Dubai Basketball initially announced a return to Coca-Cola Arena for the ABA League semifinals against Buducnost on May 20, but the ABA League later ruled that the games must be played at a neutral venue.
Dubai Basketball will return to Coca-Cola Arena for the 2025–26 ABA League Semi-Final home games, with the series scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 20, against Bududnost VOLI, the club officially announced.
However, the situation quickly changed after the ABA League issued a ruling preventing the team from hosting games in Dubai.
The ABA League Presidency released the following statement:
“The ABA League Presidency has unanimously decided that Dubai Basketball will not be able to host its home games in the final stages of the current season’s playoffs at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
During an extraordinary online session attended by ABA League President Jure Balazic (KK Krka) and Vice Presidents Dragan Bokan (KK Buducnost VOLI) and Ostoja Mijailovic (KK Partizan Mozzart Bet), a difficult decision was made, but one taken in the spirit of comprehensive responsibility toward the competition, the clubs, and all participants.
The ABA League Presidency also unanimously decided that Dubai Basketball will play its home games in the playoff semifinals and potential final series at a neutral venue.
The ABA League Presidency expresses full understanding and sincere regret regarding the circumstances faced by Dubai Basketball, one of the regional basketball family’s exceptionally important partners and members.
Aware of the complexity of the current situation and the challenges of a global nature, the members of the Presidency expressed their full support for the club and their belief that the existing circumstances will stabilize soon.
With the hope that the current issues will be overcome as soon as possible, the ABA League Presidency sincerely hopes that, starting from next season, Dubai Basketball will once again play all of its home games in front of its fans at the Coca-Cola Arena.”
Credit Charles Verghese/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Image
Since regional unrest began in February, Dubai Basketball has been forced to relocate all ABA League and EuroLeague home games to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
From March 12 onward, starting with a EuroLeague home game against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, the team has played nine “home” games in Sarajevo and Zenica, which served as temporary home courts for the past two months.
“We are very happy and grateful to finally return home to Dubai after more than two months away,” said General Manager Dejan Kamenjasevic in a statement before the league’s ruling.
“Now, we are excited to be back at Coca-Cola Arena for the most important part of the season and to play in front of our fans once again in Dubai. We invite everyone to join us on May 20 at Coca-Cola Arena and help create a special atmosphere for the team as we bring the ABA League Semi-Finals home.”
Dubai finished 11th in the EuroLeague regular season with a 19-19 record.
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