NBA Europe Bids Signal $1 Billion-Plus Investments for New Continental League

The NBA received finalized bids from more than 20 groups for permanent franchises in NBA Europe, a league slated to launch in October 2027. The bidding opened in February and closed with viable proposals from all twelve target cities: London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Munich, Milan, Rome, Istanbul, Barcelona, Manchester, Lyon and Athens. Sources say several bids top $1 billion, and a number of existing EuroLeague clubs also submitted proposals. NBA Europe will feature 16 teams—12 permanent clubs and four open spots filled through a promotion system where domestic league champions or winners of FIBA’s Basketball Champions League earn entry. The competition will run a round-robin regular season followed by multi-round playoffs and a finals series. The NBA and FIBA will jointly evaluate the bids, with the Board of Governors and FIBA announcing franchise winners on a rolling basis.

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According to sources familiar with the NBA’s financial model, the initial franchises are projected to break even by their third season. The league’s forecasts anticipate a cumulative distribution of more than $10 billion across the European basketball ecosystem in its first decade, driven by franchise sales, external investments, media-rights agreements, ticket sales and merchandise.

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NBA Europe is positioned to challenge the existing EuroLeague by introducing a high-level, NBA-backed platform. The promotion system allows domestic league champions and winners of FIBA’s Basketball Champions League to earn entry into the league. Mark Tatum described the venture as the biggest influx of capital European basketball has ever seen, indicating a significant financial impact on the sport.

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Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said the league is “extremely encouraged” by the final bids and highlighted the “tremendous interest and momentum” surrounding the project. He added that the venture represents “the biggest influx of capital European basketball has ever seen.”

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• “We're extremely encouraged by the final bids we received for permanent franchises in a new NBA and FIBA-backed league in Europe, which reflect the tremendous interest and momentum around this project,” — Mark Tatum, NBA Deputy Commissioner

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• “This will be the biggest influx of capital European basketball has ever seen, and we have clear frontrunners in each of our 12 target cities.” — Mark Tatum, NBA Deputy Commissioner

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The NBA Board of Governors and FIBA will convene later this year to assess the bids, with franchise awards expected to be announced incrementally. Winning owners will then begin team construction, secure venue agreements and integrate into the promotion framework ahead of the 2027 launch.

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