Dubai steps onto the EuroLeague stage for the very first time, clashing with Partizan at the Coca Cola Arena and Basketball Sphere is here to witness history.
After 5 hours a long flight from Belgrade, which arrived with some delay, we reached a place that, just ten years ago, could only be imagined in dreams for a basketball club. Back then, even the idea of the EuroLeague here seemed unimaginable.
Claim Now Upon arrival, from the airport to the hotel and around the arena, there were no visible signs that the EuroLeague had landed in the city. Honestly, that’s not much of a surprise. Just as it took time for Dubai to turn a dream into reality and join the top basketball league in Europe – and in the world, if we exclude the NBA – it’s clear that the process of commercialization and local recognition will also require time.
Dejan Kamenjasevic, the club’s general manager, has emphasized in every interview that more than ten years ago he had a dream — to establish a basketball club in the United Arab Emirates, with its home in Dubai.
That dream became reality thanks to strong organizational support and a clear plan and vision. But now that the dream has turned into reality, the real challenges begin — and at first glance, Dubai seems more than ready to face them.
People here need to get used to the idea that Dubai is now hosting not only ABA League teams, but also some of the best squads in Europe. The first of them is Partizan. Let’s not forget, Dubai made its ABA League debut last season with a win over Crvena zvezda in the opening round.
Now the rival is also from Belgrade, but wearing different colors. The pressure is there, mixed with a sense of excitement, and the question remains whether history can be repeated.
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Upon arrival, we ran into a basketball fan – from Serbia, of all places – who has been living and working in Dubai for the past nine years.
“Last year I followed the games of Crvena zvezda and Partizan here. They invested a lot of money, but they’re doing it the right way. As for the crowd, the Filipinos are truly something special and they make up the majority of the fans in the stands.
Honestly, I like this NBA-like atmosphere, and now that the EuroLeague has come to town, I believe it will be even more exciting to attend games,” he said at the airport as we walked together through the massive terminal in search of our luggage.
More updates will follow from Dubai in the next two days, with a joint press conference featuring coaches and players from both teams, as well as an open practice available to the media.
The game itself is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:00 PM Central European Time, which is 8:00 PM in Dubai.
EUROLEAGUE ROSTERS: The most prestigious European competition brings plenty of exciting transfers. Follow all the moves in one place.
There will be no club basketball played during July and August, but that doesn’t mean the clubs will be inactive. Basketball Sphere brings you all the updates from every EuroLeague team.
In addition to players currently under contract, you can check at any moment who has left the team, whose contract has expired, and who might be on the move.
The new EuroLeague season will begin on September 30, and until then, we’ll see what kind of rosters each team will enter the competition with.
