Just looked up Real Madrid. Owned by 100,000 people. Just announced proposal to split the organization and take on a minority owner for first time, subject to a team vote. Set at 5% "of the business", with option to buy back at any time, Current members board to retain total control of football.
5% of a $6 billion valuation is $300 million.
Is this going to be approved and work as desired?
Are they going to raise / spend $500 million- $1 billion to join NBA Europe? Or use it on football? Or hold as assets? Or distribute? All of it appears to be not enough. No mention I see of basketball in the announcement.
Barca also club owned and considered worth $6 billion but $1.5 billion in debt with just a $2 million operating profit reported this season. Owes $150 million in back payments on past transfer and a similar amount of current payments? After several really bad losses and a partial sale of their next 25 years of media revenue to private equity to stay afloat? And made several other future assets sales. The full description of their financial situation is dizzying and quite worrisome. Spending about $1.5 billion on a stadium and not done yet.
Manchester United almost 900 million pounds in debt. Losses of over 300 million in 3 years? Owner pulled more than 1 billion out of the business?
NBA Europe franchise fee seems unlikely even for these "richest". Maybe that is why they say nothing to the curent proposal?
I had expected that only a few Euroleague teams at most would meet the conditions to join but now lean toward none. New teams / new owners everywhere? Or... new plan or no plan?
If the whole project fails, is that the impetus to finally get expansion? That isn't the plan... is it? But maybe the result?
A couple of weeks ago, the NBA officials said to expect significant development in December. A couple of days ago, they said 60 days.
European and global league possibilities
Re: European and global league possibilities
Who approves franchise sales and the criteria will be another element.
Time to unlock? It is possible that someone might buy in and try a relatively quick flip.
NBA will want control and rules but how much pushback will they get on that or anything?
How can you auction franchises unless everything is spelt out? If ready to go, it would seem to be all NBA determined or only concessions deemed essential to proceed or not that inportant.
Time to unlock? It is possible that someone might buy in and try a relatively quick flip.
NBA will want control and rules but how much pushback will they get on that or anything?
How can you auction franchises unless everything is spelt out? If ready to go, it would seem to be all NBA determined or only concessions deemed essential to proceed or not that inportant.
Re: European and global league possibilities
Virtus Roma, spiral down in performance, trouble paying for games in large arena, self-regulated down to 2nd division Italian league, bankrupt and out in 2020.
Wants back in.
Seems unlikely to be them.
That is a prized market?
Wants back in.
Seems unlikely to be them.
That is a prized market?
Re: European and global league possibilities
Refereeing could be a debated topic, after the league is real. Source of staff, training and management, pay level.
Re: European and global league possibilities
Slow roll out has given lots of time for others to get agitated and perhaps act.
Perhaps inevitable, expected. Can't really evaluate actual to another version, except in mind.
Perhaps inevitable, expected. Can't really evaluate actual to another version, except in mind.
Re: European and global league possibilities
Unconfirmed media reports:
"Barcelona is set to sign a new ten-year deal with the EuroLeague..."
"Fenerbahce is ready to follow the same path..."
"Barcelona is set to sign a new ten-year deal with the EuroLeague..."
"Fenerbahce is ready to follow the same path..."
Re: European and global league possibilities
If 0 to a few Euroleague teams join NBA Europe, it probably will affect interest level of newcomers some or impact what they are willing to pay to join.
It will be interesting to see if certain teams are willing to break away from their country neighbor / rival.
I now see 'everybody might play in BCL' as a potential strategy if there really are few if any NBA Europe teams with an existing local league and uncertainity about likelihood of being able to join, operating in existing franchise cities. But I don't know schedule details or willingness to change.
It will be interesting to see if certain teams are willing to break away from their country neighbor / rival.
I now see 'everybody might play in BCL' as a potential strategy if there really are few if any NBA Europe teams with an existing local league and uncertainity about likelihood of being able to join, operating in existing franchise cities. But I don't know schedule details or willingness to change.
Re: European and global league possibilities
Will the majority of heads of basketball operations come from Europe or US? Choice of owners but will NBA encourage one or the other?
Heads of basketball operations do not necesary have to be chief executives.
Groups may be wary to join without concrete salary cap rules, not wanting to pay to compete against pockets deeper than they own inclination.
Heads of basketball operations do not necesary have to be chief executives.
Groups may be wary to join without concrete salary cap rules, not wanting to pay to compete against pockets deeper than they own inclination.
