Mark Tatum said "The reason we are doing this is not primarily commercial."
About providing resources and growing the game.
Yeah, right.
It was all about the commercial opportunity when Adam Silver introduced it and teased it to NBA owners, European teams and investors.
JP Morgan is who you turn to to grow the game?
Said "the first phase" of permanent members will be in UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy.
"Maybe Turkey, maybe Greece." Maybe.
"In phase one, our initial plan is to go 10 to 12 cities." 10 is a new mention and possible reduction, obviously jeopardizing Turkey and Greece.
Serbia, Israel and elsewhere, audition for temporary thru BCL? Not everyone will go along with that.
EuroLeague / EuroCup vs. NBA Europe / BCL? Will EuroLeague cave? NBA compromise? Probably not immediately. Expecting competition at this point.
Suggested he expected more clarity in 2 months. Believe it if it really happens.
European and global league possibilities
Re: European and global league possibilities
Competition for new young Europeans between all the leagues and potential leagues and including NCAA will be intense. Who offers the most money, the most desirable context, the most minutes?
Will competition for young Americans also heat up?
The competition will continue and probably increase for American and European agents.
Which path will look best for getting to NBA? Which path will prove best? Will it split by position? How important will multi-year contracts be?
NBA has said they don't see NBA Europe as a developmental league. So will NCAA continue to win on getting the best young players? Is that who fans and networks want most?
Will competition for young Americans also heat up?
The competition will continue and probably increase for American and European agents.
Which path will look best for getting to NBA? Which path will prove best? Will it split by position? How important will multi-year contracts be?
NBA has said they don't see NBA Europe as a developmental league. So will NCAA continue to win on getting the best young players? Is that who fans and networks want most?
Re: European and global league possibilities
Don't know what prompted it or its relevance, but several media writing about NBA Europe just threw out the figure of $250 million franchise fee alongside $500 mil or more. First time I saw / heard that. Was the higher figure untenable or still the ask? Is $250 mil a floated counter? Or just outsider guessing? Unclear.
Re: European and global league possibilities
Other new talk includes the idea of NBA Europe potentially doubling in size in a phase 2. Just vague talk but it is what we have.
Re: European and global league possibilities
European football is in process of selling next round of media rights to Champions League and other products. They are offering more product to more partners and asking higher prices.
NBA Europe will try to sell after this wave. The level of interest and prices will probably be affected. Some media companies might have spent their money and prime air time and have less left for a new basketball product. Some unsuccessful at getting what they want in football might be more motivated for basketball.
It will take awhile to sort out. Basketball is definitely 2nd in popularity, bidding and bid timing. It is a competition.
Strategy will be important in how to offer global rights and farm local markets, elite games and volume of product. In football and basketball. It won't be simple for NBA Europe. They better tap into talent / experience in Europe as support or leadership.
Will NBA Europe sell its media rights directly or with a partner that specializes in that? Big decision. Relevant agency represents UEFA and other levels now and is owned by Miami Dolphins owner. They could be partner or main competition. Other potential partners exist including Team Marketing, the former main football rights broker.
Middle East money is pouring into sport teams and media. Not aware of presence in sports media right marketing firms but that could happen. Lots of levels, lots of actors.
Tension between the biggest teams and smaller ones is pervasive. The accommodations vary.
NBA Europe will try to sell after this wave. The level of interest and prices will probably be affected. Some media companies might have spent their money and prime air time and have less left for a new basketball product. Some unsuccessful at getting what they want in football might be more motivated for basketball.
It will take awhile to sort out. Basketball is definitely 2nd in popularity, bidding and bid timing. It is a competition.
Strategy will be important in how to offer global rights and farm local markets, elite games and volume of product. In football and basketball. It won't be simple for NBA Europe. They better tap into talent / experience in Europe as support or leadership.
Will NBA Europe sell its media rights directly or with a partner that specializes in that? Big decision. Relevant agency represents UEFA and other levels now and is owned by Miami Dolphins owner. They could be partner or main competition. Other potential partners exist including Team Marketing, the former main football rights broker.
Middle East money is pouring into sport teams and media. Not aware of presence in sports media right marketing firms but that could happen. Lots of levels, lots of actors.
Tension between the biggest teams and smaller ones is pervasive. The accommodations vary.
Re: European and global league possibilities
Improving the commercial returns of basketball in Europe.
What are the ways?
Bigger, fancier arenas that can handle / get more attendees, charge them more, and sell more and more expensive food & beverage and merchandise.
Can they get access to the best current arenas in key cities without the current resident teams?
Get more and bigger sponsorships. From Europe, U.S. or elsewhere?
Get more viewers and more advertisers and charge them more and charge media carriers more.
How much will different ownership and management yield on operating revenue and profit?
How much will "better" / more expensive players yield? What is the track record for additional revenue / profit from better import players? Do european fans really want more & better import players?
How much revenue would an NBA Europe generate from U.S. and other countries / regions compared to what Euroleague does?
