During the press conference dedicated to the opening of the participating clubs of the 2021/22 season budgets, the VTB United League Honorary President Sergey Ivanov answered questions from the media.
About the clubs budget
We remain the only sports league in Russia that opens the budgets of the teams. We will firmly insist that participating in the League Russian clubs include their budgets reveal.
There have been no major changes compared to previous years. I would like to note that all clubs have increased revenues from ticket sales.
About the League budget
The League’s revenues have increased due to the sponsors who, despite the financial difficulties remained with us. The total revenue of the League is 1 billion 134 million Rubles. This practically corresponds to the income level of such team as UNICS or Lokomotiv Kuban.
Expenses have also increased in a number of areas, primarily tax expenses and expenses for the tournament. First of all, the League has changed the playoff system. It was the right decision and it was proved with the 7th game with extremely great interest among the audience and media representatives. But I emphasize, these were additional expenses for the VTB League.
The League also paid 220 million in taxes, which is more than the income of some clubs. Well and thanks to the sponsors and the League management that we have 327 million rubles income – this is an safety belt. I think it is absolutely right to create such a airbag because it is not known what will happen in a year: what clubs will remain, which will go bankrupt – we should always have a reserve. I hope this season will be in the same way: sponsors will not leave, revenues will grow.
About Lokomotiv Kuban Academy and the clubs work with young players
The president of the Krasnodar team Andrey Vedishchev has just completed a huge program to create a youth basketball center. This is a big expense. He deliberately did not increase Loko expenses, although he had every right to do so, but he allocated part of the money all the time for several years for the construction of this facility. And now Lokomotiv Kuban has very good prospects for the future. I would like to remind you that one of the conditions for playing in the League is that clubs have their own youth teams playing in their youth championship. Which we have been doing for several years. And if a club cannot support a youth team, it will be kicked out of the VTB League. We don’t need such one-day clubs. Every team should think about the future and educate Russian players about who a lot is being said, but little is being done. The League takes a tough stance in this case. I would like to praise Loko, which has built the facility.
About the salary cap
I don’t want to decide for everyone, but I think it’s impossible in men’s basketball. After all, I hope that sooner or later professional men’s clubs will return to the European tournaments. And as I said before, clubs that play in the Euroleague should have a budget incomparably larger than clubs playing only in the VTB League.
It is important to consider the issue of the level and quality of basketball. I was very worried that the sports level would drop this season, because the level of legionnaires would be worse. I hope this will not happen – legionnaires are still going to Russia. The question about their level is open, it is impossible to say ahead of time. But there are certain concerns. And if we introduce a salary cap, there will be a collapse of the level of Russian basketball.
