A total of 72 referees, six of them making their Euroleague Basketball debuts, gathered last weekend in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to take part in the 30th Clinic for Euroleague Basketball Officials. The three-day clinic was filled with educational workshops and meetings with referee coaches to prepare for the 2021-22 season.

"This is the first time in 24 months that we have been able to get together face to face with all of our officiating group and, although we worked differently last year through the season, it is important to have this group meeting in one venue to make sure we are on the same page, with the same approach for the upcoming season," said Senior Director of Officiating Richard Stokes. "Our discussions with the head coaches in the summer were productive and this also feeds into how we want our competitions to be officiated, as their feedback is one of the elements that drives our progress."

A host of special guests delivered lectures to aid the referees in their pre-season training. They received insights on mental preparation from sport psychologist Mar Rovira and feedback on their physical preparation with Dr. Nenad Dikic. All the officials went through a battery of medical tests to check that they are ready for the season with Dr. Dikic and his team.

"The clinic's structure was strategically designed to boost the desire of learning, improving and stretching the referees' abilities in an environment of freedom and collaboration within the crew. We put the focus on teamwork on the court, splitting the referees into small groups and they developed a great understanding of what on-court teamwork means," Rovira explained. "Sharing this time in Ljubljana with them reassured me that they are aware of the importance of the mental side of officiating and that they are going to use the resources we are implementing for them."

Coach Ettore Messina of AX Armani Exchange Milan also spent time at the clinic and conducted a session on the court covering play actions and movements that present challenges for the referees as well as how the modern game is evolving and being played.

“Referees are a big part of our league, they dedicate time, effort and professionalism to the game," Coach Messina said. "As a coach, providing them with a different perspective and getting their feedback in return, in this setting, gives both sides the chance to better understand each other. Hopefully, this kind of cooperation will put everybody in the best possible position to make the games better and enjoyable, especially for the fans."

The group included six new referees for the 2021-22 season; Steve Bittner, Maxime Boubert, Guido Giovanetti, Leandro Lezcano, Adar Pe’er and Vassilis Pitsilkas have been added to the list of referees.

"We had three referees retire in the summer, but we have been following five of these referees for some time and so we felt it was an opportunity to bring them in because we believe they can help us in the long term. The sixth moved from South America to Europe and is a very experienced referee and so this was also a great opportunity for him and us to work together," added Stokes.

The three days included presentations on many aspects of the criteria applied in contact situations as well as discussions on the application of the rules and protocols covering instant replay and the new coach's challenge that will be used this season. In addition, Euroleague Basketball’s IRS has been upgraded, thus representatives from Hawk-Eye Innovations were also present to assist the referees in gaining experience in using the platform.

The ABA League's president of referees commission Sasa Maricic and the commissioner for delegating referees Srdan Dozai were also in attendance as was Algimantas Pavilonis of the Lithuanian League.

"Our officials are an important part of the game, but the main protagonists are the clubs and their players. That’s who the fans come to see and we have ensured that on any given night, the best performing team wins," summed up Stokes. "The competitions are becoming more competitive each year and both the EuroLeague and EuroCup will take another step forward this season, so it is important to prepare as fully as we can over these three days. We have high expectations from our officials for this season as we should every season."

Referees meet in Ljubljana for 30th clinic

New partnership starts in 2021-22 for EuroCup, 2022-23 for EuroLeague

Euroleague Basketball is proud to announce that Saran Media Group has been chosen as the new TV partner for its competitions in Turkey, ensuring that the country's countless fans will enjoy elite broadcast coverage of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup for years to come.

Turkey's central role in the soaring popularity of the EuroLeague and EuroCup – which together have crowned four Turkish champions over the last six seasons – will be joined to the growth story of a new partner, Saran, which was founded in 1995.

Saran will begin broadcasting all EuroCup games featuring Turkish teams in the upcoming 2021-22 season and will do the same for the country's EuroLeague teams starting in 2022-23. Saran will continue broadcasting both competitions until the end of the 2024-25 season, which will mark the 25th anniversary of Euroleague Basketball.

"We are happy to announce Saran as the new home for the top European basketball over the next few seasons," Jordi Bertomeu, CEO of Euroleague Basketball, said. "Saran will continue to serve the ever-growing EuroLeague and EuroCup communities in Turkey with great games and high-quality production, but I'm sure that the collaboration will go well beyond that, as Saran is completely aligned with Euroleague Basketball's off-the-court philosophy and values, too."

