Athens, Thessaloniki keen to host EuroLeague stretch run
Both Athens and Thessaloniki are vying to play host to the EuroLeague’s stretch run should the competition get clearance to resume play in the coming months.
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As countries around Europe begin to ease the restrictions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, EuroLeague Basketball is hoping to facilitate a way to play-out the rest of the season.
The EuroLeague season was suspended on 12 March as several countries began to go into lockdown as a result of the pandemic. The season was suspended was still six rounds of action remaining in the regular season schedule and just five of the eight playoff spots clinched.
Greece’s rapid response to the coronavirus pandemic made the country an early favourite to play host to future EuroLeague games, and now it appears both Athens and Thessaloniki are frontrunners to play host to the remainder of the schedule.
Initial reports indicated that the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus and the OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall would host games, but now there has been direct interest from Thessaloniki to host games.
Backed by the support of Mayor Konstantinos Zervas, the City of Thessaloniki has expressed its interest in hosting EuroLeague fixtures at both the PAOK Sports Arena and the Nikos Galis Hall.
“We have shown interest since 20 April and as soon as we learned that there was such an intention [from EuroLeague Basketball]. Letters have been exchanged outlining all the details and requirements,” Zervas said during his appearance on Open TV.
“It requires about 15,000 hotel stays and two stadiums. Thessaloniki can offer all of this. It will be an important event for the city,” Zervas added.
There’s no doubt that should the EuroLeague season resume, the format will be quite different than the road to the Final Four that was originally planned for the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany.
With alternate venues set to step in, it’s possible the EuroLeague playoffs will feature a unique Final Eight event instead of the usual best-of-five series format that usually precedes the Final Four.
In addition to interest from Athens and Thessaloniki, EuroLeague Basketball have reportedly also inquired about the availability of venues in Belgrade, Serbia as well as various cities in Germany and Lithuania.
