NBA Receives Bids from Over 20 Groups for Planned European League

The NBA has received finalized bids from more than 20 groups for participation in NBA Europe, a league it plans to launch in October 2027, ESPN reported. The bidding process for the league's 12 permanent franchises opened in February and attracted viable submissions in every target city, including London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Munich, Milan, Rome, Istanbul, Barcelona, Manchester, Lyon and Athens.

Multiple bids topped $1 billion in select markets, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

NBA Europe will be managed jointly with FIBA and will feature 16 teams total, with four additional spots filled through a promotion system open to domestic league champions or winners of FIBA's Basketball Champions League. The 16 teams will play a round-robin regular season followed by playoffs ending in a finals.

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum stated on Tuesday that the bids reflect tremendous interest and momentum.

"We're extremely encouraged by the final bids we received for permanent franchises in a new NBA and FIBA-backed league in Europe," Tatum said. " Several existing EuroLeague teams submitted bids to join in the first season. Sources familiar with the NBA's financial model said initial franchises could break even by their third season.

The league's forecasts anticipate more than $10 billion in cumulative distribution across the European basketball ecosystem in its first decade through franchise sales, investments, media rights, ticket sales and merchandise. The NBA's Board of Governors and FIBA will soon begin selecting the winning bids, with franchises to be announced on a rolling basis.