Turkish fans have continued flocking to the EuroLeague in recent years, with TV audience numbers and fan interest jumping 21% each over the last three seasons. One of the country's flagship clubs, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, became the first EuroLeague champion from Turkey in 2017, while another, Anadolu Efes Istanbul, won the 2021 Final Four and will enter the upcoming season as reigning champ.

All games featuring Turkish teams will be aired on Saran channels S Sport and S Sport2. Additional international games are to be featured on both channels as well as Saran's OTT platform S Sport Plus. S Sport and S Sport2 are carried by the major Turkish pay TV platforms D-Smart, TV+, TiviBu, Kablo TV and Vodafone TV – reaching over five million pay TV households.

Alan Kenan Saran, CEO of SARAN Media Group, said: "We are excited and proud to be partnering with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and EuroCup to bring the highest quality of European basketball to millions of our dedicated and deserving sports fans on our S Sport channels. The EuroLeague has never been more popular in Turkey with the impressive recent championship seasons of Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce, and through S Sport's outstanding editorial and production team we will ensure that the popularity and the brand continue to grow."

Saran Media Group becomes broadcast home of Euroleague Basketball in Turkey

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First-time pact for European basketball creates clear, unified framework going forward
Euroleague Basketball and the EuroLeague Players Association (ELPA) announced on Saturday the completion of a landmark collective agreement that reinforces the commitment between the league, clubs and players to a clear, unified and safe framework of cooperation among all parties.

The EuroLeague Framework Agreement (EFA), a first of its kind in pan-European basketball and team sports in general, will last until the end of the 2023-24 season. Both sides expect this historic step forward to boost the growth of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and to reinforce the players' role as main protagonists and business partners in the competition.

Negotiations on the agreement began shortly after ELPA was formed in 2018 and focused on providing both sides with a predictable and stable relationship going forward into the future. Among many upgrades in their job conditions, players will be assured of minimum renumeration according to the length of their EuroLeague service, salary payment safeguards, and cooperation in different areas such as season calendar, health and safety protocols, doping tests and rules of the game.

In the wake of the worldwide pandemic that saw fans kept away from arenas and games canceled, there is now a precise system in place which will provide protections for both sides in case clubs will be financially impacted by force majeure situations in the future.

Dispute resolution mechanisms, regulated image and commercial rights, limits on the length and duration of training camp and practices, monthly days off and medical services improvements are among the other features of the agreement. Additionally, Euroleague Basketball will carry out league-wide team-by-team meetings with the players to present rules and guidelines before each new season and to discuss any open issues. The parties have agreed to a Standard Player Contract which will serve to regulate the club-player relationship across the league.

The EFA, which is a compulsory minimum standard for all participating EuroLeague clubs and players, will operate to the extent that it does not contradict mandatory laws and regulations within the countries of the clubs.

"After talking with ELPA consistently over the last years, the confirmation of this agreement today makes it clear to everyone that our clubs and players are now stronger partners than ever in growing this sport we all love," Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO, stated. "It is crucial to note that when the league, the clubs and the players know what they can count on from each other, year to year, all of us can concentrate that much better on our primary mutual goal, which is to offer our fans one of the most dramatic sporting spectacles on the planet."

"Since ELPA's founding it has been our priority to reach a collective agreement, which would standardize the relationships between players and clubs across the EuroLeague," Bostjan Nachbar, ELPA Managing Director, said. "This has been a long and challenging process that required a lot of time and effort on both sides. Many of our members, especially the Players’ Board, have unselfishly dedicated their time for the betterment of working conditions for all current and future EuroLeague players. I believe we now have a solid base to work on even more improvements in the future, while at the same time players will have the opportunity to see their careers grow together with the further development of the league itself."



Euroleague Basketball, ELPA announce historic collective agreement

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Euroleague Basketball and Nesine, the sports betting leader in Turkey, have agreed to terms that will extend their cooperation to a full decade. Nesine first became the official national betting sponsor of Euroleague Basketball in Turkey in 2015 and this is the second time the sides have renewed their partnership, extending their collaboration until 2025.

