Featured image credit: Euroleague Basketball
Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi has been awarded hosting rights for this year’s edition of basketball’s EuroLeague Final Four.
The semi-finals will be played on May 23, with the third-place and championship games scheduled for May 25. It will mark the first time that the United Arab Emirates has hosted the Final Four, and the first time the event has taken place outside of Europe.
Euroleague Basketball agreed the hosting deal with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The agreement was brokered by the IMG agency.
Etihad Arena opened in 2021 and has hosted NBA pre-season games for the past three years. The facility has a capacity of 12,000 for basketball games.
May’s event will mark Euroleague Basketball’s second visit to the Middle East, after Dubai hosted the Adidas NextGen Qualifier last season.
Dejan Bodiroga, president of Euroleague Basketball, said: “I would like to thank the city of Abu Dhabi for showing their confidence in Euroleague Basketball. Bringing the Final Four to Abu Dhabi is an ambitious project and a remarkable opportunity to showcase the EuroLeague atmosphere 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 deliver another top-level event that will elevate the EuroLeague to new heights.”
HE Saood Al Hosani, undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, added: “Abu Dhabi has rapidly become the home for basketball in the Middle East, and we’re excited to welcome Euroleague Basketball to the emirate – and the region – for the very first time.
“A hub for sporting excellence, Abu Dhabi will offer fans a world-class experience at the Final Four events in Etihad Arena, providing a warm welcome and a diverse range of attractions and experiences in addition to the games themselves. We look forward to Euroleague finding new audiences here in Abu Dhabi and once again demonstrating the destination’s capability to host large-scale international sporting events.”
Last year’s Final Four took place at Berlin’s Uber Arena, while Zalgirio Arena in Kaunas hosted the 2023 edition. Previous hosts include Belgrade, Cologne and Istanbul.
Share this