By Aris Barkas – Michalis Stefanou/ info@eurohoops.net
Less than one month after favoring Belgrade, the EuroLeague shareholders voted 11-2 to host the 2025 Final Four in Abu Dhabi, a move that may dictate the future of the competition.
According to Eurohoops sources, only Olympiacos and Real Madrid opposed this decision, while Abu Dhabi will pay an unprecedented €50M for the right to host the event.
This was a huge financial success for the EuroLeague, however, both the Spanish and the Greek powerhouses had a valid argument for their negative vote.
After this deal, the joint venture between the EuroLeague and IMG which expired in the summer of 2026 is set to automatically extend for one more decade, until 2036.
IMG brokered the deal with Abu Dhabi and thanks to this amount of money, a set goal of an extra €100M in revenues, compared to the initial projections for the decade-long joint venture, is achieved.
This goal triggers a clause that automatically extends the joint venture and practically sets the pathway for the future of the competition.
It remains to be seen if a new negotiation can happen between the two sides, and essentially that was the main objection of the two clubs, as also the fact that they felt that the Arabian market is not yet mature enough to get a Final Four.
After all, that’s why the EuroLeague rejected the whole Dubai project last season. Other than that, this decision and the projected extension of the joint venture may create issues in the ongoing talks with BC Partners about the acquisition of an ownership share.
On the other side, with the NBA making moves in Europe, it also seems that it stabilized the EuroLeague landscape for years to come, keeping the core intact as it was intended last summer with the decision to give the core clubs new 15-year licenses.
It has to be noted that despite the initial decision, those licenses are not yet signed. Also, Abu Dhabi still has an option for two more Final Fours, but when this happens will be discussed in the future.
“The first step”
According to EuroLeague sources, “Abu Dhabi represents a first step into a new region. Whether that can lead to other activity in the Middle East remains to be seen. This first experience will provide lots of learnings, which will inform any future discussions”.
Considering the event site, “Abu Dhabi has a first-class arena and extensive experience in organizing major events, including NBA games, Formula 1 races, and UFC fights. They are committed to delivering a world-class Final Four event, as they have done with many others”.
EuroLeague also confirmed the interest of other cities for the next editions of the Final Four: “Other cities have also shown lots of interest, and we will continue conversations for future editions. This is another sign of the continued strong growth of the league and of the event over recent years”.