By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
With the year coming to an end and the NBA knocking on Europe’s door louder than ever, the EuroLeague during the last few weeks managed to set up the path that the competition will follow for the next decade.
Per Eurohoops sources, the Abu Dhabi Final Four deal is the tip of the iceberg with IMG, which presented the Arabian project, staying on board with the EuroLeague for 10 more years.
However, when the current joint venture ends in 2026, the next collaboration between the top European basketball competition and the company will be very different, with IMG getting a much smaller share of the revenues compared to the previous deal.
IMG and the EuroLeague have agreed on this arrangement which is set to become official in due time.
Still, last week Baskonia president Josean Querejeta openly stated in the presentation of the “Ondare project”, a sport and construction project in Vitoria, that his club will stay “for one more decade” in the EuroLeague, giving the first hint for things to come.
This timeline replaces and modifies the initial summer agreement for new licenses until 2040, and according to information obtained by Eurohoops will also include opt-out clauses for the clubs under certain conditions.
What’s certain is that the core 13 clubs will remain part of the EuroLeague for 10 more years and it remains to be seen what will happen with a possible expansion, or with the addition of more long-term licenses.
The next big issue that EuroLeague has to settle is the sale of an ownership stake to the British international investment firm BC Partners LLP.
The completion of this deal has already been delayed, however, key stakeholders are optimistic that there will be a happy end to the ongoing negotiations, creating a very different landscape for the future of basketball in Europe and first and foremost in the evaluation of the league.