographical diversity highlights the growing commercial appeal of Euroleague Basketball and the interest that its long-term franchise model generates in different regions of the globe.

The final structure envisions an expansion to 24 teams, of which 21 would become permanent franchises. This would secure 21 of the 24 spots, or 20 in the event that CSKA continues without the right to compete. The 13 current shareholders of the competition would be bolstered by up to eight new franchises under the new long-term model.

Due diligence process and decision in September

The Council approved the continuation of the established evaluation and due diligence processes for the eleven pre-selected candidates. During the second phase of the process, Euroleague Basketball will conduct a comprehensive analysis of each pre-selected proposal before presenting its final recommendations to the owners' meeting scheduled for late September 2026 for final approval.

This process is expected to accelerate the execution of the Transformative Strategic Plan, raising the added value of the League and its clubs to €4.3 billion by 2027, according to projections from JB Capital. This valuation reflects the transformation that the competition is undergoing under the new franchise structure.

15% commercial growth and new strategic agreements

Beyond franchise expansion, the Euroleague is experiencing strong commercial momentum. Management presented an annual revenue growth forecast of 15%, a significant increase from the projections presented at the General Assembly on July 7, resulting from the latest commercial agreements signed by the League.

The Council was informed of several strategic agreements reached recently. An agreement has been signed with the Euroleague Basketball Coaches Council (EHCB) that lays the foundations for developing the first comprehensive Framework Agreement with the main coaches' union. Additionally, the agreement with the Euroleague Basketball Referees Union (UEBO) has been renewed, with the signing scheduled for late August during the 27th Preseason Clinic for Referees in Wroclaw.

Together with the existing Euroleague Framework Agreement with the Euroleague Players Association (ELPA), these agreements reinforce coordination between Euroleague Basketball and its main sports interest groups, including players, coaches, and referees, as the League enters its next phase of development.

Digital transformation and infrastructure modernization

The three-year Strategic Business Plan includes initiatives focused on organizational and operational scalability and the development of new growth opportunities. The Council was informed of advancements in several strategic areas, including the expansion and scalability of Euroleague Basketball's assets in both professional and grassroots basketball.

Technology and innovation play a central role in this transformation. Euroleague Basketball+ positions itself as the core of the organization's transformative vision to become the digital home of European basketball. At the same time, the modernization and development of venues is supported by the newly created ArenaCO, an entity designed to provide participating clubs and other stakeholders access to financing and expertise to build, improve, and develop programming in their facilities.

The Strategic Business Plan aims to elevate the collective business valuation of Euroleague Basketball to €2.5 billion within a three-season timeframe, relying on the continuous development of its commercial ecosystem, its global reach, and its long-term franchise structure.

Chus Bueno, CEO of Euroleague Basketball, stated that the League is experiencing strong momentum, both commercially and strategically, with significant long-term partnership agreement renewals achieved in recent weeks and the launch of new events continuing to expand the platform. “The level of interest generated by the franchise process is another clear reflection of the confidence that clubs, investors, and new projects have in the future of Euroleague Basketball. The binding offers close to €700 million demonstrate the strength of our business model and the value being generated across the League,” he noted.

Management also informed the Council about constructive conversations held with senior executives from the NBA and FIBA regarding potential future collaboration areas in European basketball, opening new international synergy opportunities for the competition.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La Euroliga abre puertas a ocho nuevas franquicias hasta la 2027-28