By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Euroleague still has many things to do, however for one more season the top European league continues to establishes itself as the second best competition in the world behind the NBA by sending six of its clubs all over the globe in a “World Tour” which includes America and Asia.
Real Madrid and Laboral Kutxa are traveling in South America, Euroleague champion Maccai Tel Aviv will play in Brazil for the intercontinental cup and then visit Cleveland and Brooklyn, Barcelona will play in China and Taiwan in October and the NBA champions, San Antonio Spurs, will play against Alba in Berlin and against Fenerbahce/ Ulker in Istanbul. The details of the tour are here, however what’s really important is the Euroleague effort to make a splash all over the world.
The league and also its teams are more than interested in foreign markets. And while a game against an NBA franchise gives more exposure and even credibility to the competition quality of the league, it’s not secret that there’s an increasing interest for the Chinese market. Alba Berlin just announced a sponsoring deal with ZhongDe metal group, a Chinese company, a result of a methodical creation of connections with the Asian country. Last year Real Madrid traveled to China, Panathinaikos also toured the country and the Greek club also made a big push toward that market.
With the European economy in bad shape, despite money being thrown to basketball in Turkey and Russia, Euroleague needs to expand its audience in order to thrive and take advantage of the worldwide interest for basketball. It’s a bold ongoing effort and it remains to be seen in the near future what the results will be. Still, the omens on this front already are good…