A good two and a half years before the home World Cup, the Women’s Basketball Bundesliga (DBBL) is setting its course for the future with a structural reform. Managing director Reuner speaks of an “important signal”.
A good two and a half years before the home World Cup, the Women’s Basketball Bundesliga (DBBL) is setting its course for the future with a structural reform.
“The resolutions are an important signal that we have given intensive thought to how we can further develop the league.”said DBBL managing director Philipp Reuner, “above all to increased and perspective professionalization”. A total of 50 topics were addressed, and the new requirements were summarized in a resolution paper in December 2023.
For example, LED boards will be mandatory from 2025/26, as will a hall floor with only basketball markings. A minimum capacity for arcades (1,500 spectators), however, will not come until 2029/30. According to Reuner, the reform would have “Perhaps this could be initiated a little earlier. After the end of the Corona restrictions, implementation was one of our most important goals.” But now it’s about “to take advantage of the opportunity” and “to take initiative yourself”.
Improving the infrastructure “elementary”
A main focus is on the topic of infrastructure. This be “elementary”emphasized Reuner.
The timing is right. After the successful European Championship 2022 with sixth place, the Olympic qualification tournament is on the agenda for the national team this week.
Next year the German European Championship preliminary group will play in Hamburg, followed by the World Cup in Berlin in 2026. The home tournament is “a huge opportunity for women’s basketball”said Reuner, and a possibility “to shine a spotlight on this sport.”