EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno stated that any partnership with the NBA must benefit both sides, or the league is ready to compete. Addressing expansion, Bueno revealed EuroLeague is targeting cities like London, Paris, and Milan, holding 12 binding proposals worth over €800 million.
EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno addressed the upcoming NBA Europe project and a possible partnership with them as well as the teased EuroLeague expansion in an interview with Reuters.
Bueno said that the EuroLeague is ready to share its expertise with the NBA if they agree to help out as well, but that the EuroLeague will move on alone if a deal isn’t mutually beneficial.
“If we don’t get a deal in Europe, we’re going to compete in Europe. That’s the discussion that we had internally, and if we have to, we’re ready,” Bueno told Reuters.
“It has to be a partnership that works for both of us, not just for one of us.”
A partnership could serve beneficial to both sides
The CEO expressed that both organizations have different things to offer and could help each other out.
“We know the NBA can help operate things so we should follow the NBA and they should follow the local IP (brand value) of clubs because they’ve been on the ground for 100 years and they can bring also a lot to the table for the NBA.”
Adam Silver Chus Bueno
Credit AP – Scanpix, EuroLeague Basketball
Working together could avoid certain obstacles that would emerge with two competing leagues in Europe.
“If you have two leagues, this is going to create fragmentation of the value, institutionally but also commercially, in media rights, fan attendance,” Bueno added.
“We both said that if we don’t have a deal, we have to keep going with our plans. So, as you know, they keep going through the process, and I keep going with my plan.”
Bueno addresses upcoming expansion
With an expected expansion to 24 teams for the 2027-28 season and eight new long-term franchises to be awarded Bueno addressed the cities that EuroLeague is trying to establish itself at.
“We’re talking Paris, London, Milan, Naples, big cities that we want to explore how we can have franchises there,” the EuroLeague CEO detailed.
He also added that they have “12 binding proposals” with a combined value of a little over €800 million, correcting earlier reports about 11 pre-accepted proposals valued at €700 million.
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