Re: European and global league possibilities
Scenario:
No Euroleague teams commit to joining / paying pre-exemptive of bidding process.
NBA precede with bidding in all targeted cities?
Who bids to go into Barcelona or Madrid against the local ongoing teams? How much? Greece or Turkey? Other cities probably not as big an issue with competition but plenty of doubts about the markets.
No Euroleague teams commit to joining / paying pre-exemptive of bidding process.
NBA precede with bidding in all targeted cities?
Who bids to go into Barcelona or Madrid against the local ongoing teams? How much? Greece or Turkey? Other cities probably not as big an issue with competition but plenty of doubts about the markets.
Re: European and global league possibilities
Euroleague claims NBA is being vague, not really negotiating.
One option, if can get group to agree would be to say: final offer for deep and full league to league negotiations now or see ya in 2029.
One option, if can get group to agree would be to say: final offer for deep and full league to league negotiations now or see ya in 2029.
Re: European and global league possibilities
FiBA hardly gets mentioned but they still want a governing role. How much? Exactly what?
Re: European and global league possibilities
What do wildcard teams get from playing in NBA Europe financially? Just home game revenue or a slice of league media revenue? If it only a former, is it really that appealing? Do they get to carry NBA Europe games on their own media deal?
The wildcard terms have to slip between too difficult and too appealing. Will teams face a minimum payroll? How long do they get in? Is it fixed or dependent on performance?
Halfway thru December and nothing concrete.
An Italian website claims to know that it will be a "30-match schedule, with meetings scheduled midweek". I don't necessarily believe it yet and maybe.
How extensive will the playoffs be?
Can the state governments require local ownership?
Trade terms?
Any draft? Assume not.
Transfers? Transfers or buy out fees?
When do rosters freeze?
"Local" player minimums? Foreign player maximums?
How much will teams be allowed to borrow to join and to operate? Are there banks willing to loan?
Will initial salary cap be near $20 million? bA A? More?
What is the minimum media rights deal they would accept? How many years? Any contingencies, options or performance criteria? Signed by July or Dec. 2026?
Most or everyone is assuming it will be called NBA Europe buf will it?
How / when will whatever shares the NBA takes in franchise fees and media rights flow to NBA teams?
Has FIBA asked for or been assigned a cut?
Will teams be expected to have youth / developmental teams? Ability to control players, advancement & costs?
Penalties for non-payment of players?
Contracts allowed to have outs to NBA?
12 man rosters or more?
Why haven't potential new (non-football) owners jumped into the spotlight to express their interest?
Will Maverick Carter and LeBron James step back into the picture in some fashion? Carter not making any news, fwiw.
Is a men's international touring league dead, delayed or possible with a new group? Could they hook up with EuroLeague or another league?
Will NBA Europe interest existing or new fans more? Older or younger? Western Europe or beyond? Women?
Union before or in year 1? Yr2 or later?
Nielsen estimates 98% of the Euroleague viewing audience comes from the local markets of the clubs.
Viewership is up but reported up most in Eastern Europe, with Spain and Italy with the lowest reported increases and Germany not mentioned at all.
EuroLeague ranks 17th among global leagues with 3.3 million official social media followers.
Different ways to biew, but reportedly just 87,000 Euroleague.TV subscribers.
The wildcard terms have to slip between too difficult and too appealing. Will teams face a minimum payroll? How long do they get in? Is it fixed or dependent on performance?
Halfway thru December and nothing concrete.
An Italian website claims to know that it will be a "30-match schedule, with meetings scheduled midweek". I don't necessarily believe it yet and maybe.
How extensive will the playoffs be?
Can the state governments require local ownership?
Trade terms?
Any draft? Assume not.
Transfers? Transfers or buy out fees?
When do rosters freeze?
"Local" player minimums? Foreign player maximums?
How much will teams be allowed to borrow to join and to operate? Are there banks willing to loan?
Will initial salary cap be near $20 million? bA A? More?
What is the minimum media rights deal they would accept? How many years? Any contingencies, options or performance criteria? Signed by July or Dec. 2026?
Most or everyone is assuming it will be called NBA Europe buf will it?
How / when will whatever shares the NBA takes in franchise fees and media rights flow to NBA teams?
Has FIBA asked for or been assigned a cut?
Will teams be expected to have youth / developmental teams? Ability to control players, advancement & costs?
Penalties for non-payment of players?
Contracts allowed to have outs to NBA?
