EuroLeague, a historic turning point: six new franchises and an expansion to 24 teams (four Italian) starting in 2027-28
The EuroLeague has just taken a decisive step toward solidifying its role as the premier European club basketball competition by selecting six new franchises to join the league: Maxima Roma, Valencia Basket, Dubai Basketball, Hapoel Tel Aviv, PAOK Thessaloniki, and Paris Basketball. La Gazzetta dello Sport broke the news first, and the report was also confirmed by MARCA through several league executives.
Following the guidance provided by the club owners during the last General Assembly, held in Como, and after reviewing the Board of Directors’ recommendations on the initial list of candidates, the EuroLeague has identified six cities and their respective teams as the tournament’s new participants.
The final decision remains subject to approval of the transformation and expansion plan, expected during the General Assembly scheduled for late November.
The EuroLeague is targeting strategic cities and markets
This strategic choice will allow the EuroLeague to expand from the current 20 to 24 teams starting with the 2027–28 season, with the goal of reaching 28 participants by 2030.
The new format will include the existing clubs, the six new franchises, four teams admitted via wild cards, and two spots reserved for teams from the EuroCup.
With this move, the EuroLeague will not only increase the number of participants but will also strengthen its role as the leading organization in European club basketball, solidifying an important part of its strategic future.
Entry fees ranging from 50 to 90 million euros
The chosen model also represents a significant structural change. New clubs will be able to obtain franchise status by paying entry fees ranging from 50 to 90 million euros, thereby becoming part of a project designed to ensure greater stability and continuity for the participants.
In addition to the entry of new teams, the decision represents an investment in markets and cities of great sporting, economic, and strategic importance.
Rome, Valencia, Paris, Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Thessaloniki are key hubs of interest, capable of expanding the EuroLeague’s geographic reach and increasing its appeal to fans, sponsors, and investors.
The combination of major capitals, emerging markets, and cities with a long-standing basketball tradition will create a network of franchises that will make it much more difficult for any alternative project to compete with the EuroLeague in terms of presence and influence across the continent.
Wild cards for Partizan, Red Star, Virtus Bologna, and Napoli
The expansion plan also includes four temporary three-year licenses, allocated to the two Serbian clubs, Partizan and Red Star, and the Italian clubs Virtus Bologna and Napoli.
These four clubs will have a fast track to obtaining a permanent license in the future. Currently, however, they are facing unique circumstances that make immediate planning for the transition to franchise status more complicated.
The two Serbian teams are grappling with financial instability linked to the change in government in their country.
Napoli, which is in the process of building a new arena worth 250 million euros, would prefer to wait another two or three years before taking the big step.
Virtus Bologna, on the other hand, must first stabilize its financial situation following a change in ownership.
In any case, these are four clubs that are particularly valued by the EuroLeague, which intends to keep them within its project and consider them among the leading candidates for full membership as soon as their respective situations have stabilized.
