The EuroLeague confirmed a major overhaul of its financial distribution system during a recent meeting, marking the first significant change to its revenue-sharing model in over two decades.
Under the new structure, licensed clubs will retain 65 percent of their domestic television revenues, with the remaining 35 percent distributed equally among all licensed teams. A substantially larger commercial fund will be created, drawing income from final-four hosting bids, sponsorship deals, licensing fees, and invitational events. Seventy-five percent of this fund will be allocated based on on-court performance, fan engagement metrics such as attendance and digital activity, and historical achievements, while the remaining 25 percent will be split equally among licensed clubs.
Previously, television revenue was confined within national borders, meaning clubs only shared income with domestic peers regardless of performance or viewership. For example, Maccabi Tel Aviv reportedly retained nearly all of its local television deal valued at approximately seven million euros, while Greek rivals Panathinaikos and Olympiacos split their earnings evenly, as did Spanish giants Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Baskonia. The previous system relied heavily on supplementary funding from a so-called “sport fund,” primarily financed through sponsorship agreements and other league income, which critics argued disproportionately benefited certain clubs.
The reform aims to address long-standing imbalances by introducing performance-based incentives and broader revenue sharing. Yet, analysts note that despite the structural shift, the financial impact remains relatively modest in the broader context of club budgets, particularly when compared to the multi-million-euro penalties recently imposed on clubs for violating financial regulations.
Separately, the league announced that the upcoming season will feature twenty teams competing in a home-and-away regular season format, followed by playoff stages culminating in a Final Four. While the exact list of participants remains uncertain due to ongoing contractual and financial uncertainties, clubs such as Maccabi Tel Aviv and AS Monaco face scrutiny over their financial stability, and neither Real Madrid nor Fenerbahçe have yet renewed their participation agreements.
Meanwhile, seven non-EuroLeague clubs currently participating in the competition have formally applied for long-term membership: Crvena Zvezda, Partizan Belgrade, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Paris Basketball, Valencia Basket, Virtus Bologna, and Dubai Basketball. Six additional teams, including former Žalgiris head coach Andrea Trinchieri’s new club PAOK Thessaloniki, Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg, Jerusalem’s Hapoel, Bahçeşehir İstanbul, Beşiktaş, and Napoli Basket, have similarly submitted applications. Interest in joining the league has also emerged from investment groups based in Rome and London, although London-based investors tied to the Tesonet-owned Lions team are not involved in these discussions.
League officials, including new CEO Chusas Bueno who succeeded Lithuanian official Povilas Motiejūnas, have emphasized that the expansion reflects a strategic shift toward a franchise-style model, moving away from the current ten-year A-license system. This vision aligns with broader discussions about potential collaboration between the EuroLeague and the NBA to develop a unified European basketball ecosystem, a scenario once considered unlikely during Motiejūnas’s tenure.
Supporting this direction, representatives from the EuroLeague and NBA are scheduled to meet in Geneva on April 28, with FIBA also expected to participate in the discussions aimed at shaping the future of continental basketball governance.
How will the new financial model affect smaller-market clubs?
Smaller-market clubs will benefit from equal shares of 35 percent of domestic TV revenues and 25 percent of the commercial fund, while still being eligible for performance-based distributions that could increase their income based on on-court success and fan engagement.
Why haven’t Real Madrid and Fenerbahçe renewed their EuroLeague commitments?
The sources do not specify the reasons behind the delayed contract renewals for Real Madrid and Fenerbahçe, only stating that neither club has yet signed new agreements for the upcoming season.
What is the significance of the upcoming EuroLeague-NBA meeting in Geneva?
The meeting represents a concrete step toward exploring collaboration between the two leagues to develop a unified European basketball ecosystem, a prospect previously viewed as unlikely under former leadership.