EuroLeague has put figures on one of the most ambitious transformations in its recent history. The Shareholders’ Executive Board of Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) reviewed the progress of the strategic roadmap approved in March and confirmed that the expansion process towards a franchise model has already generated considerable interest among clubs, investors and new projects. With more than twenty formal expressions of interest and eleven shortlisted candidates, the competition is moving towards a stage that could redefine its structure from the 2027-2028 season onwards.
The move goes beyond simply increasing the number of teams. The proposals received reflect a large-scale economic commitment: the eleven candidates still in the process have submitted binding offers worth nearly €700 million in franchise fees, while total expected investment exceeds €3.2 billion over the next five years. At the same time, projections indicate that the aggregate value of the league and its clubs could reach €4.3 billion in 2027, alongside year-on-year revenue growth of 15%.
An expansion worth millions
The process to incorporate new franchises officially began in July 2026, with the possibility of adding up to eight long-term teams for the 2027-2028 season. The initial response exceeded expectations: more than twenty projects formally expressed their interest, coming both from organisations currently linked to EuroLeague and EuroCup and from new investment groups. Following an initial assessment, eleven proposals were shortlisted and advanced to the next stage, while another four remained on a waiting list.
Behind these figures lies a transformation in the way the competition seeks to engage with its participants. The offers of nearly €700 million do not merely represent the entry price for the new model, but are linked to projects whose estimated total investment exceeds €3.2 billion over a five-year period. Interest is also not limited to traditional European markets: the ECA has identified new projects from continental Europe and the Middle East. The next step will be a due diligence phase in which the financial, sporting and structural strength of each bid will be examined in depth before the proposals return to the Board of Directors and the owners.
The valuation leap and business growth
The economic scale of the expansion becomes clearer when looking at the valuation forecasts. According to projections by JB Capital, the implementation of the transformational strategic plan could take the aggregate value of EuroLeague and its clubs to €4.3 billion by 2027. This estimate sits alongside a target established in the three-year Strategic Business Plan, which aims to reach a collective enterprise valuation of €2.5 billion within that period, highlighting the scale of the expectations placed on the transformation process.
Projected growth also extends to the competition’s recurring business. Management presented the Board with an estimate of 15% year-on-year revenue growth, driven by new commercial agreements recently reached. Added to this are projects designed to strengthen the ecosystem around clubs, such as ArenaCO, a vehicle created to provide financing and specialised expertise for arena modernisation, and Euroleague Basketball+, a digital platform seeking to become the main digital home for following European basketball. As the competition moves towards a decision on its future franchise model, the due diligence process will mark the next stage before owners vote on the definitive transition at the end of September and determine how many clubs, and which ones, will form part of the first phase of expansion for 2027-2028.
Last related articles
