Euroleague Basketball, the organizer of top European club competitions, has accepted 11 proposals for the next stage of its franchise sales process as it prepares to expand the top-tier Euroleague competition to 24 teams.
The organization said it received more than 20 formal expressions of interest and proposals from existing EuroLeague and second-tier EuroCup clubs, as well as new investment projects seeking to secure one of the eight permanent franchises on offer.
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All 11 pre-accepted candidates are submitting formal binding offers, representing a combined value of almost €700 million ($816.6 million) in franchise fees, for an overall expected investment exceeding €3.2 billion for the next five years.
The entry fee is being determined on a case-by-case basis, with factors such as the strategic importance of the market, the club's historical contribution to value creation within the league, whether the project is new or established, the size and engagement of its fanbase, and other relevant criteria being taken into account.
The first phase of the sales process started in July, and the second phase will see EuroLeague Basketball review each proposal before presenting final recommendations during the next owners' meeting at the end of September.
The move comes as part of the organization’s long-term strategic plan to award up to eight long-term franchises that will join EuroLeague’s 13 existing shareholders in the 2027-28 season.
Euroleague Basketball has already announced it will expand to 24 teams, with 21 of them becoming permanent franchises. In addition, two spots will be guaranteed for qualifying clubs from the second-tier EuroCup, “preserving the flexibility to grant wild cards where appropriate.”
The top-tier EuroLeague expanded from 18 to 20 teams in the 2025-26 season.
In parallel with the franchise application process, Euroleague Basketball is advancing with plans to convert the 13 existing shareholder licences into long-term franchises, a process that is expected to be completed during the 2026-27 season.
The conversion will be carried out without any associated franchise or entry fee, due to their “longstanding commitment and contribution to the league.”
Euroleague Basketball is seeking to strengthen and expand its premier club competition amid the threat of the proposed NBA Europe project.
The NBA recently received multiple offers for its 12 prospective permanent franchises, including bids exceeding $1 billion.
NBA Europe, a joint venture between the NBA and global basketball governing body FIBA, puts the organizations in direct opposition to the EuroLeague, which already boasts commitments from all of the continent’s most prominent basketball teams, including Barcelona, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Fenerbahce, Bayern Munich, and, perhaps most notably, Real Madrid, which recently reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to the competition.
Indeed, the Spanish giants committed to playing in the elite EuroLeague club competition for the next 10 years despite a lucrative offer to join the proposed NBA Europe league.
