The FIBA EuroBasket 2025 concluded on Sunday with Germany crowned champion, in a tournament that delivered notable attendance figures and a vibrant atmosphere across its four host cities —Riga, Tampere, Limassol and Katowice. The event once again confirmed its status as an international showcase, both for the strong following in the arenas and the diversity of its protagonists.

The group stage drew 372,334 spectators across 60 games, averaging 6,206 fans per contest and filling 61% of arena capacity. Highlights included the Turkey–Latvia clash in the Arena Riga, which attracted over 11,000 fans, underlining the scale of public engagement.

By comparison, EuroBasket 2022, staged across five countries, welcomed more than 651,000 spectators over 76 games. Group B in Cologne set a record for the group phase with 236,515 attendees and an average of 15,768 per game, while the final in Berlin brought together 13,042 fans. In 2017, attendance was also strong, with 31 NBA players and large venues such as Istanbul playing host. Against that backdrop, the 2025 edition closed with solid but more moderate attendance, shaped by venue capacities and the dispersion of host cities.

FIBA’s action against racism

Organizers underlined that this EuroBasket was “more global than ever,” with notable impact in audience and international reach. FIBA described it as one of the most-followed editions of the past decade, even though overall attendance figures did not surpass recent tournaments.

The federation also acted on an off-court incident in Tampere, where German player Dennis Schröder reported racist abuse during a game against Lithuania. The FIBA disciplinary panel identified the fan responsible and announced their expulsion from the tournament, reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy towards discriminatory behavior.

NBA parity across the continent

EuroBasket 2025 featured around 30 active NBA players, joined by several recently drafted prospects and more than 30 former NBA players. In total, over 60 names with NBA experience took part, reinforcing the event’s global pull.

Unlike previous editions, the talent was more evenly distributed: 18 NBA franchises were represented and 18 of the 24 national teams had at least one NBA player. Four NBA clubs even sent three players each. This landscape promoted greater competitive balance, preventing talent from concentrating in just a handful of teams and enhancing the sense of parity throughout the tournament.

Logistics, atmosphere and comparison with past editions

The host cities delivered an intense atmosphere throughout the championship, with highlights such as the packed Arena Riga, which turned basketball into the city’s epicenter for several days. With capacities ranging from 8,000 to 13,000 seats, arenas maintained consistent crowds, even if the overall averages fell short of previous editions.

Official figures confirmed that EuroBasket 2025 cemented its role as a benchmark sporting and organizational event, offering a notable atmosphere and a growing diversity of protagonists, though without matching the audience volumes of earlier editions.