79% Increase Over Inaugural 2000/01 Season
Moscow—May 5, 2005—Euroleague Basketball announced today that 2004/2005 end-of-season attendance averaged 5,839, representing a 23% increase over the average of 4,742 at the end of the previous season. Total attendance for the 2004/05 season was 1,313,775 compared to 1,024,272 at the end of the previous season, representing a 28% increase. Both increases mark all-time Euroleague attendance records. Compared to the inaugural 2000/2001 season, attendance has increased 79%.
Eleven Euroleague teams experienced better attendance in 2004/05 compared to the previous season, led by dramatic increases of all 3 Greek clubs – Panathinaikos BSA Athens, Olympiacos Piraeus BC and AEK Athens – who all moved into new or renovated arenas that were built for the Olimpics. Both Turkish clubs – Efes Pilsen Istanbul (+58%) and Ulker Istanbul (+47%) experienced significant increases. Also noteworthy were gains for Union Olimpija Ljubljana (+25%) and Adecco Asvel Villeurbanne (+25%).
“We are pleased that Euroleague has shown a steady and consistent increase in attendance year after year,” said Euroleague CEO Jordi Bertomeu. “This shows that basketball generally, and Euroleague specifically, is gaining in popularity throughout Europe.”
Euroleague’s business consultant, Marshall Glickman, added, “Our research confirmed that for young adults, basketball is very, very popular. I believe that this is beginning to manifest itself at the gate. Also, for our teams that are participating in the Euroleague Ticketing Program (Tau, Efes, Ulker, Adecco Asvel, CSKA, Fortitudo, Union Olimpija, Opel, Zalgiris, AEK), they are showing excellent results, because those clubs have a strategic approach to selling tickets and work at it every day.”
For more information contact:
Vladimir Stankovic
Media Director
Euroleague Basketball
+34 93 327 8427
ferran.marquez@euroleague net
Marshall Glickman
Euroleague Consultant
CEO, G2 Strategic
+001 781 772 1932
marshall@g2strategic.net