Nesine has played a huge role promoting basketball in Turkey, enhancing fan engagement by offering unique experiences to Turkish fans both inside and outside of the arenas. At the 2021 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Cologne, Germany, Nesine had a protagonist's presence with a focus on in-arena brand exposure and digital exposure. The two companies have begun planning for what promises to be an even more exciting 2021-22 season in which they will further engage with the Turkish fanbase.

"The partnership between Euroleague Basketball and Nesine is a win-win collaboration that has already led to six years' worth of increased exposure and fan engagement for both parties," Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO, said. "We appreciate Nesine's professionalism, knowledge and shared views, and this renewal reinforces our mutual commitment going forward."

Since Nesine first joined the Euroleague Basketball family of sponsors, basketball in Turkey has reached new heights with Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Fenerbahce Istanbul each winning the EuroLeague title for the first time and two other teams raising the EuroCup trophy. Over the past two years, interest in the EuroLeague and EuroCup in Turkey have both grown 21%.

"We would like people to be more interested in sports, and for the clubs to have more sustainable success and increased income," Mr. Halit Gulbakanoglu, CEO of Nesine, said. "We are a tech firm that was founded instinctively to give back to sports what we get from sports. In this respect, we are very happy and proud that we will continue our cooperation with Euroleague Basketball, the most important basketball organization in Europe. We will reach a total sponsorship period of 10 years with our new agreement, and our sustainability goal will be achieved. I wish and hope that our cooperation, which we believe adds value to Turkish and European basketball, will be beneficial for both sides and will last for many more years."

The extension agreement with Nesine is the latest renewal of a deal with a Euroleague Basketball partner during the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrates the ongoing commitment of our family of partners to our path and an important acknowledgment of the continuous growth of the league.



Euroleague Basketball, Nesine to mark a decade together

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The Euroleague Basketball Finance Panel has rendered its decision concerning the compliance status of Khimki Moscow Region with the Financial Stability and Fair Play Regulations (FSFPR).

The proceeding had been opened on the basis of an alleged infringement of overdue payables under Article 32. a) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.

The case was referred by the Euroleague Basketball Management Control Commission for the Finance Panel to review the proceeding.

As a result of that review, the Finance Panel has ruled:

1. Khimki is responsible for the infringements contemplated by Article 32. a) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.

2. Khimki is sanctioned with a limitation on player expenses for the two upcoming seasons it participates in the Euroleague Basketball competitions.

3. The ban on registration new players and coaches in force as a result of a previous proceeding referred to the Finance Panel will likewise apply as long as the Overdue Payables remain outstanding pursuant to Article 2(k) of the Financial Stability and Fair Play Regulations.

Finance Panel resolution in Khimki

Board members sign off guiding principles of first-ever collective agreement with the EuroLeague Players Association (ELPA)
2022 Final Four hosting rights awarded to Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin
The Euroleague Commercial Assets Shareholders Executive Board members met on Wednesday, July 7, in Barcelona, with team representatives welcoming LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and FC Bayern Munich to the table after they were confirmed as licensed teams.

The meeting concluded with the following decisions:

Financial report: reviewed and approved 2020-21 closing figures and 2021-22 projections.
Clubs' economic distribution: approved main principles for the 2021-22 distribution criteria, giving market pool distribution a higher weight over the total with the objective of reducing revenue uncertainty for EuroLeague clubs.
Players' European Framework Agreement: approved the terms of a landmark first-ever three-year collective agreement with the EuroLeague Players Association (ELPA) that will establish league-wide standards in the working relationship between players and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague clubs. Euroleague Basketball and the ELPA will announce further details on the agreement in the coming weeks.
Final Four: Approved awarding Berlin and Mercedes-Benz Arena with the hosting rights for the 2022 event.
The decisions taken by the Executive Board, together with those taken in its previous meeting, will be brought to the ECA Shareholders Meeting, to be held on July 8, 2021.

