Hapoel Tel Aviv Poised for EuroLeague Berth as League Expands
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Hapoel Tel Aviv is set to receive a permanent EuroLeague franchise license as part of the league's expansion to 24 teams by the 2027/28 season. Investor Ofer Yanai's efforts to secure the club's top-tier European status are nearing fruition, with a board vote expected by the end of November. This move aims to provide long-term stability and consistent competition for the club.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv is expected to receive a permanent EuroLeague franchise license.
- The EuroLeague plans to expand to 24 teams starting in the 2027/28 season.
- A decisive vote on the expansion and new licenses is scheduled for the end of November.
- Six clubs, including Hapoel Tel Aviv, are slated for new permanent status.
- Four other clubs will receive three-year wildcards for the expanded league.
Hapoel Tel Aviv is on the verge of securing a permanent spot in the EuroLeague, a move that would provide the club with administrative certainty, budgetary stability, and a consistent competitive framework against top European teams. This potential achievement is part of a broader restructuring of European basketball, aiming for an expanded competitive model and the locking of strategic markets.
According to a report in the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, the EuroLeague management is planning to increase the number of participating teams from 20 to 24 starting in the 2027/28 season. Central to this plan is the intention to grant Hapoel Tel Aviv a permanent franchise license, solidifying its position in the continent's premier basketball league. Such a license would decouple the club's entry from its domestic league performance or the need to win the EuroCup annually.
Hapoel Tel Aviv is reportedly among six clubs designated for new permanent status, alongside Paris Basketball, Valencia, a Dubai basketball project, PAOK Thessaloniki, and Virtus Rome. Their inclusion would expand the core of permanent shareholders from 13 to 19 teams. The final decision hinges on official approval from the EuroLeague's board, composed of representatives from the 13 founding clubs, with a decisive vote expected by the end of November.
The proposed agreement is proceeding within the existing management structure and is independent of ongoing discussions with the NBA regarding future collaborations. Beyond the six permanent licenses, the updated plan allocates the remaining spots in the expanded league. Four clubs, Partizan Belgrade, Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, Virtus Bologna, and Napoli, are expected to receive three-year wildcards, ensuring their participation until at least 2030 and giving them priority for permanent licenses when the league eventually expands to 28 teams. The final two spots will be awarded to the EuroCup finalists, maintaining a sporting entry route alongside commercial considerations.
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