Euroleague Basketball has officially launched its franchise application process as the competition moves toward a new long-term structure and expansion to 24 teams by the 2027-28 season.
The organization announced Tuesday that the ECA General Assembly was informed of the process following approval from the EuroLeague Board. The plan includes awarding up to eight new long-term franchises for the 2027-28 season while maintaining two guaranteed places for qualifying EuroCup clubs and flexibility for additional wild-card selections.
The launch represents a major step in EuroLeague’s transition from its current licensing model toward a franchise-based system designed to increase financial stability and attract investment into European basketball.
EuroLeague has already received more than 20 formal proposals at established valuation levels, with interested investors representing more than €1.2 billion in potential investment. The league said interest continues to increase weekly from both existing basketball organizations and new ownership groups.
“We are extremely pleased with the progress we are making,” EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno said. “European basketball is experiencing an extraordinary moment. Interest from investors continues to increase every week, and it confirms the tremendous opportunity we have to accelerate the growth of our sport and our competition.”
The franchise process comes after Bueno announced plans for EuroLeague to expand from 20 teams toward 24 franchises. The league expects the first new franchises to be awarded from September onward, with final approval required from the Board and completion of franchise agreements.
The entry fee for new franchises will be determined individually based on several factors, including market importance, historical contribution to EuroLeague, fan engagement, whether the project is new or established and overall commercial potential.
EuroLeague said the 13 existing shareholder licences will also be converted into long-term franchises during the 2026-27 season without franchise or entry fees, recognizing those clubs’ historical contributions to the competition.
Several major European markets have already shown interest. EuroLeague confirmed that proposals have arrived from projects based in Rome, Berlin and London. The London Lions are among the clubs pursuing a potential franchise after securing a place in the EuroCup for the 2026-27 season and publicly expressing interest in joining EuroLeague.
London represents one of EuroLeague’s biggest expansion opportunities, but Bueno has acknowledged the challenges of establishing basketball in the United Kingdom. He previously said the market carries more risk because basketball does not yet have the same spectator foundation as traditional European basketball countries.
The Lions are attempting to strengthen their case with plans to build the United Kingdom’s largest dedicated basketball arena. EuroLeague believes strong facilities and commercial infrastructure will be essential for any new franchise to attract elite players and sustainable attendance.
EuroLeague believes the franchise model can significantly increase the value of team investments over the next several years. The organization told applicants that its strategic plan projects both initial franchise investment value and overall franchise valuation could double within three to four years.
“We have a clear strategic plan that we believe can significantly increase the value of these investments,” Bueno said. “Our objective is to create substantial value for franchise partners while offering a highly attractive and sustainable investment opportunity.”
The first selected clubs and strategic markets are expected to be announced between September and November, marking the beginning of a new era for Europe’s top basketball competition.
