Today's Edition
Kuumar Shyam (Abu Dhabi)
The decision of Abu Dhabi to host EuroLeague basketball's Final Four has been officially made public on Tuesday, nearly couple of months after the bid was won from Belgrade, the initial front-runner.
The Final Four or F4 is the version of the NBA's play-offs in European basketball. The event marks Abu Dhabi as one of the few international cities where both the world's most famous leagues get representation in some way in the emirate where the Department of Culture and Tourism has taken the lead.
The deal, brokered by IMG, marks a milestone expansion of Euroleague Basketball out of their conventional regional into Middle East and new global markets. The announcement was made at the Etihad Arena, the venue for the matches which will be held in May. The decision coincides with Euroleague Basketball's strategic ambition to expand into new markets, building on its long legacy of success.
Dejan Bodiroga, the league president, acknowledged that bringing the Final Four to Abu Dhabi is an ambitious project and a good opportunity to highlight the EuroLeague atmosphere to a new and diverse audience.
He added that this partnership guarantees the fans a fresh experience in one of the world's most modern and tourist-friendly cities. By staging the F4 in a new region, Euroleague Basketball aims to bring its fan experience and their "Every Game Matters" mantra to a broader global audience after being the top-tier competition in Europe.
Etihad Arena will host the four best teams of the season, who will play in the semi-finals on May 23 at 7pm and 10pm local time. The third-place and championship games will be held on May 25 at 6pm and 9pm respectively.
Orginally started in 1958 as FIBA European Champions Cup, it got rebranded in 1996 before getting another name facelift in the present moniker in the 2000-01 season. The league consists of 18 teams, of which 16 are given long-term licences and wild cards, making the league a semi-closed league.
Some clubs or teams with long-term licenses also have a say in deciding the venue for the F4, and the majority voted for Abu Dhabi in a 11-2 decision even though Belgrade presented a tough choice as a popular basketball destination.
"Abu Dhabi has rapidly become the home for basketball in the Middle East, and we're excited to welcome Euroleague Basketball to the emirate and the region for the very first time," said Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, on the occasion.
"A hub for sporting excellence, Abu Dhabi will offer fans a world-class experience at the Final Four events in Etihad Arena, providing a warm welcome and a diverse range of attractions and experiences in addition to the games themselves," he added.
The Final Four will mark Euroleague's second experience in the Middle East, following the successful Adidas NextGen Tournament Qualifier hosted in Dubai last season. The move also tracks with the warm reception to European teams in Dubai, the home of the newly founded team Dubai Basketball, which is playing in Europe's Adriatic Basketball League (ABA).
Many players and teams from Serbia and nearby European countries are part of it and ABA matches in Dubai have been packed affairs.
Paulius Motiejunas, the Chief Executive Officer of Euroleague Basketball, said: "This agreement represents a milestone for the EuroLeague and a significant step in our global growth strategy. By partnering with Abu Dhabi, we are bringing our most iconic event to a dynamic new environment that offers world-class facilities and a passion for hosting major international sports events."
General public tickets, which provide seating for all four games, two on Friday and two on Sunday, will be available in several different price categories, starting February 26. Further details about ticket sales will be released in the coming days.
Abu Dhabi has quickly become one of the Middle East’s leading sports hubs. The city has hosted prominent international events, such as the FIFA Club World Cup (2009, 2010), the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the Abu Dhabi World Triathlon Championship Series and major UFC events, and is the home of the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Basketball has also gained momentum in the city, with Abu Dhabi hosting several NBA pre-season games and the USA Basketball Showcase, a friendly tournament featuring national teams from the USA, Serbia and Australia.
Etihad Arena, with a basketball capacity of 12,000 spectators, is situated on Yas Bay Waterfront, one of Abu Dhabi's premier tourist destinations. Since opening in 2021, Etihad Arena has rapidly established itself as a top-tier venue, hosting a wide array of sports events, including UFC bouts and NBA games, as well as concerts by internationally renowned artists.
