GdS: Deadline arrives for NBA Europe bid – where RedBird stand as doubts multiply

The deadline regarding the bids to be part of NBA Europe is almost here, and there is still uncertainty about RedBird Capital’s position.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport report, the clock says time is up. The NBA has long since set a March 31 deadline for submitting non-binding offers for membership in their new European league, the league scheduled to launch in October 2027.

Anyone interested in owning a franchise, in short, will have to submit their offer by tonight. Milan, along with Rome, is under the spotlight.

Will Cardinale submit?

AC Milan and Olimpia have been spoken about more in recent months. In January, they attended the meeting where the NBA outlined the guidelines for the new tournament. Inter didn’t show up that day, but Oaktree – the Nerazzurri’s owners – certainly spoke behind the scenes with the NBA.

The question now is how this three-way match will unfold. Will RedBird’s offer be among the ones the NBA will evaluate tomorrow? Gerry Cardinale’s idea is to make an offer, but in March, the question marks have multiplied.

These uncertainties are partly economic, as RedBird is well aware that the project requires a large initial investment (a €500m registration fee) and very high management costs. Partly, they are political uncertainties.

NBA Europe has always been a shared project between the NBA and FIBA, the international basketball federation, in opposition to the Euroleague. In recent days, however, a number of things have changed.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been clear: “We are convinced that for the good of European basketball, the best course of action would be a joint solution with the Euroleague, reaching an agreement on a systemic approach to growth.”

NBA Europe would therefore become a three-pillar structure: the NBA, FIBA and the Euroleague. Chus Bueno, Euroleague CEO since late January, clarified his priorities for Milan in an interview with Gazzetta.

“I can’t imagine a future without Olimpia in the Euroleague. I don’t even see the possibility of any other brand managing a key basketball team in Milan other than Olimpia. It’s very difficult for me to imagine a new franchise here playing basketball other than Olimpia Milano,” he said.

So, everything will unfold in time. Now, the non-binding offers. Soon, the balance between the NBA, Euroleague and FIBA ​​will be finalised. Cardinale is waiting: he certainly won’t walk away from this game now.