The Euroleague approves franchises and opens the door to new clubs

The Basketball Euroleague has taken a decisive step in its structural evolution. The owners of the thirteen shareholder clubs of Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) met on Tuesday, October 6, in Cernobbio, Italy, to adopt strategic measures that will transform the operational model of the most important club basketball competition in Europe.

During the meeting, the leaders of the organizations present debated and agreed on key decisions regarding the future of their joint ownership. The president of Euroleague Basketball, Dejan Bodiroga, led the session and publicly acknowledged the trajectory of these clubs over the past decades, emphasizing how their work has generated unprecedented growth in interest and momentum for European basketball.

Transformation of the licensing model

The central proposal of the meeting focused on converting the current ten-year licenses into franchises. This change represents a fundamental modification in the ownership structure and rights of the clubs within the competition. The attending team owners agreed to move forward with this transformative process, which will affect the thirteen shareholder clubs of the ECA.

Among the teams involved in this historic decision are FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, two of the most significant institutions in Spanish basketball. They are also joined by Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, CSKA Moscow, Armani Olimpia Milan, FC Bayern Munich, Fenerbahce Istanbul, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Olympiacos Piraeus, Panathinaikos Athens, and Zalgiris Kaunas.

Chus Bueno, the general director of Euroleague Basketball, presented the progress made regarding the already approved strategic roadmap and outlined the projected ten-year business plan. During his speech, Bueno detailed the key strategic priorities that will guide the future of the competition, placing particular emphasis on the opportunities generated by this structural transformation.

Expansion and new opportunities

Beyond the conversion of licenses into franchises, the meeting also addressed a matter of great significance: the expansion of the number of teams in the Euroleague. The clubs agreed to continue with the evaluation process to expand the competition, being open to proposals that have come from prominent European professional clubs.

According to the official statement, Euroleague Basketball has received various binding offers from teams interested in joining the competition. These contacts represent a clear opportunity to strengthen the league at a continental level and diversify its participant base. The club owners formally tasked the Board of Directors to continue evaluating these applications.

Next steps and timeline

The Board of Directors will be required to present a final recommendation in the coming weeks, which will be submitted for shareholder approval. This accelerated timeline reflects the importance that the league places on completing these strategic processes, which will define the competitive structure of the Euroleague in the coming years.

Context of the strategic decision

The transformation of licenses into franchises represents a significant change in the governance of the competition. While the licenses granted limited and temporary rights, the franchises imply a more permanent and transferable ownership, similar to the model in place in professional leagues in other continents. This adjustment seeks to consolidate the commitment of the shareholder clubs and facilitate the attraction of new investments.

The decision also reflects Euroleague Basketball's ambition to position itself as an elite competition on a global scale, capable of competing for talent and global viewership. The ten-year business plan presented by Bueno lays the groundwork for sustainable growth that benefits both the shareholder clubs and the competition as a whole.

The meeting in October in Cernobbio marks a milestone in the recent history of the Euroleague, consolidating the vision of a more robust competition, with a strengthened ownership structure and clear opportunities for expansion that will allow new actors to join the highest level of professional European basketball.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La Euroliga aprueba franquicias y abre puerta a nuevos clubes