Transforming European Basketball: The Potential Merger of Eurocup and Basketball Champions League

What the Euroleague and FIBA ​​will manage to sit a few months ago and ‘agree’ on the European basketball calendar It has been a step that goes further of what the FIBA ​​Windows become. And although it is the official proof of the understanding between the two entitiesalso represents an approach towards a horizon that everything indicates that in the not too distant future will end up becoming a reality: the merger between the Eurocup and the Basketball Champions League (BCL) to create a single second competition continental, something that would change the current panorama of European basketball and for which the first steps are already being taken, as Relevo has learned. But why does all this happen? You have to go back to the origin of both competitions to understand everything.

The Euroleague was established as a new entity and created the maximum continental competition, to which the same entity gives its name, in the year 2000. While In 2002 he created the ULEB Cup, which six years later would be renamed Eurocup (2008).. Although finally in 2004 the FIBA ​​ended up recognizing the Euroleague as the highest continental competition, In 2015 there was a new breakup between both.

And this is when FIBA established the famous Ventanas and, in addition, created the BCL, a competition that would be accessed by “sports meritocracy”, according to position in the domestic leagues – the Euroleague, on the other hand, has totally different admission criteria: by license, invitation or by winning the Eurocup – and with which FIBA tried to compete head to head with the Euroleague. What happen? That this really did not end up happening and that The one that the BCL has been competing with, to a certain extent, has been the Eurocup.

Improving relations in 2023

Last summer news came that completely revolutionized European basketball: the agreement between FIBA ​​and Euroleague facing the break for the FIBA ​​Windows. This consisted of suppressing the national team qualifying matches that were in November to combine them in February, taking advantage of the fact that the Euroleague would also give way and take a break there. And yes, unlike other years since the Windows were established, this has allowed more Euroleague players to be able to go with their national teams.

And what does this translate into? In what within FIBA ​​they consider as a hopeful beginning to be able to embark on a joint path of understanding, but also of collaboration. AND This is where the merger between the Eurocup and the BCL would come in.

A unique second continental competition

Since the rapprochement that took place last summer, FIBA ​​and Euroleague have held regular conversations and, as Relevo has learned, these include the aforementioned merger between the Eurocup and the BCL in order to create a single second competition at continental level.

Both entities would be willing to do so to the point that the first steps are already being taken to achieve it. Although, this would also mean continuing that line of understanding with what would be the FIBA ​​Windows. And, it is worth remembering, that next season there are matches scheduled in November in which, for example, Spain will play for qualification to Eurobasket 2025.

What is clear is that Both FIBA ​​and Euroleague are willing, if the harmony between both continues, to collaborate to unify and that there is only one second continental competition. Something that, on the other hand, according to La Opinión de Málaga, would have even been conveyed to the clubs during the meeting of the BCL Club Council that took place this Thursday morning.

2024-02-29 18:46:11
#horizon #European #basketball #involves #merger #BCL #Eurocup #Relief