The financial crisis has had its impact on the various European budgets, with most teams lowering their expenses for the upcoming season. Additionally, the EUR-USD exchange rate has dropped in a region which is less interesting for the European teams too (1 Euro is worth around USD 1.30 today, as compared to a rate of USD 1.50 last summer). In this environment, French magazine Basketnews took a look at the budgets of the French Pro A teams for next season.
The newly attributed Euroleague wild card, together with the new ownership of Tony Parker, ASVEL Villeurbanne has taken over the lead for all French budgets and tops the ranking with EUR 7.1 million projected for next season. This is a big increase and gives them a substantial advantage over the competition. Euroleague teams Le Mans and SLUC Nancy are behind Villeurbanne, each withprojected budgets around EUR 4.9 million.
For the French teams, support from local authorities is still very important, representing an average of 30% of all the budgets. Private sponsorship makes up to 50% of the figures while tickets sales go for an average of 15% for the previews. Below, you can see the whole ranking of the budgets as of today for the next season.
- ASVEL Villeurbanne EUR 7.1 million (including 4.1 million in salaries)
- Le Mans 4.9 million
- SLUC Nancy 4.8 million
- Orléans 4.5 million
- Chorale de Roanne 4.1 million
- JDA Dijon 4.1 million
- Cholet Basket 3.8 million
- Strasbourg 3.5 million
- Gravelines-Dunkerque 3.4 million
- Elan Chalon 3.3 million
- Hyères-Toulon 2.7 million
- Elan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez 2.5-2.8 million
- STB Le Havre 2.5 million
- Besancon 2.5 million
- Vichy 2.4 million
- Rouen 2.1 million.
