NBA Europe to generate $2.2 bn in Istanbul and $6.4 bn in Spain

The NBA and FIBA plan to launch a new continental competition, NBA Europe, beginning in 2027 with a ten‑year horizon. The league will feature 12 permanent‑license clubs and will be staged in cities across Europe, including Istanbul, Madrid and Barcelona.

Economic forecasts by The Sports Consultancy estimate that the Istanbul‑based franchise will create about $2.2 billion in total activity over 2027‑2036, contribute roughly $819 million to Turkey’s GDP, support 176 full‑time jobs per year and host 213 events reaching 3.6 million spectators. In Spain, the same model is projected to generate $6.4 billion in revenue, add $2.5 billion to the Spanish GDP, sustain about 1,500 full‑time positions annually and attract six million viewers across 426 events in Madrid and Barcelona.

The initiative aims to tap Europe’s 270 million basketball fans – currently a small share of the continent’s sports‑media market – by leveraging the NBA’s global brand and FIBA’s governance.