Exclusive: Euroleague Basketball President Reveals NBA Marketing Gap ‘still big’

By Ismail Uddin

Jordi Bertomeu, drug president of Euroleague Basketball has revealed the gap between the organisation and the NBA is ‘still big’ when it comes to the business aspects. 

“In terms of organisation and marketing the gap is still big,” he told iSportconnect. 

“First of all, the financial strengths of the leagues in American sports are much bigger than in Europe. In Europe football is so dominant that it’s very hard for the rest of sport to grow, it’s a different system in the States. They are working, in terms of marketing for many years now, I think in this field they are doing really great and the concept of the teams are much more business-oriented.  If you talk to the resident of a football team here it will be if they win or lose, at the end their losses are on the court or the football field. “ 

The two biggest basketball leagues signed a new co-operation agreement last month which will help Euroleague learn from their American counterparts as they look to expand the brand internationally. 

“We really want to have this opportunity to grow outside of Europe. We did many things in the past, but we focus our interest in China,” he said. 

Bertomeu is also looking to establish his brand in the Sub-continent and South America. 

“There are other markets that are interesting like India and South America with more basketball tradition. We spoke to FIBA in America to organise events together with them. I think that those are probably the two more important markets or areas for us, now we are in Australia and other countries on TV. To have a closer presence, Asia and South America will be the priorities.”

Read his full interview here>>