EuroLeague has outlined ambitious plans to reshape the financial model of European club basketball over the next decade. The proposal calls for €3.4 billion to be distributed to clubs during that period, annual commercial revenues could approach €650 million, and the combined valuation of the competition and its current license holders is expected to exceed €13 billion. The plan also includes league expansion, a transition to a franchise system, and significantly stricter financial regulations.
Following a meeting held on October 6 at Lake Como, EuroLeague unveiled the main financial elements of its 10-year business plan, which received unanimous approval from all 13 shareholder clubs. Of the projected €3.4 billion in club distributions, €2.2 billion is expected to come from the competition’s regular revenues, with the remaining €1.2 billion generated through new franchise fees. These are projections whose realization will depend on commercial growth and the success of the planned expansion.
Two Phases of Expansion, 15 Offers on the Table
EuroLeague currently has 15 binding offers from interested clubs and investors, with a combined value of €1.2 billion. However, that money has not yet been secured as revenue and instead represents the financial basis for negotiations over the allocation of new franchises.
Under the proposed plan, expansion would take place through two investment rounds, in 2027 and 2031. Franchise fees from those two rounds are expected to generate a combined €1.2 billion, providing an additional source of revenue for the competition’s existing clubs.
EuroLeague previously announced plans to increase the number of participating teams from 20 to 24 beginning with the 2027-28 season, with the possibility of awarding up to eight new long-term franchises. The plan also calls for maintaining two places for teams qualifying through the EuroCup, along with the possibility of wild-card invitations. The final selection of new franchise holders has yet to be completed.
That process will be particularly important for Crvena Zvezda and Partizan, neither of which is among EuroLeague’s 13 existing shareholders, as well as PAOK. Their potential long-term future under the new system will depend on expansion decisions and the criteria established for awarding new franchises.
Club Valuations Could Triple
According to current estimates, the combined valuation of clubs holding long-term licenses stands at approximately €1.8 billion, while EuroLeague itself is valued at €1.4 billion. The introduction of permanent franchises is expected to increase those valuations by approximately 25% as early as the 2026-27 season.
The long-term projections are even more ambitious. EuroLeague expects the combined value of its current licensed clubs to reach €5.4 billion over the next decade, three times their present valuation. Meanwhile, the league’s own valuation is projected to rise to €7.98 billion, representing a 5.7-fold increase.
Together, those projections exceed €13 billion, although their realization will also depend on continued investor interest. Instead of holding licenses with limited terms, shareholders would own permanent assets whose value could increase alongside the competition’s commercial growth, providing clubs with greater long-term security.
EuroLeague aims to reach €648 million in annual commercial revenue by the tenth year of the plan, building on a trend that has seen this category of revenue increase fivefold over the previous decade. Average game-day revenues have doubled over the past three years, while commercial revenues have increased by 50% during the same period. Higher ticketing and commercial revenues also reduce clubs’ dependence on direct financial support from their owners.
Financial Sustainability for Every Club
According to EuroLeague, approximately 40% of clubs holding long-term licenses currently operate on a financially sustainable basis. The league’s leadership aims to increase that figure to 100% by the end of the first phase of its 10-year plan.
EuroLeague Chief Financial Officer Xavi Pujada noted that a growing number of clubs have established sustainable operations in recent years, but that this model needs to become the standard across the competition. According to Pujada, implementing the business plan should accelerate growth in the valuations of both the league and its clubs, while allowing existing shareholders to retain ownership of appreciating assets without having to assume additional investment risks.
EuroLeague also plans to tighten its financial fair play regulations, in line with the conclusions reached at the meeting of its 13 shareholders at Lake Como. Stricter financial oversight is intended to help clubs cover their operating costs through their own revenues over the long term.
Digital Platform and Arena Investment
One of the more significant projects is Euroleague Basketball+, envisioned as a central digital platform for European basketball. The platform is designed to connect fans, clubs, and other participants in European basketball, create new commercial opportunities, and strengthen direct engagement with audiences.
EuroLeague has also established VenueCO, a company designed to provide clubs and other interested parties with access to financing and expertise for the construction of new venues, the renovation of existing arenas, and more effective commercial use of those facilities.
Beyond the projected revenue growth and expansion, one of the key measures of the plan’s success will be whether EuroLeague can achieve its goal of financial sustainability across all participating clubs.