NBA Europe to create $2.2 billion economy in Istanbul
A planned European basketball league by the NBA and FIBA will generate a $2.2 billion economy in Istanbul between 2027 and 2036, a report by The Sports Consultancy showed.
The semi-open NBA Europe project will launch in October 2027 with 16 teams. The league will feature 12 permanent license holders located in Rome, Milan, London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Munich, Athens and Istanbul. Performances in FIBA organizations and the Basketball Champions League will determine the remaining four spots.
The $2.2 billion economic activity in Istanbul encompasses direct revenues from tickets, licensed products and broadcasting rights. This also includes indirect impacts such as tourism mobility, supply chain contributions and newly created employment. The organization is expected to contribute $819 million to Türkiye’s gross domestic product in 10 years, supporting 176 full-time jobs annually while hosting 213 events for 3.6 million spectators in the city.
Basketball is Europe’s fastest-growing sport with 270 million fans, ranking second behind football. European influence in the NBA is rising, with a record 71 European players on rosters at the start of last season. European players won the Most Valuable Player award five times in the last eight years.
