EuroLeague Advances 11 Franchise Bids Worth €700 Million for 2027/28 Expansion

The EuroLeague board of shareholders convened on August 25, 2026, to review the first phase of franchise license applications for the league's upcoming expansion. Launched in July 2026, the process aims to award up to eight long-term franchise licenses starting with the 2027/28 season. Over 20 formal bids and expressions of interest were received from existing EuroLeague and EuroCup clubs, as well as new investment projects.

Following an initial financial and organizational screening, 11 proposals were approved to move forward, while four remain on hold. The identities of these clubs have not yet been disclosed. The franchise model represents a significant financial leap for the league, with the 11 candidates submitting binding offers totaling nearly €700 million in franchise fees alone. Total investment over the next five years is expected to exceed €3.2 billion.

According to JB Capital forecasts, this expansion could increase the combined value of the league and its clubs to €4.3 billion by 2027. The EuroLeague management will now conduct comprehensive due diligence on the selected bids, aiming to present final recommendations at the owners' meeting scheduled for late September 2026. At that meeting, owners will vote on adopting the franchise model, confirm which clubs will join in the first expansion phase, and determine the number of new teams.

It is important to note that the 13 current shareholder clubs, including Maccabi Tel Aviv, have guaranteed automatic spots under the new model and are not part of the franchise application process. EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bertomeu commented, "The strong commercial and strategic momentum, along with nearly €700 million in binding offers, demonstrates confidence in our business model. We will continue rigorous due diligence to ensure the selected projects strengthen the league, with owners voting on the final franchise transition for the 2027/28 season in late September."