BBL, EUROLEAGUE TO CO-HOST IN LONDON?
- Updated: May 22, 2012
The British Basketball League could stage next season’s play-off final at London’s 02 Arena.
The BBL has confirmed it has begun exploratory discussions with the Euroleague about the possibility of staging their Final Four in conjunction with the domestic showpiece.
The Barcelona-based body has signed an agreement to stage its next two Final Fours at the London venue.
And with the Euroleague traditionally playing its semi-finals on Friday, and final on Sunday, it would be a logical move to slot the BBL into the Saturday date.
However British basketball officials were not given advance notice of the deal ahead of its announcement two weeks ago, in what was seen as a breach of protocol.
And given that the BBL’s end of season event has often been held on the same weekend as the Final Four, an agreement would appear in the interests of both parties.
“We’ve commenced dialogue,†revealed BBL CEO Andy Webb.
Mersey under review
Mersey Tigers future also remains under a cloud at the end of a season where the club’s off-court troubles continued.
With coach Tony Garbelotto expected to depart, players are understood to be still owed wages back to the 2010-11 campaign.
MVP has learnt that John Hollis-Davies, who was involved with the Liverpool outfit in its former incarnation as Toxteth Tigers, is lining up a bid to buy Mersey from current owner Steve Brookfield.
However the BBL will assess the club’s stability before finalising its line-up for next term.
“They’ll undergo a review,†Webb confirmed. “It’s a normal process.â€
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