ECA Executive Board holds second preseason meeting in Barcelona

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Meeting in Barcelona, the Euroleague Commercial Assets Shareholders reviewed performance of the competitions during the 2020-21 season and discussed the future, taking the following decisions:

- Reviewed end-of-season data on different topics:

o All competitions completed, with 18 games (5.5%) having been rescheduled in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 21 games (11%) having been rescheduled in the 7DAYS EuroCup, where 2 games (1%) were also relocated.

o Steady growth in audience levels in both competitions, highlighted by:

a 79% growth in EuroLeague regular season and 50% in EuroLeague playoffs live audience figures.
51% growth in EuroLeague social media engagement and 39% in video views, with the Final Four seeing higher growth levels of 82% and 99% respectively. The EuroCup registered 17% growth in social media engagement.
22% growth in EuroLeague interest levels in the competition’s territories compared to 2019, with Spain, Italy, Israel, Turkey, France and Germany driving highest growth rates; 19% growth in EuroCup interest levels in the competition’s territories compared to 2019, with Greece, Spain, Turkey and Italy driving highest growth rates (research conducted by Nielsen Sports in March/April 2021).
65% to 85% of fans willing or highly willing to attend a live basketball game when restrictions are lifted (research conducted by Nielsen Sports in March/April 2021).
- Approved 2021-22 competitions bylaws, which include the following modifications, amongst others:

o Minimum EuroLeague club budget set at €7 million (previously at €5.4 million) from 2022-23 onward.

o Updated EuroLeague shareholders’ contribution limitations:

2021-22: 55% of budgeted expenses instead of 50%
2022-23: 50% instead of 40%
o Transitory EuroLeague and EuroCup marketing provisions that were introduced in the 2020-21 season and help limit impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing available commercial assets for clubs are maintained for the 2021-22 season.

o EuroLeague and EuroCup game technical rules:

Instant Replay System (IRS) review of basket value to be performed during the next timeout or at the end of the quarter to reduce game interruptions, except in last two minutes of regular time and overtime.
Head coaches will be allowed to call one "challenge" per game to ask the referees to review a play within the established IRS reviewable situations.
o Medical and Health & Safety Protocols: reviewed progress of the Team Doctors and EB Medical Officer meetings, including main concepts concerning rule updates on both protocols.

The complete bylaws of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and of the 7DAYS EuroCup will be made publicly available in the upcoming weeks.

- Approved proposed lists of 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup participating teams.

- Approved 2021-22 season calendar:

o EuroLeague to start on September 30.

o EuroCup to start on October 20.

- Approved 2020-21 closing financial figures and 2021-22 projections.

- Approved first-ever European Framework Agreement with the EuroLeague Players Association, which will regulate the working relationship between EuroLeague clubs and players for the next three seasons.

ECA Shareholders hold 2021-22 season inaugural meeting

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Euroleague Basketball’s FanXP Innovation Challenge has partnered with Tech Barcelona to elevate the mentoring program of the event and connect the participating start-ups to a wide-ranging investor network.

With the aim of offering fans the best experience possible, the FanXP Innovation Challenge – staged in collaboration with N3XT Sports – challenges the latest generation of tech startups to join the sports fan revolution with creative and unique ideas. 38 applicants threw their hats into the ring - ranging from arena management to digital fan engagement - to take part in the biggest basketball startup competition in the world, with those entries facing a review by a jury panel before the top nine are selected to join a virtual final event. Content creation platform Slate took the prize among this years’ finalists ImagineAR, LivXp AG, Fanprime, Seyu Solutions Ltd., Sceenic, LiveDuel, FanDome FRM and Clupik.

Supporting the contest, Tech Barcelona is an independent and non-profit association that works to consolidate Barcelona as a technological and digital hub of international reference. Created in 2013, it represents more than 1,000 members - entrepreneurs, founders, executives or investors - and has more than 70 partner companies, leaders in their sector, committed to the project.

Roser Queralto, Euroleague Basketball’s Chief Business Officer, said: “We are committed to staying at the forefront of technology innovations within the framework of professional sports, and partnering with initiatives like Tech Barcelona will help maintain our position as a progressive and forward-thinking organization.”

Didac Lee, Vicepresident of Tech Barcelona said: “The collaboration between Euroleague Basketball and Tech Barcelona is good news for the sports tech ecosystem. Startups and corporations have to work hand in hand to generate the growth dynamics that we want for Barcelona, which is already the third most preferred city for European entrepreneurs, for it to be consolidated as an international hub for the tech and sports industries.”

Euroleague Basketball partners with Tech Barcelona

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Club executives came together this week to make plans for the coming season and beyond with a series of online meetings as part of the Euroleague Basketball Institute Annual Workshops.

