Pallacanestro Varese vice president Paolo Perego has confirmed that RedBird Capital approached the Italian basketball club about joining the NBA Europe project, according to verified reports from Italian media outlets. The discussions, which have been ongoing for several months, center on a potential partnership that would see Varese serve as a home base for both Serie A basketball and the fresh NBA-backed European league.
Perego spoke publicly about the negotiations during an appearance on Ultima Contesa, a program broadcast by Varesenoi, where he addressed the growing speculation surrounding RedBird’s interest in Varese. He confirmed that the American investment firm, which owns AC Milan through its RedBird Capital subsidiary, had initiated formal talks regarding the club’s potential involvement in NBA Europe.
“RedBird are in talks with the current basketball team based in Varese,” Perego stated, as reported by Il Giorno and subsequently confirmed through multiple Italian sports news sources. He emphasized that the discussions remain subject to strict confidentiality agreements, which limit the details that can be shared publicly at this stage.
The proposed structure for the collaboration involves a time-share arrangement between existing Serie A basketball operations and the new NBA Europe franchise. Under this model, Pallacanestro Varese would continue to host its traditional Italian league home games at the PalaWhirlpool in Masnago, while NBA Europe home games would be played in a newly constructed arena planned for San Donato Milanese.
The planned facility in San Donato would feature approximately 15,000 seats, according to the vice president’s remarks, positioning it as a mid-sized venue suitable for regular-season NBA Europe contests. This separation of venues aims to preserve Varese’s local basketball identity while accommodating the infrastructure needs of a professional expansion franchise.
Perego highlighted Varese’s long-standing commitment to youth development as a key factor in RedBird’s interest, noting that the club has invested significantly in rebuilding its academy system. “We’ve recreated our youth sector at a very high cost – where there are now 450 kids,” he explained, underscoring how this investment aligns with the strategic goals of potential partners seeking sustainable basketball operations.
The vice president also referenced the club’s eight-decade history as part of the foundation that makes Varese an attractive partner. “For how we manage the club, regardless of where we are today sportingly and for everything we’ve built, which provides an excellent foundation for the future and allows us not to start from scratch,” Perego said when explaining why RedBird may have chosen Varese over other potential locations.
Despite the progress in discussions, Perego acknowledged that significant hurdles remain before any agreement could be finalized. He did not specify the nature of these obstacles but indicated that they involve logistical, financial, and structural considerations that must be resolved before moving forward.
The NBA Europe project represents the league’s first major attempt to establish a permanent, team-based competition on the continent, distinct from its existing preseason games and global outreach initiatives. While the exact launch timeline has not been officially confirmed by the NBA, multiple credible sources have suggested a target window between 2027 and 2028 for the league’s inaugural season.
RedBird Capital’s involvement through its ownership of AC Milan connects the project to broader sports investment strategies in Italy, where the firm has also expressed interest in other ventures across soccer, basketball, and sports media. The potential dual presence of an NBA Europe team and an established Serie A club in the Lombardy region could create new cross-promotional opportunities and shared infrastructure benefits.
Perego concluded his remarks by reaffirming the club’s commitment to its community and traditions, stating that any potential partnership would need to respect Pallacanestro Varese’s heritage and ongoing investments in youth programs. “The fact that we’ve recreated our youth sector at a very high cost – where there are now 450 kids – and the respect we have for this 80-year history: all of this is part of a series of conditions without which we wouldn’t even be sitting down to discuss NBA Europe,” he said.
As talks continue, no official timeline has been set for when a final decision might be reached. Both Pallacanestro Varese and RedBird Capital have maintained a restrained public stance on the negotiations, citing the sensitivity of the discussions and the need to protect proprietary information during the due diligence phase.
For now, the focus remains on verifying whether the conceptual framework outlined by Perego can transition from exploratory conversations to a formalized agreement that satisfies all stakeholders — including the club’s leadership, local authorities, potential investors, and the NBA itself.
The next confirmed checkpoint in this developing story will be any official announcement from either Pallacanestro Varese, RedBird Capital, or the NBA regarding the status of the NBA Europe project and Varese’s potential role in it. Until then, the situation remains fluid, grounded in confirmed discussions but lacking definitive commitments.
If you have insights or updates on the NBA Europe expansion talks involving Pallacanestro Varese and RedBird Capital, we encourage you to share them in the comments below. Your perspectives help enrich the conversation for fans and followers tracking this evolving story in European basketball.
