London Lions CEO: We’d love to be in NBA Europe but we have a reason to exist anyway Sport Business London Lions CEO Lenz Balan on the club’s NBA Europe ambitions and the challenges of making British basketball financially sustainable. “I’m, like, an irrational optimist,” says London Lions CEO Lenz Balan as he explains why he views the impending arrival of an NBA Europe team on his patch as an opportunity, not a threat. The [...]
British Basketball Federation set to go into administration, say sources Sport Business The British Basketball Federation, the sport’s national governing body, is expected to go into administration imminently, multiple sources have told City AM. It is understood that many of the BBF’s duties will be transferred to Basketball England and that the ban on British referees officiating in competitions run by world governing body Fiba has been [...]
London set for new 15,000-capacity arena in boost for capital Sport Business The capital is set to gain a 15,000-capacity basketball arena after studies surrounding a new stadium for the London Lions concluded their opening phase. The custom-built, multi-purpose stadium could stage as many as 40 basketball games per season as well as hundreds of cultural events. A London Lions feasibility study conducted in conjunction with The [...]
Exclusive: Everton bidder Manoukian launches athlete neobank Stadion October 7, 2025 It was in the early summer of 2024, when Everton were in the eye of a storm caused by the disintegration of their prospective owners, 777 Partners, that Vatche Manoukian’s name suddenly hit the headlines. The London-based Armenian, a former finance lawyer turned investor, emerged as a potential saviour to the cash-strapped Merseyside football club [...]
Moshiri to Friedkin: Inside Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium deal September 2, 2025 Proud Everton fans very nearly walked into a brand new arena called the MoneySuperMarket Stadium. Alas, the Toffees now call the Hill Dickinson Stadium home. The international commercial law firm’s roots are entrenched on the banks of the River Mersey, but the search for a title sponsor for the Premier League’s newest stadium was a [...]
British basketball at war: How can BBF and SLB bloody battle be resolved? July 4, 2025 British basketball is no stranger to turmoil but even by its warped standards the raging civil war between SLB clubs and governing body the BBF is extraordinary. At its heart is a power struggle for the right to run the domestic league. But it also involves claims of dishonesty, mission creep, vindictiveness and outright illegality [...]
Southampton task former 777 chief with finding new manager April 7, 2025 Southampton have tasked a former director of the failed 777 sports group with recruiting their new manager after sacking Ivan Juric following their relegation. Juric lasted just 98 days and won only one of his 14 Premier League games, a run that saw them break the record for the earliest relegation from the Premier League. [...]
Exclusive: London Lions owner pledges ‘hundreds of millions’ for new arena March 11, 2025 The Lithuanian billionaire who rescued London Lions has revealed he is ready to spend “hundreds of millions of pounds” to build their new home. Tomas Okmanas, the co-founder of cybersecurity company Nord, said the purpose-built basketball arena – by far Britain’s biggest – could house up to 20,000 spectators. The plans were first announced on [...]
Exclusive: London Lions’ new owners defend controversial CEO appointment September 1, 2024 Balan was one of the key lieutenants at 777, which bought the Lions in 2020 but took them to the brink of liquidation in July as the US private equity business collapsed.
The on-off-on takeover saga that saved the London Lions from extinction August 23, 2024 For the London Lions and fans of the dual British basketball champions, it has been a summer of more twists and turns than a slam dunk contest — only a lot less fun.