The Final Four of the EuroLeague will take place in Abu Dhabi in 2025. This was officially announced by the EuroLeague on Tuesday.
The games will be played in the Yas Island’s state-of-the-art Etihad Arena, which seats 12,000 fans. The semi-finals will take place on May 23 (Friday) at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. German time, with the final taking place the following Sunday (May 25) at 6 p.m. German time. This means that the Final Four will not be held in Europe for the first time in its history; last year’s event was hosted by the Uber Arena in Berlin.
“I would like to thank the city of Abu Dhabi for placing its trust in the Euroleague Basketball,” said Dejan Bodiroga, President of Euroleague Basketball, in a statement. ”Bringing the Final Four to Abu Dhabi is an ambitious project and a remarkable opportunity to present the atmosphere of the EuroLeague to a new and diverse audience. At the same time, this partnership guarantees our loyal fans a fresh experience in one of the world’s most modern and tourist-friendly cities. Together, we will create another top event that will take the EuroLeague to a new level.”
Awarding the EuroLeague to Abu Dhabi will probably also cost the Arabs a pretty penny. As reported by EuroHoops, the costs for the rights to host the event amount to 50 million euros. The cash injection will apparently also automatically extend the contract with investor IMG by a further ten years, as the EuroLeague has generated a surplus.
Abu Dhabi is also to be a possible location for two further Final Fours in the coming years, but no further details are known as yet.
