Hapoel Tel Aviv is set to play in the 2026/27 EuroLeague after a highly successful debut season, but the club is now expected to look for a way to secure its long term place in Europe’s top competition.
According to a report in Spain, that future would depend on the EuroLeague adopting a franchise model, replacing the current system of short and medium term licenses with permanent rights that would not expire in the foreseeable future. Clubs not already part of the league’s ownership group would have to pay a very large sum to sign such an agreement.
Virtus Bologna president recently said his club would pay 50 million euros over 10 years to become a franchise, and the same figure was also reported for Valencia by encestando. That same report said Hapoel Tel Aviv and Dubai would each be asked to pay 80 million euros to gain franchise status. It also said other clubs are “knocking on the door,” naming Hapoel Jerusalem, Besiktas and Galatasaray.
The article says the earlier a club becomes a franchise, the more money it can make, because existing franchise clubs would receive millions as more teams join. The franchise system, common in American sports, gives owners voting rights and a share in the league, while allowing the league to sell rights based on its current value. Eurohoops predicts the change could raise EuroLeague profits by 25% and increase the power of both the clubs and the league.
