Almost two weeks after the German team surprisingly won the bronze medal at the European Basketball Championship, the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) has started the new season. Before the EM, BBL Managing Director Stefan Holz was still skeptical as to whether the tournament would have an effect on the Bundesliga. He has since changed his mind: “I still believe that you shouldn’t overwhelm a tournament with expectations. It’s not a complete game changer, but it definitely helps. We can feel that too. The BBL already has a different perception and we’re trying to get there, of course,” said Holz on Deutschlandfunk.
With the new streaming service “Dyn”, the BBL will also have a new TV partner in the coming 2023/24 season. In addition to basketball, the station founded by ex-DFL boss Christian Seifert also wants to show volleyball, handball and table tennis. The game schedules of the various sports should be coordinated with one another as far as possible. “The credo of ‘Dyn’ will be: The demand for the weekend arises during the week. So the BBL will also be much more present during the week. That is at least the concept and also what we expect,” said Holz.
Wood open for Monday games
However, also because of the international competitions, the games would continue to take place at the weekend, according to Holz, with possibly one exception. “Anyone who knows Christian Seifert knows, of course, that he prefers Monday games, which he also tried to do in the Bundesliga.”
There are reasons for, but also reasons against, Monday games, says Holz. A final decision has not yet been made. “There is certainly a certain unique position in favor of this, also in the media on Tuesday morning. Ticketing may speak against it. The topic of away fans is not that big in the BBL. We will discuss it with the clubs. And I can imagine that there are clubs that are interested in a Monday game, but we won’t condemn anyone.”
Due to the corona pandemic and now the energy crisis, the BBL is entering its fourth difficult season. “We don’t even know a normal year anymore,” said Holz, but he was optimistic. “We will be left there, as always, and we will manage what comes.” Nevertheless, the clubs would probably have to adjust to rising costs, which Holz does not want to play down. “But we will manage it. We are not looking at the season with concern, but with anticipation and with a tailwind through the EuroBasket.”