The media directors spent several hours on Monday afternoon focused on continuing to engage fans through both club digital platforms and cooperation with traditional media outlets. They briefly reviewed what content initiatives helped boost the EuroLeague's digital audience last season before exchanging new ideas with which to attract new and younger fans going forward through bespoke storytelling and content synergies with third-party creators.

Chief among the goals discussed was the need to make the EuroLeague experience even stronger for fans returning to the arenas next season by meeting all their sports and logistical information needs while consistently adding entertainment value to each interaction.

Jenny Gravia, Media Director for Olympiacos Piraeus, appreciated the opportunity to spend time with her peers from other clubs.

“The meeting was very useful because we have a common goal with EuroLeague which is to grow the league and make more people love basketball,” she said. “We have to do that in collaboration with the league, and the meeting means we can exchange ideas and start new projects. That is a big benefit for all the teams and the league as a whole. For next season, I think fans are thirsty for basketball and want to see their idols from close distance again.”

The media directors joined Lara Toscani Weems, Head of Corporate Communications for Elevate Sports Ventures and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, in a discussion of how to manage and foment media coverage on the business side of basketball by setting priorities, training spokespeople and recognizing off-the-court storylines of interest to general and specialized media.

“Think about challenging your front office executives to think like a publicist. Train them to look critically at every partnership agreement or business initiative with an eye towards relevancy across the media and industry landscape. What makes this deal unique or significant? What new trend does this ticket sales data reflect?" Ms. Toscani Weems said. "Challenge your executives to identify, rank and share their business priorities, as well as their wish list for media placement. What does a win in earned media placement look like to your CRO? A new sponsor? What outlet will make the phone ring in the Premium Sales department? There may be circumstances where local or regional business media coverage will produce more tangible business results than national coverage - our goal is always to drive the business forward; and while doing so, stimulate and inspire the global sports industry ecosystem by sharing our team and league innovation.”

Marketing directors met on Tuesday morning to discuss how to further develop the brand of the competition and its member clubs, with a focus on digital strategies for the modern audience across Europe and the rest of the world. Ensuring the competition is based around sustainability was another point of emphasis, with a roadmap to 2030 following guidelines set out by the United Nations.

“At Fenerbahce last year we started a new era and now we want to connect our past with our future, which is why we started our #YellowLegacy hashtag last year. We will continue with this by opening a club museum and a wall of fame, and at Fenerbahce, our great strength is our digital platforms, especially social media, so we want to be more aggressive with our digital strategy to attract more partners,” stated Murat Tankut, Marketing Manager for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

The results of consumer research carried out by Nielsen were presented, underlining that sports organizations need to think of themselves as competing with separate industries such as music, entertainment and shopping for the attention and interest of fans. The evolution of corporate partnerships and sponsorships was also on the agenda, highlighted by the need to adapt to change in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday afternoon it was the turn of ticketing executives to gather as they look forward to re-opening box offices and season ticket sales for the 2021-22 season, with the focus on ensuring that fans feel safe and comfortable to return to arenas.

Several examples for best practices around the reopening were shared, led by a fan-centric approach to make fans feel important and valued. The importance of clear and consistent communication to keep fans informed and prepared to return to games was emphasized along with ideas for new ways of using technology and offering creative season ticket packages.

The meeting was joined by special guest Chris Heck, President of the Philadelphia 76ers, who offered suggestions for unique ticket selling opportunities both for season tickets and individual games. He also painted a positive picture about the attitude of fans post-pandemic, saying: “People were so eager and ready to go [to games]. With the people who were vaccinated, it was almost immediate, there was no hesitation. In fact, there was probably more frustration that they were still told to wear their masks and there were a lot of restrictions. It reached a point by the end of our season that you would not have thought the pandemic existed.”

Oren Atar, Sales Manager for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, emphasized the importance for clubs of working hard this summer to recover the revenue they lost during a season without fans in attendance, saying: “We were probably the first country to come back to normal reality and we already had a full stadium in the beginning of the June for our domestic league finals. We sold out the whole arena to fans who were thirsty for basketball after a year and a half without their number one passion, and my immediate priority right now is to focus on selling all the season tickets for the 2021-22 season.”

