BNXT League

The BNXT League, for sponsorship reasons the betFirst BNXT League, is a professional basketball league in Belgium and the Netherlands. The league is the first tier in both the Dutch and Belgian system, replacing the DBL and PBL. The inaugural season will be the 2021–22 season, starting September 2021.

BNXT League
Organising bodyDutch Basketball League
Pro Basketball League
FoundedDecember 10, 2020 (2020-12-10)
First season2021–22
CountryBelgium
Netherlands
ConfederationFIBA Europe
Number of teams21
Level on pyramid1
SupercupBNXT Supercup
International cup(s)Basketball Champions League
FIBA Europe Cup
CEOWim Van de Keere
TV partnersbnxt.tv (PlaySight Interactive)
Websitebnxtleague.com
2021–22 BNXT League

History

On 10 December 2020, it was announced that the Belgian Pro Basketball League and Dutch Basketball League would merge to form a new multinational league.[1] All clubs from the Dutch DBL voted for, while 9 of 10 teams in Belgium voted in favor of the decision. Serious talks about the initiative had been ongoing since fall 2019.[2] On 20 May 2021, the new name "BNXT League" and logo of the league were announced.[3]

The league started its inaugural season amidst an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a great number of games had to be played behind locked doors as a result of national lockdowns.[4]

Sponsorship

On 10 September 2021, the league announced its first name sponsorship when Belgian betting company betFirst signed to become naming sponsor for 3 seasons.[5]


Competition formula

The league will consist of different stages with national championships and a common BeNeLeague championship.[1]

Teams entering in this round
National regular season
(22 teams)
  • Belgian teams play each other twice
  • Dutch teams play each other twice
Elite Gold
(10 teams)
  • Best 5 Dutch teams
  • Best 5 Belgian teams
Elite Silver
(10 teams)
  • Bottom-5 Dutch teams
  • Bottom-5 Belgian teams
National play-offs
(6 teams)
  • Top two Gold teams from each country go directly to semifinals
  • Three other Gold teams play in quarter-finals
  • Best Silver team joins the quarter-finals
BeNeLeague play-offs
(16–24 teams)

Teams

The following teams play in the 2021–22 season:

Stadiums and locations
Location of teams in the 2021–22 BNXT League.
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Club Location Venue Capacity Founded National
titles
Netherlands
Apollo AmsterdamAmsterdamApollohal1,5002011–
Aris LeeuwardenLeeuwardenKalverdijkje1,7002004–
BALWeertSporthal Boshoven1,0002013–
Den Helder SunsDen HelderSporthal Sportlaan1,0002016–
DonarGroningenMartiniPlaza4,35019517
FeyenoordRotterdamTopsportcentrum Rotterdam2,5001954–
Heroes Den Bosch's-HertogenboschMaaspoort2,800195216
Landstede HammersZwolleLandstede Sportcentrum1,20019951
The Hague RoyalsThe HagueSportcampus Zuiderpark3,5002020–
Yoast UnitedBemmelDe Schaapskooi6502020–
ZZ LeidenLeidenVijf Meihal2,00019584
Belgium
Antwerp Giants Antwerp Lotto Arena 5,218 1995 1
Kangoeroes Mechelen Mechelen Winketkaai 1,500 2009 –
Leuven Bears Leuven Sportoase 3,400 1999 –
Liège Basket Liège Country Hall 5,000 1967 –
Limburg United Hasselt Alverberg Sporthal 1,730 2014 –
Mons-Hainaut Mons Mons Arena 4,000 1959 –
Okapi Aalst Aalst Okapi Forum 2,800 1949 –
Oostende Ostend Sleuyter Arena 5,000 1970 22
Phoenix Brussels Brussels Complexe de Neder-Over-Hembeek 1,200 1957 –
Spirou Charleroi Spiroudome 6,200 1989 10

Broadcasting partners

References
  1. "The Pro Basketball League and Dutch Basketball League about to launch BeNeLeague as of the 2021–2022 season". Pro Basketball League. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  2. "Ook basketbalbonden onderzoeken mogelijkheden BeNeLeague". AD (in Dutch). 23 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  3. "BeNeLiga in het basketbal wordt de BNXT League: toekomst, de 'Generation Z' en groei". HLN.be. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  4. "Basketbalclubs BNXT League beslissen drie weken lang zelf of thuisduels doorgaan". nos.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  5. "BETFIRST NEW TITLE SPONSOR BNXT LEAGUE". BNXT League. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
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