The Spiroudome Arena of Charleroi (Belgium) will host the final game of the second edition of the ULEB Cup on April 13, 2004. The final will be decided in one game and will offer basketball fans an exciting duel and full of incentives.

Region Wallone Charleroi, host of the final

The process to choose the hosting city of the final started last December 19, 2003 and after studying in detail the different proposals available, Euroleague Basketball SL decided to allocate the organization of the final to the club Region Wallone Charleroi. The great characteristics of the Spiroudome Arena, with a capacity for 6,500 spectators, the constant work of the Belgian club promoting basketball and the massive attendance of fans to the games of Spirou Charleroi, with an average of 5,570 spectators in the ULEB Cup games, were some of the arguments that decided the election of the defending champions of the Belgian League and Cup as hosts of the ULEB Cup final. Regarding the election of the final hosting city, Jordi Bertomeu said ‘the organization of big events provides the clubs with internal experience and external recognition. Region Wallone Charleroi is a club under constant growing and because of that, from the very first moment, they wanted to organize the final. I think that the initiative of Eric Somme, president of Charleroi, are great news for Belgian basketball.’ Bertomeu also had grateful words for ‘all those clubs who offered their interest in organizing this final, their interest shows that many European cities want to enjoy top-notch basketball.’

Mr. Eric Somme (President of Region Wallone Charleroi)

‘The organization of such an important event in the Spiroudome creates fantastic opportunities for Spirou Charleroi, the city of Charleroi and basketball in Belgium in it’s whole.’

‘This is a tremendous opportunity and fantastic award for us to demonstrate our ability in terms of organization and marketing.’

‘The hand new Spiroudome, created in 2001 is presenting unique and hospitality concept and this event is the consecration that many people would probably envy.’

‘II would like to thank both ULEB and the Euroleague for the confidence they gave us in organizing this final game.’

Jacques Van Gompel (Lord Mayor of Charleroi)

Welcome to the Spiroudome Arena

‘More than 10 years ago, Spirou Charleroi was playing in a rather small arena in front of a few hundreds fans. Year by year, the interest in basketball grew increasingly. Charleroi and its famous ‘Coupole’ became the Temple of Belgian basket.’

‘Today Spirou Charleroi have become THE reference in Belgium and a good team at the European level which is now playing in one of the most beautiful sports hall in Europe: The Spiroudome Arena.’

‘This year, we are proud to host the final of the Uleb Cup which is for us the international acknowledgement of our know-how in the organization of sport events and the quality of our infrastructures.’

‘Welcome to The Spiroudome Arena of Charleroi!.’

The ULEB Cup seeks a champion

The second edition of the ULEB Cup started last October with the participation of 36 teams from 16 countries. Currently, after the end of the regular season, 16 teams from 11 countries remain in the competition playing the elimination rounds. The final game of next April 13 will determine the new champion of a competition which managed to excite the teams, the fans and the media thanks to two big incentives: being the champion of the second best European basketball competition, and the automatic qualifying for the following edition of the Euroleague. To Bertomeu ‘the ULEB Cup has managed, in just two editions, and thanks to the work of the leagues and the clubs, to become in a sports product of the first level. The connexion between the ULEB Cup and the Euroleague is a factor which adds interest to the competition and which allows us to offer the fans and the media a unified product which is basketball.’

The new champion will replace Pamesa Valencia in the roll of honors of the competition, as last season the Spanish team won the title by defeating Krka Novo Mesto of Slovenia.

For more details contact:

Vladimir Stankovic
Director Media relations Department
EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL, S.L.
Phone: +34 93 327 84 27
Fax: +34 93 327 84 24
e-mail: vladimir.stankovic@euroleague.net