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NBA and FIBA to Engage Prospective Teams in January for New European League

The initiative enters formal outreach to clubs, investors and sponsors as organizers test a semi‑open format and target approvals in early 2026.

Overview

  • Formal talks will begin in January with prospective teams and ownership groups, with JPMorgan and the Raine Group continuing to gauge investor interest.
  • A sponsor summit is planned in London on Jan. 19 as the league courts foundational commercial partners around upcoming Berlin and London NBA games.
  • Reporting indicates non‑binding bids are expected next month with a potential Board of Governors vote in March to decide whether to green‑light the project.
  • The working model under review envisions roughly 16 clubs with about 12 permanent places and annual qualifiers via FIBA’s Basketball Champions League or a year‑end tournament, with schedules aligned to domestic and national team calendars.
  • Organizers are targeting an October 2027 start, pledging investment in European basketball development, with reported franchise valuations of $500 million to $1 billion and target markets including London, Manchester, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Berlin, Munich, Athens and Istanbul.