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An Expansion That Changes the Scale
The EuroLeague is moving toward a major transformation of its model. The project presented to shareholders calls for a competition expanded to 24 teams from the 2027-2028 season onward, with a much greater role given to permanent franchises. The idea is no longer simply to broaden the sporting field: it is about stabilizing the league's commercial value, securing more long-term projects, and attracting investors capable of financing this rise in prominence.
The eleven pre-approved candidates must submit firm offers totaling nearly 700 million euros.
The most striking figure concerns entry fees. The eleven pre-approved candidates must submit firm offers totaling nearly 700 million euros. The EuroLeague also refers to more than 3.2 billion euros in expected investment over five years. At this level, the debate goes far beyond the match schedule. It touches on governance, ownership of places, the role of historic clubs, and competition with other projects looking at European basketball.
Paris Among the Candidate Group
Paris Basketball is one of the eleven projects selected for the next phase. The French club finds itself on a crowded list alongside Valencia, Dubai, Hapoel Tel Aviv, the London Lions, Naples, PAOK Thessaloniki, Partizan Belgrade, Red Star Belgrade, Roma Maxima, and Virtus Bologna. Eight places would be available in this initial allocation, meaning the Paris bid remains in contention, with no final guarantee.
Paris's presence is logical given its rapid rise in continental basketball. The club joined the EuroLeague after winning the EuroCup and has already reached a new level in media exposure and sporting stature. But a permanent franchise would have a different impact. It would offer more stable visibility to partners, players, and the public, while placing the Paris project among the clubs involved in building the competition's commercial future.
A More Closed Model, and Therefore More Debated
This development will not be neutral. A 24-team EuroLeague could offer more marquee matchups, markets, and revenue. It could also reduce the space given to traditional sporting qualification if permanent places become the majority. The project refers to 21 franchises among 24 teams, or 20 depending on the situation of certain existing rights. The difference is technical, but the direction is clear: the league wants to move closer to a model in which economic stability takes greater priority.
For French clubs, the stakes are twofold. Paris could become a lasting representative at the highest European level, alongside other established or candidate destinations. But this stability comes at a cost and imposes requirements: budget, arena, appeal, governance guarantees, and the ability to support a long and expensive European season. The bid will therefore not be won solely on the image of an attractive capital city. It will have to convince decision-makers of the project's solidity.
Decision Expected in Late September
The timetable now provides a precise framework. The eleven candidates will go through a more thorough due diligence phase before presenting to the owners at the end of September 2026. That is when the final number of clubs selected and their identities for the first stage of the expansion will be determined.
For Paris, the bid arrives at a pivotal moment. The club has already proved that it can move quickly. The question now is whether it can establish itself permanently in a competition that is becoming more expensive, more closed, and more strategic. If the bid succeeds, it would be one of the most defining decisions in its recent history. If it fails, the EuroLeague will nevertheless have sent a signal: Paris is now credible enough to be discussed in the same circle as Europe's major markets and projects backed by powerful capital.