EuroLeague club shareholders will meet on October 5, with the future structure of European basketball expected to be one of the main topics on the agenda.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milano will organize the meeting at the prestigious Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, on the shores of Lake Como.
The gathering comes after EuroLeague club owners were already expected to meet in early October, with the league’s franchise structure, potential expansion and the NBA’s plans for European basketball among the key issues under discussion.
Franchise system and EuroLeague expansion on the agenda
The shareholders could face a major decision regarding the next phase of EuroLeague’s transformation.
Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the clubs could evaluate a potential proposal from the NBA to acquire the EuroLeague, which could be presented after the NBA Board of Governors meeting.
If no agreement is reached, the clubs could instead move into the operational stage of the strategic plan already presented by EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno.
That plan would see the competition move towards a closed franchise-based system and expand to 24 teams from the 2027–28 season, with 21 permanent franchises.
The process has already attracted significant interest, with more than 20 formal expressions of interest reportedly received. Eleven candidates have advanced to the due diligence stage, with binding offers representing almost €700 million in franchise fees.
Milan also targeting the 2030 Final Four
The October 5 meeting will also have a strong connection to Milano’s broader ambitions in European basketball. According to the same report, Milano has submitted a bid to host the 2030 EuroLeague Final Four.
The proposed venue is the new Unipol Dome in Milan’s Santa Giulia district, adding another major project to the city’s involvement in the future of European basketball.
Milano last hosted the EuroLeague Final Four in 2014, while Abu Dhabi is set to host the 2027 and 2029 editions.
