Euroleague Basketball - History timeline
|
 Season 2000-01:
Some of Europe's top basketball teams and leagues join forces to create a new model of pan-European competition under a private organizational model that is considered a breakthrough for European professional team sports.
Euroleague Basketball signs a partnership agreement with Telefónica, the leading telecommunications company. Telefónica becomes solely responsible for the promotion and distribution of all marketing and television rights of Euroleague Basketball until 2005.
24 teams participate in the first Euroleague season (2000-01), which was broadcasted by 15 television networks.
The first Euroleague game is played between traditional powers Real Madrid and Olympiacos.
Season 2001-02:
Euroleague Basketball adopts the Final Four model to decide its annual champion. The Final Four will visit top European capitals every year. The first one is held in Bologna, Italy.
Season 2002-03:
During the 2003 Final Four in Barcelona, Euroleague Basketball introduces the International Junior Tournament, a three-day event in which the best junior teams in Europe are invited to compete.
Euroleague Basketball creates the Eurocup (former ULEB Cup), which becomes the second best European clubs’ basketball competition.
Season 2004-05:
Euroleague Basketball introduces Fantasy Challenge, a simulation game that allows users to show their skills in creating virtual basketball teams and competing for prizes. The contest registers more than 100,000 fans.
Season 2005-06:
The agreement with Telefónica ends and Euroleague Basketball introduces a new model based on the internal marketing of all audio-visual and sponsorship rights.
Euroleague Basketball TV broadcasters increase from 27 to 32.
· Sportingbet becomes an official sponsor of the competition for five seasons.
Season 2006-07:
Nike becomes an official sponsor of the competition for five seasons. The official ball of the Euroleague becomes a Nike basketball.
The Greek National Tourism Organization becomes an official sponsor of the Euroleague for three seasons.
The Euroleague Basketball TV broadcasters increase from 32 to 41.
Euroleague Basketball launches the Euroleague Institute, an educational program to help develop professionals in the sporting business, and "Euroleague for Life," a corporate social responsibility program that has developed ties with UNICEF, 46664 Nelson Mandela Foundation and Special Olympics.
Season 2007-08:
Mondo becomes an official sponsor of the competition for five seasons.
Euroleague Basketball TV broadcasters increase from 41 to 58.
Nike becomes the title sponsor of the Junior Tournament, henceforth known as the "Nike International Junior Tournament"
Euroleague Basketball launches Euroleague.TV, a web-based platform where all Euroleague games are broadcast live.
The Euroleague Institute adds the Mastermind Coaching Clinic to its educational program, where the best coaches on the continent share their experiences with students of the game.
Season 2008-09:
Efes Pilsener becomes an official sponsor of the competition for three seasons.
Continuing the strategy of being present in all important social media platforms, Euroleague Basketball launches its official Facebook and Twitter pages.
Season 2009-10:
Euroleague Basketball introduces a new strategic plan. 13 teams will have long-term licences to participate in the competition. These licences, given with the aim of providing more stability to the competition and to clubs, have a positive impact on sponsorship agreements, ticketing revenues and TV contracts. One of the main obligations for holding a long-term licence is to increase home arena capacity to 10,000 spectators.
The Euroleague Basketball Final Four is broadcast to 197 countries and territories, a historic record for European competition.
Jacques Le Mans becomes an official sponsor of the competition for two seasons.
Season 2010-11:
Euroleague Basketball and Turkish Airlines sign a strategic agreement to sponsor the top European basketball competition across the globe for five seasons.
All Euroleague clubs with long-term licenses are already playing in or have a solid project to play in a 10,000-seat arena by the 2011-12 season.
The Euroleague Basketball Final Four has experienced an increase of 280% in revenues from its first edition in 2001-02, including the projected growth for 2011-12. This is a 9.3% yearly increase.
Euroleague Basketball has a projected increase of 20% in overall revenues compared to the 2009-10 season, including a 22% increase in television rights income and a 73% increase in sponsorship income.
The Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four was broadcast by 52 stations to 171 different countries.
Season 2011-12:
bwin becomes an official sponsor of the Euroleague and the Eurocup for four seasons.
Intersport becomes an official sponsor of the Euroleague for three seasons..
|
|
Euroleague.net
|