Gran Canaria would significantly increase ticket prices in EuroLeague / News - Basketnews.com

The average increase in price would be around 70% if Gran Canaria were to play in the EuroLeague. They've been in negotiations with Binter Canarias Airlines about the possibility of a partnership regarding charter flights but the process hasn't been fruitful.

Credit: Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Even though Dreamland Gran Canaria won the EuroCup and earned the right to play in the EuroLeague, the club faces huge challenges trying to find ways to ensure that they will play in the next year's competition.

Points this season

49%85,7Points made:85,7Accuracy:48,6%Place in standings:4Record max:118Record min:60Best scorer:John ShurnaTeamEuroCupStatisticsSchedule

As reported earlier, the club is considering opting out of the EuroLeague due to financial and logistical struggles that would arise if they were to play in the European top-level tournament.

The club has now sent out a letter to its season ticket holders, announcing the current stage of the effort to play in the EuroLeague.

Gran Canaria wrote that they're searching for additional sponsors both in the islands and on the mainland, among which - a new official sponsor. Additionally, the organization notes that the effort at the municipal level hasn't been successful so far.

Jorge Valero from Super Deporte notes that the current title sponsor Dreamland is paying around €500,000 per year to the organization.

In the end, the club wrote that it would need to significantly increase ticket prices to match the income of the other three Spanish clubs that currently compete in the EuroLeague. In the end, the average increase in price would be around 70% if they were to play in the competition, the club notes.

However, it would only add up to €700,000 of additional income, Valero writes.

Gran Canaria traveled almost twice as many air miles than an average NBA club last year. They've been in negotiations with Binter Canarias Airlines, the journalist notes, about the possibility of a partnership regarding charter flights but the process hasn't been fruitful.

The deadline for making the official decision is June 15th, the club notes.

Full Gran Canaria's letter to season ticket holders:

Dear subscribers of the Gran Canaria Basketball Club.

First of all, we would like to thank you again for your unconditional support in the historic season that has just ended, where we have won our first EuroCup, and also won the sporting right to play in the next season of the EuroLeague.

We want our subscribers to have first-hand information on the situation in which we find ourselves with respect to the sporting right we've won to play in the next EuroLeague.

From the Club, we have been working on this possibility for months, with a great effort like the one that this competition will demand from us. It is known by everyone, from our history and experience, that playing in the EuroLeague is a dream but that it is also a competition that demands a great effort from us, not only in sports but also economically. The level of competition and calendar of the highest continental competition would make it necessary to reinforce the squad, and our geographical situation forces us to search for and finance charter flights to play the vast number of matches.

Our work to find the necessary resources has focused especially on four essential aspects that would allow us to face the EuroLeague without mortgaging the viability of our Club: the search for an official sponsor, the reinforcement of other private sponsorships, as well as public sponsorships, as well as the strengthening of our fundamental pillar - our subscriber base and subscribers.

With a clear objective, we have been working and continue to seek more involvement from public institutions through sponsorships both at the island and regional levels, looking for new forms of synergies and always showing our gratitude for their support.

Privately, we have found a main sponsor in Dreamland Studios Canarias, with an agreement reached that will give the Club stability for the next six seasons. But the appearance of a main sponsor has not stopped us from establishing contact with the other large Canarian companies, whose support is still necessary to face this challenge that we are facing. And we continue working, looking for alliances and collaborations that would allow us to face the challenge of the EuroLeague, although the response has not reached the necessary levels so far.

Dear subscribers, your support is essential to safely face this challenge. Income from season ticket holders and ticketing is an essential element of the club's economy, and currently, ours is less than half of that obtained by the ACB teams that play in the EuroLeague. For this reason, apart from attracting many new subscribers, it would be necessary to raise the price of subscriptions, which could mean an average increase of 70%. We are aware of the great effort that it would entail to be able to enjoy the great spectacle that is the EuroLeague.

The Club will not give up on its efforts to continue working until the last day with the aim of being able to participate with guarantees in the best continental competition. The decision to play the EuroLeague or not must be taken before June 15, the date of registration for the EuroLeague/EuroCup.

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