EuroLeague will expand to 24 teams for the 2027-28 season and introduce a conference-based format, president Dejan Bodiroga confirmed, outlining the competition’s plans following a meeting of its shareholders in Lake Como.
Speaking on the Radar Forum program, Bodiroga said the league would move away from its current 20-team format, in which every club plays every other team. The criteria for dividing the expanded competition into two conferences have not yet been established.
“The next steps for EuroLeague are expansion and franchises. Already next year, we are changing the format from the current 20 clubs, where everyone plays everyone, to 24 teams, where there will essentially be two conferences,” Bodiroga said, according to Mozzart Sport on Sunday, October 18.
The expansion is part of a broader business plan approved unanimously by all 13 EuroLeague shareholder clubs at their October 6 meeting in Lake Como. The 10-year plan projects a combined value of more than €13 billion for the competition and its licensed clubs, with €3.4 billion in distributions to participating teams.
Euroleague Basketball aims to generate €648 million in annual commercial revenue by the plan’s tenth year. Of the projected €3.4 billion in distributions, €2.2 billion is expected to come from commercial revenue, while €1.2 billion is projected from franchise fees through potential expansion windows in 2027 and 2031.
The organization currently has 15 binding offers from prospective entrants, with a combined value of €1.2 billion. Bodiroga said the interested parties include teams from the EuroCup and clubs outside that competition.
Partizan and Crvena Zvezda are among the clubs discussed in connection with the future franchise structure. Bodiroga believes both Serbian teams have strong chances of remaining in EuroLeague, although their future status has not been formally confirmed.
“I think both clubs have a very good standing with our board. Considering the process, their involvement and the requirements they need to meet, I think they have very good chances of being in EuroLeague. Simply put, I see them as long-term partners,” he said.
Bodiroga also highlighted the competition’s recent growth, citing more than 3.3 million fans attending games last season and more than 500 million viewers watching EuroLeague games on television during the campaign.
He praised Partizan for appearing to regain its balance after two difficult seasons and said Crvena Zvezda had shown encouraging early-season form after retaining most of its roster.
In the 2026-27 regular season, Crvena Zvezda has a 4-2 record after six games, while Partizan stands at 3-3.
EuroLeague’s expansion plans are unfolding as the NBA continues preparing for its own European competition. Discussions between the two organizations remain ongoing, with NBA commissioner Adam Silver expressing optimism about a potential agreement.
Whether the leagues can cooperate remains uncertain. EuroLeague’s approved plan, however, sets out its intended direction for 2027-28: a 24-team competition, two conferences and a transition toward a franchise-based model.
