Ideas, sensations and analysis of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague President, Jordi Bertomeu that, in occasion of the Expo event during Dinamo’s Pre – Season, answered to this interview. He talked about Dinamo and its 2nd Euroleague Basketball season.
Five years ago, Dinamo Sassari had his debut in the maximum level of the Italian League.Three seasons ago there was his debut in the European Competions (Eurocup). Last season was the time to his introduction in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague. And in the upcoming season, after the victory of the Italian Championship, Dinamo has again the chance to be between the giants of the highest European Competiotion. Could you tell us an opinion about it?
"My opinion is very positive as Dinamo Sassari has developed a coherent, serious and solid project through all these years accomplishing outstanding results. Dinamo Sassari is a great example of professionalism as they have focused its efforts not only in making a competitive team every season, but in the organizational aspects creating a professional club structure. This combination has allowed the team a constant growth which has been fundamental in the sports success they have achieved".
Which value has having a team as Sassari in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague for Sardinia, Italy and all the European basketball movement?
"Participating in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague is a huge promotional window for the team, city and country on a global basis. Our games are broadcasted in 202 different countries and territories, we have a growing fan base following all the different news ad activities of the competition and Euroleague Basketball is covered by the most important media outlets".
Which value has for the Euroleague to have Sassari in this Competition?
"We are really happy to have Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari participating in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague for the second year in a row as they have deserved it. Besides being the reigning Champion of the Italian Domestic competition they have a really serious and professional organization with a great illusion to improve and grow. We are very pleased to have them as one of the two representatives of such an historic basketball country as Italy".
The Turkish Airlines Euroleague bets strong on quality, communication, entertainment, working hard for the dialogue between the clubs to share fully this vision. How much is important for the clubs to assimilate the Euroleague’s message and to conform their vision to the organization’s modus operandi?
"Our message is basically to reach the excellence not only on the court but in all different aspects around the competition. I am really proud to say that since the foundation of Euroleague Basketball, debate and dialogue with our stakeholders, the clubs, has been one of the main tools for improving the competition. Our vision, which has as final goal bringing the best possible show to all the fans, is something that our clubs fully understand and share and our job is to offer them as many tools as possible in different areas, like competition, marketing or communication to improve the fan experience".
What would the Turkish Airlines Euroleague like to be? Which is the potential growth of his project? Which are the goals to set and to reach?
"At Euroleague Basketball we always work guided by three main pillars: make the competition better, improve the communication towards the fans, and enhance the opportunities to generate a better business for our clubs. Everything we do must check one of the above’ s pillar boxes, putting always the fans in the middle. We have recently taken some decisions that impacted heavily on our competitions’ structure with excellent results, and have made of communication our top priority with strategies of content production –mainly Audio Visual- and localization (partnerships with local media, L´Equipe (France), Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy), Milliyet (Turkey), As (Spain), sport24 (Greece), Spox (Germany) and Championat.ru (Russia)). With regards to business, we are also taking some important steps towards the optimization of the generation of revenues, such as for example the recent offering of regional sponsorship packages or the increase in the number of broadcasting deals, which is now above 200 countries and territories. Our duty is now to keep on working for our clubs and for our fans, and think about how to improve our product, how to present it better to those who love the sport, and how to engage with new partners".
An opinion about the quality of the European basketball product?
"It is undeniable that the quality has grown and we are working on a daily basis to continue this tendency. Starting with the arenas, we see that 32 arenas are brand new or have been refurbished improving the general experience of the fan, we are working very hard with our TV partners to improve our games production and introducing the latest technologies to give our fans the best experience possible or we have a big presence in social media with increasing numbers every year, these are only a few of the different initiatives that we are developing to improve the quality which is the engine that allow us growing our fan base and becoming a solid and attractive platform for our sponsors and partners".
Which are the expectations of the Euroleague about the upcoming season?
"Being better than the previous one of course, which won´t be easy. We will continue working to have an attractive competition for our fans and make them feel it as their own. Since the creation of Euroleague Basketball in 200 we have experienced a constant growth in many different aspects visibility (202 countries, where our games are broadcasted), accumulated audience (1043% increase) or in-arena attendance (228% increase) and we want to follow this path as show us that the interest for our competition and basketball in general grows".
Would you like to wish something to our team, to our club and our fans as well for starting of this 2nd experience in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague?
"I would like to wish Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari a successful season and hope that all fans enjoy this second experience in the top European competition".
Sassari, 22th october 2015
Dinamo Sassari's
Press Office