ECA Shareholders Executive Board meets, analyzes the 2012-13 Euroleague Season

 A meeting of the Euroleague Commercial Assets Shareholders Executive Board was held at the Euroleague Basketball headquarters in Barcelona, Spain on Monday to review the changes that were put into effect for the 2012-13 season, preview the 2013 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in London to be held on the second weekend of May, approve a commercial study of the competition changes, discuss previously approved changes to the Eurocup Competition System, as well as changes to the Euroleague Bylaws for the 2013-14 season.

The board heard that the new competition system with eight more games added to the Top 16 phase has resulted in several positive developments. Seven of the eight final positions guaranteeing either Playoff qualification or home-court advantage in the Playoffs were unknown going into the last gameday of the Top 16. Arena attendance increased with 38% more fans than in 2011-12. Data from TV broadcasts showed positive growth with the number of countries to which games were broadcast jumping from 174 one season ago to 199 this year. The biggest increase came with the new competition day of Friday, showing a massive 75% jump in TV audiences when compared to Wednesday games the previous season.

In other affects attributed to the longer season, visits to the official competition website www.euroleague.net increased almost 33% over last season. Likewise, the number of fans on the Turkish Airlines Euroleague's official Facebook has climbed 25% this season and 56% over the last two, while Twitter followers have risen by 31% in the last year. The biggest jump came in subscribers to the official YouTube channel, where there are 144% more than a year ago viewing 22% more videos, a total of almost 11 million more views in a year.

A further commercial study will be performed in order to quantify how the business aspects of the league and its clubs have been affected by the changes in the competition, with a view to analyzing what future steps ECA should take in order to improve the product and therefore the economy of its stakeholders.

The board reviewed the budget forecast for the season, which predicts a 5% rise in profit before taxes based on fractionally lower revenues as well as decreased expenses, allowing for an economic distribution to member clubs matching those of last season.

The board heard a preview of the Final Four and its related activities coming to London next week, including the debut of an “Innovation in Sport Business Summit”, to be held on Thursday 9th May, and the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Fan Zone in Trafalgar Square, taking place Friday 10th to Sunday 12th May.

The ECA Shareholders Executive Board discussed recent situations involving one of its member clubs, Panathinaikos Athens, and its non-compliance with the competition rules and regulations, including the fundamental rules of fair play amongst participating members not being respected. The clubs and leagues that form the Board have unanimously agreed to officially forward their concerns to the club, while further studying the situation in order to propose mechanisms to avoid these situations from occurring with any club in the future.

The Eurocup competition was also discussed, with the expansion of the Eurocup that was already approved by the ECA Shareholders in October 2011 to be applied for the 2013-14 season. The competition will increase the number of guaranteed games for clubs in the Regular Season, with the clubs in the draw being divided according to Conferences, as well as including a new proposal that the teams that do not qualify to the Euroleague Top 16 will join the Eurocup competition in the same season. The changes to the Eurocup competition have been shared with FIBA Europe, so that they can also be discussed amongst its members.

Following the FIBA World Technical Commission Meeting in January, the board was updated as to the technical rule changes that were approved for the 2014-15 season. Other rules' changes that were previously proposed by the ECA Shareholders will be discussed at the July 2013 ECA Shareholders Meeting. The board also approved the proposed changes to the 2013-14 Euroleague Bylaws, which will also be taken to the same ECA Shareholders Meeting.