Israeli EuroLeague teams Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv are kicking off their seasons, with Hapoel Jerusalem joining the list in the EuroCup next week. Currently, Israeli teams will host their European games abroad, though there is growing optimism that games could return to Israel early in the season.
Following a meeting between Maccabi Tel Aviv chairman Shimon Mizrahi and sporting director Claudio Coldebella with senior EuroLeague officials during the tournament's Super Cup in Abu Dhabi, it was decided that EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno and Senior Director of Corporate Competitions Diego Guillen will visit Israel within the next two weeks.
Later, Mizrahi is expected to raise the topic of returning the games during the EuroLeague owners meeting, which will take place in the second week of October at Lake Como in Italy. Senior officials at Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem support the move.
"There is really no guarantee that anything will happen," said a senior official from one of the Israeli teams. "We are dependent on a situation beyond our control."
"The goal is to provide the EuroLeague with all the guarantees that the teams are safe in Israel, and that games can be played here. We hope to bring the games back to Israel during the first round."