When the North American professional basketball league NBA enters the European market, Bayern President Herbert Hainer sees the German soccer record champions in a privileged role.
“An FC Bayern, a Real Madrid or an FC Barcelona, we bring something completely different in terms of fan reach and fan enthusiasm than a pure basketball club. And that all has to be evaluated, that is also clear to the NBA,” said Hainer at a press conference to introduce the new sports director Thorsten Leibenath.
“Without FC Bayern there would be no competitive basketball”
According to dpa information, more than 20 existing basketball and football clubs have submitted their bids for NBA Europe. From Germany, Berlin with the Alba basketball club and Munich with FC Bayern are the most promising candidates for one of the twelve permanent starting places.
When asked whether he was worried about another rumored offer from Munich, Hainer said: “Definitely not. I assume that without FC Bayern there will be no competitive basketball here.”
The NBA Europe is scheduled to start in October 2027 and, in addition to the twelve fixed starters, will also feature four teams qualified via the Champions League. It is still unclear what will happen next with the Euroleague – currently the most important European league in club basketball.
Hainer reports on intensive discussions
Hainer reported on conversations with NBA boss Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum. “But we are also talking intensively with the Euroleague. We are shareholders of the Euroleague and so we also have an obligation and a self-interest that the Euroleague and the NBA work together,” said the Bayern President. With a collaboration we would “certainly find the best possible solution for the European market”.
“The fact is, the NBA constantly says that it wants FC Bayern there. We also say whenever we are asked that we are of course interested, as a basketball club, as the German reference, as Munich, as a basketball city, that we want to be there. But the overall framework conditions also have to be right,” said Hainer. The expense of a franchise fee must also pay off at some point.