In a ground-breaking development, the EuroLeague is reportedly poised to announce Abu Dhabi, UAE, as the host city for the 2025 edition of its prestigious season-ending Final Four tournament. Greek outlet SNDA first revealed that the showcase event, which concludes the EuroLeague postseason playoffs, is scheduled to take place from May 23 to May 25, 2025. This marks the first time since the competition's inception in 1966 that the event will be held outside Europe.
The decision was reportedly approved by an 11-2 vote among the 13 EuroLeague A-licensed teams. Notably, while 12 of these teams currently compete in the league, CSKA Moscow remains suspended due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine but retains voting rights as a shareholder. The two dissenting votes came from Spain's Real Madrid and Greece's Olympiakos.
Although the specific venue has not been officially confirmed, Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena, with a seating capacity of 18,000, is widely considered the frontrunner. The venue has previously hosted high-profile basketball events, including NBA games and exhibitions featuring the US national team.
This announcement follows recent Final Four editions held in Berlin, Germany (2024), Kaunas, Lithuania (2023), and Belgrade, Serbia (2022). Belgrade, which also hosted the event in 2018, had been seen as the favourite for the 2025 edition until global sports agency IMG, a longstanding joint venture partner of the EuroLeague, reportedly facilitated a more lucrative offer from Abu Dhabi. Reports suggest the Emirate will pay a record €50 million ($52 million) for hosting rights.
The substantial financial contribution from Abu Dhabi is expected to help the EuroLeague and IMG achieve the funding targets required to extend their joint venture beyond its initial 10-year agreement. This financial incentive was likely a decisive factor in securing the UAE capital as the 2025 host city.
This development reflects the EuroLeague's ongoing efforts to expand its presence in the Middle East. In 2023, the league explored integrating Dubai BC into its roster, although the team ultimately joined the ABA League due to basketball’s limited regional popularity. Nonetheless, Abu Dhabi’s selection underscores the growing role of the Middle East, a region increasingly recognized as a hub for sports investment, in the league’s strategic plans.
In other recent EuroLeague developments, mid-November saw the league secure a multi-year partnership with financial services giant Visa. Under the three-year agreement, Visa becomes the official payments partner for both the EuroLeague and the second tier EuroCup, with the partnership set to run through the 2026-27 season.