12 man rosters or more?
Why haven't potential new (non-football) owners jumped into the spotlight to express their interest?
Will Maverick Carter and LeBron James step back into the picture in some fashion? Carter not making any news, fwiw.
Is a men's international touring league dead, delayed or possible with a new group? Could they hook up with EuroLeague or another league?
Will NBA Europe interest existing or new fans more? Older or younger? Western Europe or beyond? Women?
Union before or in year 1? Yr2 or later?
Nielsen estimates 98% of the Euroleague viewing audience comes from the local markets of the clubs.
Viewership is up but reported up most in Eastern Europe, with Spain and Italy with the lowest reported increases and Germany not mentioned at all.
EuroLeague ranks 17th among global leagues with 3.3 million official social media followers.
Different ways to biew, but reportedly just 87,000 Euroleague.TV subscribers.
Re: European and global league possibilities
"Brian Windhorst is sceptical about the NBA Europe project, but wants to see it succeed for the benefit of European basketball."
'Somebody has to invest in Europe' but as designed the somebodies are not the NBA. It is proposed that it be wealthy others, after they pay off the NBA massively in 2 ways (franchise fee and 50% take of media money or all league level money).
That is the current model. Based on the expectation of massively more revenue from media & fans... cuz the NBA thinks it should / will happen. Hasn't happened til it does.
'Somebody has to invest in Europe' but as designed the somebodies are not the NBA. It is proposed that it be wealthy others, after they pay off the NBA massively in 2 ways (franchise fee and 50% take of media money or all league level money).
That is the current model. Based on the expectation of massively more revenue from media & fans... cuz the NBA thinks it should / will happen. Hasn't happened til it does.
Re: European and global league possibilities
NBA still seeking big franchise fees AND 50% of revenue.
To think that is a good investment, you really have to buy the talk about massive revenue expansion AND believe in major franchise value increases. Or maybe not care about money that much.
If you really think the opportunity is that great, why isn't the Euroleague more appealing or why isn't a competing new venture that doesn't involve the NBA taking most of the total value active?
The party that negotiated buying part of Euroleague hasn't gone thru with it. Could somebody else step up? Why is middle east money not actively seeking the top position in basketball like it tried with golf? Are they going to settle for the expensive junior position as offered by NBA?
If the genius of the NBA is social community and attention farming, can't that be duplicated? Hire away 20-100 managers & leads?
Is it realistic to expect a major change in size and intensity of basketball community in Europe over what it has been to date? How excited are folks supposed to become if almost all of the 300-400 best players in world are still in the competing, established ecosystem NBA? And almost all the established team communities in Europe will remain outside NBA Europe?
"NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that he expects January 2026 to be a month where talks will go 'to the next level'".
Talks aren't bids. No new mention of bidding & timeline. Are things slowing down? Why hasn't the talks to date not been serious and complete enough? Are there folks pushing to be first in the door? Why are there no public signs of a first in the door, serious, full plan ready applicants? So far, all I see is: 'we are interested, we want to be considered, you tell us how good this thing is supposed to be'. And have they really convinced anyone with the checkbook?
To think that is a good investment, you really have to buy the talk about massive revenue expansion AND believe in major franchise value increases. Or maybe not care about money that much.
If you really think the opportunity is that great, why isn't the Euroleague more appealing or why isn't a competing new venture that doesn't involve the NBA taking most of the total value active?
The party that negotiated buying part of Euroleague hasn't gone thru with it. Could somebody else step up? Why is middle east money not actively seeking the top position in basketball like it tried with golf? Are they going to settle for the expensive junior position as offered by NBA?
If the genius of the NBA is social community and attention farming, can't that be duplicated? Hire away 20-100 managers & leads?
Is it realistic to expect a major change in size and intensity of basketball community in Europe over what it has been to date? How excited are folks supposed to become if almost all of the 300-400 best players in world are still in the competing, established ecosystem NBA? And almost all the established team communities in Europe will remain outside NBA Europe?
"NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that he expects January 2026 to be a month where talks will go 'to the next level'".
Talks aren't bids. No new mention of bidding & timeline. Are things slowing down? Why hasn't the talks to date not been serious and complete enough? Are there folks pushing to be first in the door? Why are there no public signs of a first in the door, serious, full plan ready applicants? So far, all I see is: 'we are interested, we want to be considered, you tell us how good this thing is supposed to be'. And have they really convinced anyone with the checkbook?