EuroLeague selects six new franchises to strengthen its European project

EuroLeague has chosen six teams to expand its project and strengthen its foothold in European club basketball. Maxima Roma, Valencia Basket, Dubai Basketball, Hapoel Tel Aviv, PAOK Salónica and Paris Basketball are set to join the competition, MARCA reports, saying it confirmed the selection with EuroLeague officials. The clubs’ conversion into franchises and the expansion still require approval at the assembly scheduled for the end of November.

The decision follows the direction set by the owners at their most recent Asamblea General in Como. After reviewing the Board’s recommendations on an initial list of candidates, EuroLeague selected six cities and their teams. If the plan is approved, Maxima Roma, Valencia, Dubai, Hapoel Tel Aviv, PAOK and Paris would also become owners of the tournament. The move is intended to reinforce EuroLeague’s standing as a leading competition in European club basketball and secure a substantial part of its strategic future.

The new locations would include Roma, Valencia, París, Dubái, Tel Aviv and Salónica. They would widen the competition’s geographic reach and could increase its appeal to fans, sponsors and investors. The plan also includes three-year temporary licences for Partizan, Estrella Roja, Virtus Bolonia and Napoles, with priority for future permanent places. The four clubs face different difficulties that complicate an immediate move into the competition as franchises.

Napoles would rather wait two or three years while focusing on its new arena, whose announced cost is 250 million. Virtus Bolonia first needs to stabilise its finances following a change of ownership. EuroLeague intends to keep all four clubs close and consider permanent entry once their situations have settled.

The competition would eventually grow from 20 to 24 teams from the 2027-28 season, comprising the owner clubs, the six new entrants, four invited teams and two places for the Eurocup. The stated target is 28 teams in 2030. EuroLeague is pressing ahead with its expansion regardless of how talks with the American league conclude. After its initial offer was rejected, the NBA announced that it could continue negotiating until the clubs’ conversion into franchises takes effect. The EuroLeague Junta Directiva meeting at the end of the month is therefore set to decide a crucial stage of the plan.