NBA Europe bosses using World Cup final to hold talks with football club chiefs
NBA chiefs say they plan to hold further talks with bidders for franchises in its planned European league during the World Cup final weekend in New York.
Spain – home to perhaps the two most important prospective NBA Europe franchise locations in Madrid and Barcelona – will be in town after they beat France in Tuesday’s semi-final.
Other cities earmarked for teams in the competition, slated to launch next year, include London, Manchester, Paris, Munich, Berlin, Rome and Milan.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he and deputy Mark Tatum would meet bidders in the coming days as they look to tie up their first teams within weeks.
“We’ve had tremendous interest from multiple cities in Europe, including cities that we didn’t even ask for bids from,” said Silver.
“We discussed with our board today that we’re in the process of finalizing those bids, I think for an initial group of cities.
“Many of the people who are involved in those bids, the European bidders, are actually going to be in New York for the World Cup final on Sunday. Mark and I are going to be attending several meetings with them, given their presence in New York.
“I would say we’re hoping to wrap up some of those deals over the next several weeks, and then announcements will be forthcoming.
“But I’m very pleased with the interest across the board throughout Europe in basketball.”
NBA Europe in fight for clubs with EuroLeague
It is still unclear whether Real Madrid and Barcelona will sign up to NBA Europe, having recommitted to the incumbent EuroLeague for a further 10 years.
NBA bosses are confident they can be lured away but EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno told Morning Wire last week he believed all clubs were aligned with his own franchise project.
Other football parties expected to bid for NBA Europe franchises include Paris Saint-Germain owner Qatar Sports Investments and RedBird Capital Partners, owner of AC Milan.
The NBA is yet to confirm any teams, media partners or sponsors just 15 months before its biggest ever non-US project but Silver insisted the plans remained on track.
“In terms of NBA Europe, yes, things are where I hoped they would be,” he said.