EuroLeague Expands to 20 Teams: Strategic Moves and What It Means for Basketball in Europe
EuroLeague Expands to 20 Teams: A Game-Changer for European Basketball
The EuroLeague has made a bold move by expanding from 18 to 20 teams starting in the 2025-26 season. This decision, confirmed during a recent shareholder meeting, marks a significant step in the league’s long-term vision to grow its footprint across Europe and beyond.
Key Changes and Team Additions
- Regular Season Expansion: The number of games will increase from 34 to 38, maintaining the current playoff structure where six teams advance directly, and four more compete via a play-in tournament.
- New Entrants: Dubai Basketball joins as a strategic addition, securing a rare five-year license. Paris Basketball is also under consideration for a one-year wildcard spot, pending further evaluation of the Paris market’s potential.
- Licensing Updates: Teams like Hapoel Tel Aviv (EuroCup champions), Valencia Basket, and Virtus Bologna are set to receive multi-year licenses, while Partizan Mozzart Bet and Crvena Zvezda have already secured three-year deals at €750,000 per season.
Strategic Implications
The inclusion of Dubai Basketball is a calculated gamble aimed at unlocking new commercial opportunities in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Paris Basketball’s potential entry could test the waters in one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. The league’s next phase might see further expansion to 24 teams, possibly introducing a conference-based system.
2025-26 Season Teams:
- Anadolu Efes Istanbul (Turkey)
- AS Monaco (Monaco)
- ASVEL LDLC Villeurbanne (France)
- Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain)
- Dubai Basketball (UAE)
- Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (Serbia)
- EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (Italy)
- FC Barcelona (Spain)
- FC Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (Turkey)
- Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (Israel)
- Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (Israel)
- Olympiacos Piraeus (Greece)
- Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (Greece)
- Paris Basketball (France)
- Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (Serbia)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Valencia Basket (Spain) Chunk of remaining content…
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Hot comment (3)
ইউরোলিগ এবার ২০ দলে! ডুবাই বাস্কেটবল নিয়ে আসছে মধ্যপ্রাচ্যের ঝলক। প্যারিসও কি ঢুকবে?
টাকার গন্ধ পেয়েছে বেলগ্রেড পার্টিজান আর ক্রভেনা জেভজদা প্রতি সিজনে ৭৫০,০০০ ইউরো পাবে। আমাদের এফসি বরিশাল কবে এমন সৌভাগ্য পাবে?
৩৮ ম্যাচের রোমাঞ্চ নিয়মিত মৌসুমে বাড়তি ৪ ম্যাচ মানে বাড়তি মজা। কিন্তু কোচরা এখনই চিন্তায়: “খেলোয়াড়দের ক্লান্তি কমানো যাবে কীভাবে?”
আপনার কী মনে হয়? এই সম্প্রসারণ ইউরোপীয় বাস্কেটবলের জন্য ভালো নাকি বেশি হয়ে গেল? নিচে কমেন্ট করুন!
The Balkan Money Ball
Looks like Belgrade teams are printing euros faster than their free throws! Partizan and Crvena Zvezda secured those sweet €750k licenses while the rest of Europe watches their wallets.
Dubai Does Dunkonomics
The Middle East enters the game with Dubai Basketball’s five-year deal. Next stop: camel racing sponsors on jerseys? 🐫🏀
Parisian Wildcard Woes
Paris Basketball might get a one-year trial - because nothing says ‘basketball culture’ like French surrender jokes waiting to happen.
Which expansion team are you betting on? Drop your hot takes below!
یورولگ کا نیا دور!
اب یورولگ میں 20 ٹیمیں ہوں گی، جس میں دبئی باسکٹ بال بھی شامل ہے۔ شاید اب ہماری کرکٹ کی طرح باسکٹ بال میں بھی ایشیا کا غلبہ ہو جائے!
پیسے کی بارش
پارٹیزان موزارٹ بیٹ اور کرونا زویزڈا جیسی ٹیموں کو 750,000 یورو مل رہے ہیں۔ لگتا ہے بیلگریڈ کے پاس اب پیسہ بہت ہے!
تم کیا سوچتے ہو؟
کیا آپ کو لگتا ہے کہ دبئی کی ٹیم یورولگ کو تبدیل کر دے گی؟ تبصرے میں بتائیں!
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