EuroLeague Set to Grant Hapoel Tel Aviv Permanent Franchise License
EuroLeague management is reportedly planning to expand the tournament to 24 teams by the 2027/28 season, granting Hapoel Tel Aviv and five other clubs permanent franchise licenses to secure their long-term standing in elite European basketball.
The substantial financial investments made by Ofer Yanai in Hapoel Tel Aviv since his acquisition of the club are approaching their ultimate goal: securing a permanent place in the EuroLeague. Obtaining an independent status in Europe's premier tier will provide the Red club with managerial certainty, financial stability, and a consistent competitive framework against top-tier clubs, cementing its long-term position at the pinnacle of European basketball.
European basketball's landscape is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring centered on an expanded competitive model and strategic market capture. According to an internal working plan revealed by the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, EuroLeague management is drafting a framework to increase the number of participating teams from 20 to 24 clubs starting in the 2027/28 season. At the heart of the plan is the leadership's intent to grant Hapoel Tel Aviv a permanent franchise license, cementing its status in the continent's elite division.
The primary significance of such a license is decoupling the club's entry ticket from its domestic league results and the requirement to win the EuroCup. According to the report, Hapoel Tel Aviv is part of a group of six clubs slated to receive new permanent status, alongside Paris Basketball, Valencia, the Dubai basketball project, PAOK Thessaloniki, and Maxim Roma. Their inclusion will expand the core of permanent EuroLeague shareholders from 13 founding members to a total of 19 clubs.
Completion of the move depends on official approval by the EuroLeague board of directors, consisting of representatives of the 13 founding clubs, which is expected to convene for a crucial vote at the end of November. The publication notes that the current agreement is being advanced within the existing managerial mechanism of the competition and is independent of parallel negotiations with the NBA regarding future collaborations.
Beyond securing the six permanent licenses, the updated framework defines a structured distribution of the remaining spots in the expanded league. Four clubs—Partizan Belgrade, Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, Virtus Bologna, and Napoli—are expected to receive wildcards for a defined three-year period, ensuring their participation at least until 2030. The remaining two spots will be allocated to the two finalists of the EuroCup.
