What’s going on in Korisliiga?
It might be off season, but things have definitely not been quiet on Social Media in regards to Korisliiga.
What’s the story?
In the end, it all boils down to money!
Over the past weeks, the last two Korisliiga champions (BC Nokia and Helsinki Seagulls) have both come out with news of financial difficulties.
In the case of BC Nokia, their Korisliiga team pulled out, but their junior organisation is hopeful of getting their place in the league – with some new financial backing.
Seagulls came out with the news that their new backers (BHC Holdings .. I think) we’re NOT in the end going to invest in the team and take them into the heights of EuroLeague. At the same time their long time owners decided to leave the club.
So – what next?
Korisliiga is due to announce next seasons ‘Korisliiga Licences’ on Thursday this week, so it remains to be seen whether BC Nokia and Seagulls have managed to pull enough new funding and credible plans to be sustainable in the season 2024-25.
Around the social media
As anyone can guess, these announcements have caused a BIG stir in the tea cup that is Finnish basketball ‘bubble’ on X/Twitter ..
Some blame the league, others blame the clubs, some just blame basketball ..
Journalist are quick to come up with their ‘three point plan to save Korisliiga’ – always a shame that the social media journalist, fans, commentators, etc – they are not the ones with financial means to run a basketball club.. (otherwise I am sure the league would be rivalling NBA.. or at least EuroLeague! 😉 ).
It all comes down to money!
As much as I would love to see all Finnish International players playing in Korisliiga, our best teams in EuroLeague or EuroCup – perhaps at the moment it is not the reality of where we are at?
When Championship winning teams with a budget of around €1.000.000 (at the most) – end up the season with €400.000 in the minus – you know something does NOT add up!
Finland is an expensive place and players want decent compensation – and player budgets are getting to €500.000 or higher with some teams.
But – if you don’t have the money, you can’t really spend it – sort of like me as a content creator. As much as I would LOVE to get the all maxed-out MacBook Pro for €12.000 and three latest Sony cameras for €20.000 .. if my income doesn’t allow it.. I might have to get the less maxed-out version and just one camera 😉
And the answer is….
No, sorry – I do not have the answer, I really really wish I did!
The marketplace is tough in sports in Finland – and where fans like to compare Korisliiga to sports like floor ball (F-Liiga) or pesäpallo (Superpesis) .. I think one thing when comparing to these two leagues.. is that in these leagues we have some of the BEST players in the world in the Finnish league.
So if you like salibandy or pesäpallo – well, when you go to a game, you will see the top level of the sport. In basketball – unfortunately the top talent from Finland will head to the NBA or EuroLeague..
Conclusion
As said, maybe on Thursday we will be wiser about who is in Korisliiga next season, I do REALLY hope that both BC Nokia and Helsinki Seagulls somehow manage to find the financial backing to keep going – it might not be title chasing basketball for either for a while.. but just to stay in the league would be enough for now!
