The Belgrade presented as the favorite to host her Final Four Euroleague In 2026, as Goran Grbovic said in Sportklub statements, revealing that the proposal for Serbia to take over the event came from the President of the event Dejan Bodiroga himself.
“Bodiroga was the one who suggested Belgrade as an organizing city on the last board. It was his proposal, “Grbovic said, stressing that there is a serious chance that the Final Four is returning to Serbia.
Opposite to the Serbian candidacy is Athens, with the OAKA being proposed as the seat that will host the races in the event of the Greek side.
Grbovic expressed his optimism ahead of the final vote, which will take place on the next Euroleague board on July 22. At the same time, he did not fail to refer to the capacities of the stadiums, arguing that Stark Arena was a lead over the OAKA in terms of commercial benefits and positions available.
The final decision is expected with great interest, as the Final Four is the leading basketball event at European level and the city-house selection has both a racing and a political and economic dimension.
Goran Grbovic’s statements
“Euroleague President Dejan Bodiroga, our legendary player, at the last meeting of the Board of Directors, I have information that he was in favor of the event from Belgrade. It was actually his own proposal. But the OAKA fell beyond all the protocols and the statutes. We also applied for 2025, 2026 and 2027. Well, it’s a matter of finance. But, for 2026, I am optimistic about taking over.
We re -raised, Abu Dhabi emerged as it turned out, for a variety of reasons. IMG’s commercial deal, club owners, ECA and administration. The aforementioned entities run the Euroleague. Two boards have already been made where the decision to organize 2026 should have been made.
This year we are deep in the game. I do not believe that Euroleague players will vote in Athens because of Dimitris Yanakopoulos’ attitude towards the League, the organization. Although some have tried to exert pressure. But, I have information that this time the majority will vote to find the best European four in the arena in the spring of 2026
The next Board of Directors is on July 22, when it will have to be permanently known who will fasc the Final Four. I will definitely be present when Euroleague teams decide. I think now the money will not be so exposed and they will not play a primary role. Deeply, emotionally, they owe a Final 4 to Belgrade and Serbia, because we were a little defined by Abu Dhabi’s money in a room that only fits 8,500, and with the Euroleague configuration, only 6,500 people watched live matches.
In fact it is a concert hall, not a sports center. Secondly, the OAKA has 15,000 seats, our 20,000 arena, the Greek with the aforementioned configurations, holds 12,500, and we host 16,500 people. This means 4,000 tickets more if we look at it financially …
We will not give up. Now we are where we are, fine. It is ridiculous to reward someone who calls you “mafia, cheats”, let’s say, by conducting a Final 4. “