EuroLeague FanZone adds Etihad activations

EuroLeague said on May 16 that its FanZone for the 2026 Final Four in Athens will feature new activations from Etihad Airways and Experience Abu Dhabi, extending the league’s Abu Dhabi-linked sponsorship program into the event’s public fan area. The FanZone is scheduled to run from Thursday, May 21, through Sunday, May 24, in front of Zappeion Hall. EuroLeague said the site will combine basketball events, music, merchandise, partner stands and appearances by players, legends and content creators. The Final Four games themselves are set for May 22 and May 24 at Telekom Center Athens. ### Where will fans see the Etihad and Abu Dhabi promotions? Zappeion Hall is the focal point for the FanZone, with EuroLeague saying the area in front of the venue will serve as the main meeting point for supporters during Final Four week. The league said partner activations will run across the FanZone area throughout the event. (staging.euroleaguebasketball.net) Etihad Airways will operate a stand built around “interactive basketball-inspired experiences and Asian destinations,” according to EuroLeague’s event announcement. The league said fans at the Etihad area will be able to test their jumping height, complete the final step of the “Hoop Dreams” challenge and compete for prizes during the four-day program. (staging.euroleaguebasketball.net) Experience Abu Dhabi will offer basketball games, chill-out spaces, traditional Gahwa coffee experiences and appearances by EuroLeague legends during the week, EuroLeague said. The activation places Abu Dhabi’s tourism branding alongside Etihad’s airline promotion at a Final Four being staged in Greece. (staging.euroleaguebasketball.net) ### Why are Etihad and Experience Abu Dhabi attached to EuroLeague events? Etihad Airways and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi became main sponsors of Euroleague Basketball under a four-year agreement announced on Sept. 24, 2025. Under that deal, Experience Abu Dhabi, the tourism brand of DCT Abu Dhabi, and Etihad Airways were named main partners of EuroLeague competitions and presenting partners of the Final Four. (staging.euroleaguebasketball.net) The September 2025 announcement said the partnership would include branding across EuroLeague and EuroCup games, live broadcasts, team jerseys and digital content. Etihad said at the time that fans should also expect “innovative activations” designed to deepen engagement around the competitions. (etihad.com) ### What else is planned inside the FanZone? EuroLeague said the main court at the FanZone will host U16 and U18 3x3 tournaments, wheelchair basketball competitions, 3-point shootouts with NextGen EuroLeague participants, One Team sessions with Final Four players, open play slots and spectator games led by an MC. The league also said live DJ sets, creator coverage, adidas dancers, music performances and MK’s 1v1 challenge will be part of the program. (etihad.com) May 21 marks an earlier-than-usual opening for the FanZone, with EuroLeague saying the site will start one day ahead of its standard schedule. The opening day will include the adidas Hoop District Grand Finale, bringing together four finalist teams from Paris and Munich. ### How does the FanZone fit into the Athens Final Four schedule? (staging.euroleaguebasketball.net) EuroLeague said the 2026 Final Four semifinals will be played on Friday, May 22, at 18:00 and 21:00 local time. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, at 21:00 local time, while the adidas NextGen EuroLeague Championship Game will replace the traditional third-place game earlier that day at 18:00 local time. (staging.euroleaguebasketball.net) The event is branded as the “2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens presented by Etihad,” reflecting the sponsorship arrangement already in place for the competition. EuroLeague has also told ticket holders that mandatory registration is required under Greek legislation to enter Telekom Center Athens on May 22 and May 24. (euroleaguebasketball.net) ### What do fans need to do before arriving? EuroLeague said on May 11 that all ticket buyers must complete a registration process with personal information and a preferred team selection before attending the games. The league said regular ticket holders can download their personalized nominal tickets starting on May 20 at 10:00 CEST, after the registration window closes. (euroleaguebasketball.net) May 20 is the next operational date for fans heading to Athens, because that is when downloadable nominal tickets become available, according to EuroLeague. The FanZone then opens on May 21 at Zappeion Hall, followed by the semifinals on May 22 and the championship program on May 24. (euroleaguebasketball.net)