By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Heading to the EuroLeague Playoffs, Real Madrid has confirmed that approximately 8,000 season ticket holders will be permitted to attend the upcoming best-of-five series against Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv. The decision of the local authorities was announced on Thursday.
Allowing fans to attend the game and support Los Blancos follows intense pressure from active fan groups, notably the Berserkers, formally demanding a full arena and arguing that other European nations had successfully managed security for similar high-risk fixtures. Due to security-related restrictions, previous matchups against Israeli teams were held behind closed doors.
However, the partial crowd approval comes with strict security protocols. To maintain a safe perimeter, the front rows of the Movistar Arena will remain unoccupied. Access is strictly limited to season ticket holders, who must present a government-issued ID matching their pass. In the case of transferable season tickets, attendees must provide their own identification along with a formal transfer document from the original owner. Similar ID checks will be mandatory for all VIP box guests.
To ensure total control over the environment, there will be no general ticket sales, and visiting fans are strictly prohibited from entering the arena. Security will be formidable with a deployment of 450 police officers, which will be bolstered by a massive increase in private security personnel. Fans are advised that entrances will open significantly earlier than usual to accommodate intensified screening at the gates. Furthermore, authorities have restricted all fan activities exclusively to the sporting arena to prevent any potential incidents in the surrounding streets.
While the home venue will not reach its maximum capacity, the presence of loyal supporters among season-ticket holders is expected to drastically alter the atmosphere for Games 1 and 2, scheduled for next Wednesday and Friday.
The series then shifts to a neutral venue. The Israeli side announced on Wednesday that Game 3 and Game 4, if necessary, will be relocated to Botevgrad, Bulgaria. Although the Reds have utilized the Arena 8888 Sofia as their home for the majority of this season, scheduled cultural events have forced the move to a smaller secondary location.
The third and sixth seeds of the 2025-26 Regular Season are matching up for a ticket to the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad.