Former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has entered a high‑profile contest to acquire the NBA Europe franchise that will be based in London. He is not the only suitor; a consortium that includes the club’s present owners, the Lewis family, is also in the running. According to Sky News, the Lewis family has teamed up with the Checketts family, a group that has a long history of investing in North American professional sports, to put forward a formal bid as part of the ongoing auction process.
The Checketts family’s portfolio already features ownership stakes in Real Salt Lake, a Major League Soccer side, and the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. Their experience in managing sports properties across different markets gives the consortium a credible edge in the eyes of many observers.
Adding another layer to the partnership is the Eccles family, which holds interests in English club Burnley FC and the Spanish side RCD Espanyol. Together, the Checketts, Lewis and Eccles families form a three‑pronged consortium that is positioning itself as a serious contender for the coveted London franchise.
Levy, meanwhile, is reportedly aligning himself with a different group of investors. Earlier reports from Sky News indicated that he is working with Liberty Global, a major telecommunications conglomerate, and MSP Sports Capital, a private‑equity firm that previously backed McLaren Racing. This alternative consortium also includes other unnamed investors, all of whom are eager to secure the rights to the NBA’s first European club.
The competition for the London team is intensifying because the city has quickly emerged as the most desirable location among the twelve new NBA Europe clubs slated for launch. The league’s expansion plan envisions franchises in several major European capitals, including Berlin, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Paris and Rome, but London’s global profile, commercial appeal and large fan base make it the flagship market.
The NBA’s strategic goal is to unlock billions of dollars in revenue by selling franchise rights, licensing deals, sponsorships and broadcast packages. The first tranche of these transactions is expected to be signed within the next few weeks, setting the stage for a new era of trans‑Atlantic basketball. Levy’s involvement in the bid is notable for several reasons.
He stepped down as Tottenham’s executive chairman in September 2025 after a tenure of nearly a quarter‑century, during which he oversaw the club’s rise to consistent top‑four finishes in the Premier League and the construction of the state‑of‑the‑art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While the official statement from both Levy and the club framed his departure as a voluntary resignation, industry insiders widely believed that the decision was prompted by external pressures, possibly linked to his burgeoning interest in the NBA Europe project.
The broader context of American capital flowing into UK sport provides additional insight into why figures like Levy are drawn to the NBA Europe venture. In recent years, wealthy U.S.
families and investment firms have been acquiring stakes in British football clubs, ranging from Premier League giants to lower‑division sides. This trend reflects a belief that the commercial model of American sports—characterized by centralized league control, lucrative broadcast deals and expansive merchandising—can be successfully transplanted to the UK and Europe. The NBA’s European expansion is the latest manifestation of that belief, offering a new platform for cross‑continental branding and fan engagement.
If Levy’s consortium succeeds, the London franchise could become a showcase for how traditional football executives can translate their expertise into the basketball arena. The team would likely share facilities with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or a purpose‑built arena, leveraging the existing infrastructure to host NBA games, concerts and other entertainment events. Moreover, the partnership with Liberty Global could bring advanced streaming technology and data analytics to the club, enhancing the fan experience both in‑venue and online. Conversely, the Checketts‑Lewis‑Eccles group would bring a different set of strengths.
Their combined experience across soccer, hockey and basketball could foster a multi‑sport synergy, creating joint ticket packages, shared marketing campaigns and cross‑promotional opportunities. The Eccles family’s existing ties to Burnley and Espanyol could also open pathways for player exchanges, youth development programs and shared scouting networks across the UK and Spain.
Regardless of which consortium ultimately wins the bid, the arrival of an NBA franchise in London promises to reshape the sporting landscape of the capital. It will introduce a new calendar of high‑profile games, attract global superstars, and generate a cascade of ancillary economic activity—from hospitality and tourism to retail and media production. Fans will be able to watch live NBA action on Sky Sports, with options to stream the games contract‑free via the NOW platform, ensuring that the league reaches a broad audience beyond traditional cable subscribers. The excitement surrounding the league’s European push is reflected in the media hype and fan speculation.
Headlines such as "LeBron to make Sixers debut against Knicks" and "NBA Europe: All you need to know" have already begun to circulate, signaling that the NBA is positioning its overseas expansion as a major entertainment event. As the auction draws to a close, the final decision will hinge on which group can present the most compelling vision for the London market, secure the necessary financial backing, and demonstrate a clear roadmap for integrating the NBA brand into the fabric of British sport. In summary, Daniel Levy is now pitted against the current Spurs owners and a seasoned American sports‑investment family in a bid to claim the London NBA Europe franchise.
The outcome will not only determine who controls a potentially multibillion‑dollar asset but also set a precedent for how trans‑Atlantic sports collaborations can be structured in the future. The next few weeks will be crucial as the NBA finalizes its franchise agreements and prepares to launch what could become one of the most high‑profile sporting ventures of the decade.