What lessons does NBA Europe actually take from NFL Europe attempt and failure?
Are the Euroleague efforts really that bad compared to the imagined / asserted potential or is the market really that limited / tough?
To make way more eventually, teams will need to spend and lose more initially. Are any current team owners prepared to do that? How many new owners are? Will the revenue / expenditure equation and market valuations look good in 5-10+ years? Does the proposition of NBA Europe look better or worse than alternatives available to European football owners and / or Middle Eastern sovereign funds, including the EuroLeague? Are Middle Eastern money going to shift from the Eurleague that has been more open to them particioating and having prominence than the NBA to date?
EuroLeague says "... we’ve got 50 per cent less partners and over 50 per cent more revenue – and we’ve done that in only 18 months.” Are they getting the job that the NBA promises done themselves? Did the NBA wait too long?
To launch in fall 2027 would require how much to be actually committed and done by next fall? How much would need to be settled by next spring? Another year of work is more likely than that timetable. Will anything actually be settled and committed to by next spring, considering no commitments and no visible progress in last 6+ months?
What are the ways?
Bigger, fancier arenas that can handle / get more attendees, charge them more, and sell more and more expensive food & beverage and merchandise.
Can they get access to the best current arenas in key cities without the current resident teams?
Get more and bigger sponsorships. From Europe, U.S. or elsewhere?
Get more viewers and more advertisers and charge them more and charge media carriers more.
How much will different ownership and management yield on operating revenue and profit?
How much will "better" / more expensive players yield? What is the track record for additional revenue / profit from better import players? Do european fans really want more & better import players?
How much revenue would an NBA Europe generate from U.S. and other countries / regions compared to what Euroleague does?
What lessons does NBA Europe actually take from NFL Europe attempt and failure?
Are the Euroleague efforts really that bad compared to the imagined / asserted potential or is the market really that limited / tough?
To make way more eventually, teams will need to spend and lose more initially. Are any current team owners prepared to do that? How many new owners are? Will the revenue / expenditure equation and market valuations look good in 5-10+ years? Does the proposition of NBA Europe look better or worse than alternatives available to European football owners and / or Middle Eastern sovereign funds, including the EuroLeague? Are Middle Eastern money going to shift from the Eurleague that has been more open to them particioating and having prominence than the NBA to date?
EuroLeague says "... we’ve got 50 per cent less partners and over 50 per cent more revenue – and we’ve done that in only 18 months.” Are they getting the job that the NBA promises done themselves? Did the NBA wait too long?
To launch in fall 2027 would require how much to be actually committed and done by next fall? How much would need to be settled by next spring? Another year of work is more likely than that timetable. Will anything actually be settled and committed to by next spring, considering no commitments and no visible progress in last 6+ months?
Re: European and global league possibilities
Could an NBA team be a majority or minority owner of an NBA Europe team?
I'd guess no (on basis on competitive advantage) but it is a question until officially answered.
I'd guess no (on basis on competitive advantage) but it is a question until officially answered.
Re: European and global league possibilities
UK government involved in regulating basketball. Other governments probably are too or could be. Another set of actors who could impact outcome of league competition outright or in details. Perhaps even the EU as a body gets involved? Likely Eurleague or specific owners would consider seeking / using their involvement if dissatisfied with developments.
Could actors controlling arenas or supervising to any degree get involved?
I mention Middle East money occasionally. Not necesarily a unified block.
Other potential new owners exist beyond Middle East money and football clubs. But no such names, to my knowledge, have been mentioned or self-announced. Wouldn't surprise if they eventually emerge but will they and when? Any ex-NBA owners or part owners or unsuccessful previous bidders?
"Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has invited the National Basketball Association to invest in the EuroLeague..."
That is a major new talking point / model shift. NBA wants control and franchise fees but this model could still work if the preferred model does not happen or set up as hoped. Buy and / or take a 20-50% stake and help it grow into being worth more.
Will NBA try to leverage (directly or indirectly) NBA media partners to support the NBA Europe project? Will it work? Will NBA Europe impact their revenues? Would involvement in NBA Europe be a smart hedge against revenue loss or revenue growth loss or future media competition?
Could actors controlling arenas or supervising to any degree get involved?
I mention Middle East money occasionally. Not necesarily a unified block.
Other potential new owners exist beyond Middle East money and football clubs. But no such names, to my knowledge, have been mentioned or self-announced. Wouldn't surprise if they eventually emerge but will they and when? Any ex-NBA owners or part owners or unsuccessful previous bidders?
"Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has invited the National Basketball Association to invest in the EuroLeague..."
That is a major new talking point / model shift. NBA wants control and franchise fees but this model could still work if the preferred model does not happen or set up as hoped. Buy and / or take a 20-50% stake and help it grow into being worth more.
Will NBA try to leverage (directly or indirectly) NBA media partners to support the NBA Europe project? Will it work? Will NBA Europe impact their revenues? Would involvement in NBA Europe be a smart hedge against revenue loss or revenue growth loss or future media competition?