Was Antwerp the best choice to host the BasketballCL Final 4?
I think yes, for many reasons. First of all, Iberostar has already organized in Tenerife the inaugural edition 2016-2017 and Virtus Bologna and Brose Bamberg have a small court capacity. Actually, the 3 courts together of these teams have fewer seats than Antwerp’s Sportspaleis. The Belgian arena counts with 18 400 seats, even more than Fernando Buesa Arena from Vitoria-Gasteiz who will host the Final 4 of the Euroleague this year (capacity 15 700).
Second, it is a more neutral location because with home court advantage the other 3 teams would have started the Final 4 as clear favourites. But now, with Antwerp hosting the tournament it looks more balanced with no favourite because the local team is the underdog of the last stage.
Third, Antwerp is one of the best central-European locations, close to Brussels the capital of the EU and very well communicated by flights, trains and buses to the whole continent. This location will make easier to gather the fans than any other place between the participant teams. Even for Iberostar Tenerife, it’s closer and easier to reach than Bologna and Bamberg.
Fourth, the Belgian basketball is growing every year and it deserves recognition and help in this marvellous process. This will be a great occasion to draw even more attention to this phenomenon in Belgium and Europe.
Photo credit: championsleague.basketball
Gratian Cormos, info@brainbasketball.net
