The president of Gran Canaria has explained its decision not to play in the Euroleague

Change in her map Euroleague caused by Gran Canariawho announced on Monday (12/6) her decision not to participate in the top European competition, even though she had a “ticket” due to winning the Eurocup.

The president of the Spanish team, Sitafa Savaneexplained to the media the reasoning behind the decision, stressing that it was taken mainly for financial reasons, but also because of the burdensome schedule that would result from Gran Canaria’s participation in the Euroleague.

In detail what he said:

“The move to the EuroLeague means a significant increase in the number of matches, going from 18 to 34. In the EuroCup, teams enjoy a 3-day break between matches, while in the EuroLeague, it is usually reduced to just two days. In addition, there are seven doubleheader weeks during the EuroLeague season, with teams playing three games over five days. To cope with such demanding schedules, charter flights become a necessity.

To understand this problem, consider the case of Valencia, whose budget increased from 500 thousand euros to 1.5 million euros upon joining the EuroLeague. In our case, the projected increase would be even higher, estimated at 2 million euros. Also, let’s not forget the distribution of benefits derived from television rights and sponsorships, which amount to essentially 45 million euros. However, this amount is distributed exclusively among the “first round” teams, leaving no room for others to take the money. Take for example Alba Berlin, who were the lowest-earning team last season, securing a paltry €350,000.”