Valencia Basket enters the EuroLeague as a permanent franchise

The Valencia Basket has been selected as one of the six entities that will become permanent franchises of the EuroLeague. The decision, revealed by La Gazzetta dello Sport and confirmed by Marca after consulting with competition officials, marks a historic milestone in the expansion of elite European basketball. The taronja club joins Dubai Basketball, Paris Basketball, Hapoel Tel Aviv, PAOK, and Maxima Roma in this transformation process that requires approval from the owners' assembly at the end of November.

The most ambitious expansion of the EuroLeague

The EuroLeague has made a strategic decision that responds to the mandate of the last General Assembly held in Como. At that time, they were tasked with converting the leading candidates into stable franchises, a process that has now culminated after studying the recommendations of the Board. With these six new additions, the competition will undergo its most significant transformation in years, increasing from 20 to 24 teams in the 2027-28 season.

The final structure of the EuroLeague will combine the current owner clubs, the six new franchises, four wildcards, and two spots designated for the EuroCup. The horizon is even more ambitious: to reach 28 teams by 2030. This growth responds to the need to consolidate the presence of European basketball in key markets and to strengthen the competition in light of other leagues' movements.

The cost of stability: between 50 and 90 million

The transformation into a permanent franchise has a significant economic component. The new partners will have to pay entry fees ranging from 50 to 90 million euros. In return, they receive a guaranteed and stable spot in the competition, eliminating the uncertainty of annual rankings. For Valencia Basket, this investment represents the culmination of a project that has grown steadily around the Roig Arena over the past few years. The taronja institution is already positioned at the top of the standings in the current season, demonstrating that it has the competitive structure necessary to maintain its presence at the highest European level.

Temporary licenses: the open door for other greats

The expansion of the EuroLeague is not limited to the six permanent franchises. The competition has designed a system of temporary licenses for three years for four clubs that it wishes to keep in its orbit but currently cannot afford the entry fee as a franchise. This mechanism affects Crvena Zvezda and Partizan, the two Serbian giants whose funding partially depends on an unstable political context following a change of government. It also benefits Virtus Bologna, which needs to stabilize its finances after a change of ownership, and Napoli, focused on building a 250 million euro pavilion, and prefers to wait two or three years before committing to a franchise.

The four clubs with temporary licenses will have priority in accessing future permanent spots, ensuring that the growth of the EuroLeague does not close the door on historic institutions of European basketball. This strategic approach allows the competition to maintain its global appeal while strengthening its financial and competitive structure.

The European response to the NBA

The decision to expand the EuroLeague and create permanent franchises has a clear reading in the context of global basketball. It directly responds to the NBA's project to create its own competition in Europe. The EuroLeague has opted to define its territories, incorporate partners in strategic markets like Paris, Rome, and Dubai, and reinforce its structure without waiting for the outcome of negotiations with the American league.

The NBA, after seeing its initial offer rejected, stated that it had room to negotiate until the conversion to franchises became effective. This consideration underscores the importance of the meeting at the end of November, when the owners' assembly must officially ratify the decision. That meeting could be decisive in establishing the future of professional basketball in Europe over the next decade.

The Valencia Basket thus positions itself as a key player in this new competitive landscape, consolidating its presence at the highest European level and participating in the deepest transformation of the EuroLeague in its recent history.

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