Investors have until March 31 to submit non-binding bids for licenses in the NBA’s planned NBA Europe league, offering a first glimpse into who might help launch the league and how much revenue it could generate.
Sources say the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which owns Newcastle United and operates a broad sports portfolio including LIV Golf, is preparing a bid for a London-based team. Qatar Sports Investments, owner of Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to bid for a Paris franchise, while RedBird Capital, owner of AC Milan, will pursue a Milan-based team.
Each of these bids is anticipated to be independent, with the NBA also inviting interest from established European clubs such as Alba Berlin and ASVEL, though it is unclear if those clubs will partner with investors to meet NBA licensing requirements.
The NBA has created a virtual data room this season for interested investors. Over 100 potential bidders have access, targeting licenses in 12 cities, including London, Paris, Milan, Rome, Munich, Barcelona, Madrid, Manchester, Athens, and Istanbul. In addition, four at-large licenses will be available to professional European teams that meet merit-based criteria. NBA Europe play is scheduled to begin in October 2027.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is also pursuing new arenas for these teams: London would host a venue funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, a Paris site by Qatar Sports Investments, and Milan by RedBird Capital, which is simultaneously developing a new soccer stadium.
Two investment banks, Raine and JPMorgan Chase, are overseeing the bidding process, managing submissions, and advising the NBA on the most competitive offers.
The league anticipates that revenues from NBA Europe could offset potential losses from domestic expansion, which is also under review, including proposed franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle.