Euroleague CEO Addresses Key Questions: 20 or 22 Teams, Two Conferences, and NBA Europe

Euroleague's Path to Greater Revenue

The Euroleague CEO acknowledges that despite being the leading basketball league in Europe (outside of the NBA) and boasting 60 to 70 million fans, it is not fully monetizing its significant potential. While current revenues are strong, the European basketball market, including Euroleague, isn't as profitable as it should be for the continent's second most popular sport. B2B revenue, particularly from television and media platforms, shows stagnation.

To achieve higher revenues, the league aims to deepen market penetration, engage a broader audience, and significantly improve monetization through clubs, focusing on key markets with high TV revenue potential. A crucial missing piece is a direct-to-consumer monetization strategy.

The solution involves creating a truly high-performance digital platform for the end-user. This platform will go beyond just distributing game content, integrating a wide range of offerings such as betting, merchandising, licensing, ticketing, collectibles, and fantasy leagues. By consolidating these into a competitive, single platform, Euroleague can analyze user habits, preferences, and purchasing desires to create personalized services tailored to individual profiles and behaviors.

The CEO illustrates the potential: if 10 to 12 million of the 60 million passionate fans generate, for example, €9.99 per month (or €100 annually) each, this could unlock a staggering one billion euros. This gap between current performance and potential has been identified by Euroleague and other major players like the NBA. Europe, being a vast and sophisticated market with substantial disposable income for entertainment, presents a significant opportunity.

The league plans to build "Euroleague+", a robust platform offering these products to European fans. The backend development for integrating all processes takes time, but gradual monetization is anticipated over the next 6 to 12 months.

Potential Expansion to 22 Teams and Conference Format Changes

Internally, Euroleague is actively discussing modifying the competition format. The impact of the current 20-team format, particularly concerning travel demands and weeks with two games, has been observed. A decision on transitioning to a two-conference system has not yet been made.

If the league opts for a two-conference structure, the intention would be to maintain a minimum of 22 teams. Reducing the number of teams below this threshold, by 25% to 30%, would likely lead to a decrease in television revenues. Additionally, five or six fewer home games would negatively impact clubs' ticketing and sponsorship income.

The league is currently studying both options: continuing with the present format for another year or implementing a two-conference system. Other critical factors under consideration include the repercussions of geopolitical conflicts, the financial health of certain teams, and the paramount importance of preserving the quality of the competition. If there's a risk of degrading game quality or if the geopolitical climate isn't conducive, increasing the number of teams would not be a wise move.

A board meeting scheduled for April 14th is expected to provide all the necessary information for a definitive decision on these matters.

The Prospect of an NBA Europe League

Regarding the potential NBA Europe League, the Euroleague CEO reports that the NBA is in the final stages of its fundraising process. These funds will be allocated, and by the end of the month, the NBA will have completed its data analysis and presented its findings to its owners. At that point, Euroleague will gain clarity on the NBA's intentions, the capital raised, and its partners.

There is an agreement that once these steps are completed, Euroleague and the NBA will meet to explore potential collaboration. The CEO emphasizes that increased market fragmentation would be detrimental to all parties involved.

Euroleague brings significant assets to the table: established teams, vibrant host cities, and a proven competition. The NBA, conversely, can offer its expertise in league management, substantial capital, and a highly recognized global brand, which is crucial for attracting top-tier partners like television networks and sponsors.

The perspective is not one of fear or threat, but rather an opportunity to leverage mutual strengths. Euroleague also possesses numerous valuable assets, including its best teams, prime locations, and an already established league. Both organizations have resources to contribute, and the focus is on optimizing these assets together for collective benefit.