By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Fast-growing BC Wolves are moving their headquarters to Dubai, the Dubai Media Office announced via X Monday.
The post mentions the city of the United Arab Emirates, UAE, as the ‘headquarters’ for the home games of the Lithuanian club in the BKT EuroCup, adding ‘headquarters for the club’ as well.
Team president Rimantas Kaukenas and team ambassadors Darjus and Ksystof Lavrinovic are featured in the attached video.
#Dubai will be the headquarters for the matches of the Lithuanian team “BC Wolves” in the European Basketball League. Dubai will also be the headquarters for the club, which is considered one of the elite clubs in Lithuania and Europe. @DubaiSC pic.twitter.com/iSR4ba2wQh
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) September 11, 2023
Wolves owner Gediminas Ziemelis, labeled as the richest Lithuanian, lives in Dubai. He founded the team before the 2022-23 season.
The first season in team history combined the domestic competitions, highlighted by the Betsafe LKL, with a short-lived showing in the Qualifiers of the FIBA Europe Cup and also with the European North Basketball League.
Before the launch of the second season and moving to EuroCup, the second-tier club continental competition of Euroleague Basketball, New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas joined the investors of the club.
Further Dubai impact
The Lithuanian club has not publicly commented on a possible development regarding relocation to Dubai. However, team officials consider this a plan for the distant future, according to TV3 Lithuania.
Over recent months, Euroleague Basketball discussed expanding the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with a new team based in Dubai.
“I think we will get there, the problem is now the calendar which we keep talking about, and also the national competition which we also are talking about,” Paulius Motiejunas said in an interview with Eurohoops shortly before switching from the general manager of Zalgiris to acting Chief Executive Officer of Euroleague Basketball.
UPDATE
Euroleague released a statement later in the day announcing that the Wolves did not send any requests to play home games in Dubai. At this moment, all games will be played in Vilnius.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL