Etihad Arena hosts EuroLeague Final Four 2025
The Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi is going to host the Final Four of the Basketball EuroLeague 2025. This is the first time that the tournament, which will take place from May 23 to 25, will be held outside Europe.
In contrast to the Final Four of the most important pan-European club competition in handball, the IHF Champions League, the Final Four of the Basketball EuroLeague does not have a fixed venue. Instead, Euroleague Basketball chooses a new city each year. In the past two years, it was Kaunas in Lithuania (2023) and Berlin (2024). The League is becoming increasingly popular and is now looking to tap into a new market in the Middle East after reaching an agreement with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi to host the tournament.
The fully air-conditioned Etihad Arena was opened in 2021 and has a capacity of 18,000. It is suitable for concerts, live shows and a wide variety of sporting events as it can also be converted into an ice rink, for example. However, the maximum capacity for basketball matches is only 12,000 spectators. In the last three years, the multi-purpose hall has already hosted pre-season NBA games. Hence, world class basketball games are not entirely new to the venue.
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.”
Matt Dwyer, SVP, Sports Management, IMG, added: “This game-changing deal is the largest in Euroleague Basketball’s history, expands the League’s global footprint, and creates exciting opportunities for continued growth. Abu Dhabi will provide a world-class Final Four experience for players, stakeholders, and EuroLeague fans, while introducing a whole new audience to the magic of European basketball.”
The agreement between Abu Dhabi and EuroLeague Basketball was negotiated by the IMG agency. (stadiaworld, 29.01.2025)
