EuroLeague no longer plans to expand…but looks favorably on Dubai

recently, euro league This would allow several more teams to participate, increasing the current number of 18 teams to 20.However, as guaranteed, this will not happen in the short term Parius MotiejunasThe Euroleague CEO spoke in an interview with the media S Sport.

“We are not planning to expand right now. We are not thinking about next season,” the Lithuanian coach said. “clearly, London and Paris These are important markets that we have been talking about for some time. There are huge opportunities there, but we believe the situation is not yet mature.We are happy because we already have teams in both markets euro cup, is the first step towards later joining the EuroLeague. ”

Rumors such as the following keep coming out of France: Paris It was planned to have a team in the next EuroLeague, but Motiejunas ruled out that possibility. “There are media outlets that say Paris have an invitation to the next EuroLeague, but that’s not true. The only way they can access it is by winning the EuroCup,” Motiejunas said after saying , adding, “There are no expansion plans for next season.” , that’s a secondary issue for the league.

Regarding the possibility of team entry dubaiMotiejunas sees the move as a good bet for the future. “Yes, we are negotiating with Dubai. This is a negotiation process. This is an interesting market and we are going to analyze it. Once the whole process is complete, we will be ready to make a presentation to the team. And I Obviously, the Middle East is attracting the attention of the NBA, football and all other sports, as well as markets, and Euroleague is no exception.

According to the CEO of EuroLeague, “They can accept teams and organize matches at the highest level. And on the other hand, it will be a market that we will explore. They will be able to contribute to the growth of EuroLeague. “I am aware of this and am happy about it.” “It’s about being involved both in planning the match and attracting sponsors. It’s a great opportunity to cooperate, but we need to analyze it well.”