Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club May Move EuroLeague Home Games to Cyprus

Maccabi Tel Aviv is reportedly planning to relocate its EuroLeague home games from Belgrade, Serbia, to Limassol, Cyprus. The highly anticipated derby match against Hapoel Tel Aviv, scheduled for November 12, could be the first game played in the new venue, the Spyros Kyprianou Arena, which has a capacity of approximately 8,000 spectators. This move aims to provide Maccabi with a new hosting environment after an extended period of playing European games in Serbia. The club has been exploring the possibility of moving to Cyprus in recent weeks, with Cypriot media reporting that the decision has already been made, though official confirmation from the club or the EuroLeague is still pending.

The planned arrangements include allocating around 3,000 tickets for Maccabi fans, 1,500 for local Cypriot supporters, and about 100 for visiting team fans. Ticket prices are expected to range from 25 to 30 euros for basic seats, potentially exceeding 70 euros for premium locations. These details are subject to official approval.

Beyond the derby, Maccabi is also slated to host Greek powerhouses Olympiacos on November 17 and Panathinaikos on January 7 in Limassol, according to the reported plan. These high-profile matchups are expected to draw large crowds, necessitating special preparations by organizers and local authorities.

The potential shift of the Tel Aviv derby to Limassol adds significant weight to the move. Currently, Maccabi hosts in Belgrade and Hapoel hosts in Sofia, neither playing their European games in Israel. If approved, this relocation would alter the hosting conditions and preparations for both teams and their fans for one of the season's most intriguing games.