By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
Members of the Euroleague Commercial Assets Shareholders Executive Board met once again remotely and one of the main topics was by when should it be decided if the 2019-20 campaign will resume.
The date that came up was May 24 and it was agreed upon as the ‘D-Day’ by when the final call on the current season will be made and the focus will shift toward the 2020-21 and all questions surrounding it.
Two weeks ago, ECA Shareholders Executive Board among other things decided “to continue working on alternative scenarios that may allow to resume and complete the EuroLeague and EuroCup seasons, provided that adequate health and safety measures are in place for players and all other participants.”
That didn’t change as ECA is not giving up and hopes to have EuroCup finishing the season between 4-17 July and EuroLeague between 4-26 of July. Everything still depends on the safety of all involved parties and these dates suggest finishing the season with an alternative and shorter format.
As EuroLeague announced: The clubs unanimously approved draft 2019-20 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague 7DAYS EuroCup operational dates.
24 May – Deadline to take the decision to resume and complete the EuroLeague and EuroCup competitions, or to cancel them
29 May to 11 June – Quarantine (if necessary)
12 June to 2 July – Training Camp
4 to 17 July – EuroCup games in central venue
4 to 26 July – EuroLeague games in central venue
As explained last week by Euroleague Basketball’s President & CEO Jordi Bertomeu, the EuroLeague calendar includes the remaining 54 Regular Season games plus a single-elimination Final Eight, all in one central venue. The 2019-20 7DAYS EuroCup will include the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals, either in a two-game basket average or in a single-game elimination format, all in a different central venue. Games will be held without spectators.
Executive Board members unanimously agreed that the competitions will only be resumed if the public health authorities and relevant local governments allow them to. Euroleague Basketball will continue talks with the ELPA, the EHCB, and the Union of Euroleague Basketball Officials (UEBO) as it continues to elaborate the return-to-play medical protocols, providing the necessary health and safety measures by the league and clubs for all participants.
According to Anadolu Efes coach Ergin Ataman, one of EuroLeague’s projections has been to organize the last six regular-season games in a city that will be considered to provide the safest conditions amid the coronavirus pandemic and then hold a Final Eight.