The owners of Manchester's professional basketball team are positioning themselves as a key contender in the race to secure a coveted NBA Europe franchise for the city, setting up a potential showdown with the financial powerhouses behind Manchester City and Manchester United.
Neutral Party Seeks Advantage in Bidding War
Ben Pierson, President of Manchester Basketball, confirmed to City AM that discussions are underway regarding a bid, potentially supported by private equity or sovereign wealth funds. He argued that his organisation's experience running professional teams in Manchester and its neutrality in the city's fiercely partisan football scene could be significant assets.
The Sherwood Family Investment Office, a US-based firm that acquired Manchester Basketball two years ago, possesses the financial capability to meet the NBA's reported entry fee of between $500 million and $1 billion. The new league is scheduled to launch in October 2027.
"The Sherwoods have been in dialogue with JPMorgan and the NBA since the process began," Pierson stated. He added that while they could bid independently, they have also been approached by institutional investors seeking to partner with an established local operator.
Football Giants Risk Splitting Fanbase
Interest from the ownership groups of both Manchester City and Manchester United has been widely reported. However, Pierson highlighted a potential pitfall for the football clubs' bids: the risk of alienating half the local fanbase due to entrenched football loyalties.
"If you are a light-blue branded basketball team, do you lose half the city because the Man United fans aren’t going to go to your games?" he questioned. "So there is a logic for a third party to come in."
City's Abu Dhabi ownership has existing ties to the NBA, while United's majority owners, the Glazer family, have experience operating franchises in the NFL and T20 cricket.
Major Boost for British Basketball
Regardless of which entity ultimately wins the franchise rights, the arrival of an NBA team in Manchester is seen as a transformative moment for the sport in the UK. Both the planned London and Manchester NBA teams are expected to compete in the domestic Super League Basketball (SLB), providing a massive boost to the competition.
"That’s great for the value of our Manchester franchise, irrespective of if it’s an NBA Europe team," Pierson added. "I think either way it turns out, this is great for our Manchester franchise. I think this is great for the broader SLB, too."
The bidding landscape extends beyond Manchester. Other serious contenders include RedBird Capital Partners—an investor in Liverpool FC and owner of AC Milan—and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). The league will feature 12 permanent franchises and four qualifying teams annually. European basketball giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have also held talks about leaving the EuroLeague to join NBA Europe.
