NBA Europe's $10bn Expansion Targets Football Titans

The NBA is preparing to invest approximately $10bn over the next decade to launch NBA Europe, a venture described by sources as the largest startup competition in sporting history, as The Guardian first reported. Originally slated for an earlier start, the league's launch has been delayed until 2028.

The league will feature 16 teams: 12 permanent franchises and four temporary members. Permanent slots are designated for cities including London, Manchester, Rome, Athens, Istanbul, and Lyon. The Guardian reports that the London franchise has already drawn bids exceeding $1bn from investors including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, former Chelsea chair Todd Boehly, and a consortium featuring MSP Sports Capital and former Tottenham chair Daniel Levy. Additionally, US investment group Buss Sports Capital is believed to have bid for the Manchester franchise.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum recently held discussions with executives from Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Milan, Barcelona, and Real Madrid. The Guardian notes that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez is particularly interested in the project, potentially to establish the principle of semi-closed leagues in Europe. While City Football Group (CFG) has not bid, the NBA has entered a $300m partnership with CFG to establish a global academy in Abu Dhabi.

Despite the capital influx, the project faces internal friction. The Guardian reports that EuroLeague clubs recently rejected an initial NBA investment offer at a meeting in Lake Como, opting instead to expand their own ranks from 20 to 24 clubs. To address mobility, the NBA plans a hybrid model where four temporary spots are filled via the Basketball Champions League and a tournament for domestic champions.