The 2026/27 season brings a significant increase in the economic resources invested by the 16 Lega Basket Serie A clubs, with total costs up 65% compared to the 2018/19 season.
Total spending rises to nearly €185 million
According to Marco Iaria’s analysis for Sportweek, the combined costs of the 16 Serie A clubs have reached almost €185 million, compared with more than €110 million in 2018/19, the final season before the COVID-19 emergency.
Over eight years, spending has therefore increased by approximately 65%, reflecting both the growth in revenues and the greater willingness of club owners to invest.
The figures refer to the overall costs incurred by the clubs during the season, rather than simply player salary budgets. The data also come just days after a report by the independent commission responsible for monitoring the economic and financial balance of professional sports clubs, which found that 14 of the 16 teams are operating at a loss.
Olimpia Milano leads the rankings
At the top of the spending table is Olimpia Milano, with total costs estimated at close to €40 million.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, around half of that amount is covered by the EA7 sponsorship. Since 2008, Giorgio Armani is estimated to have provided the club with more than €250 million through capital contributions and commercial agreements.
Following the designer’s death, president Leo Dell’Orco opted to maintain a budget substantially in line with the previous season, which ended with Olimpia winning the Supercoppa Italiana, Coppa Italia and Serie A championship.
Virtus Bologna second, Tortona third
Virtus Bologna occupies second place, although its budget has gradually decreased in recent seasons. The club went from €32 million in 2024/25 to €28 million in 2025/26, with approximately €25 million projected for the current campaign.
Behind the two EuroLeague clubs sits Tortona, whose budget has risen to €14.5 million, also helped by increased revenues following the opening of its new arena.
BC Roma and Maxima bring Rome back into the picture
BC Roma follows with a budget of around €12 million, while Reyer Venezia is at approximately €11 million.
Maxima Roma, Napoli and Varese are all around the €10 million mark. Reggio Emilia is estimated at €9 million, while Cantù and Trento are both at €7 million.
The return of Rome is one of the most notable developments, with two ambitious projects now competing in the capital. BC Roma acquired the sporting rights from Cremona, while Maxima Roma is chaired by Paul Matiasic, with Francesco Totti serving as an advisor.
The rest of the league
The remaining budgets are estimated at:
- Verona: €6.5 million
- Udine: €6.1 million
- Treviso: €6 million
- Trieste: €6 million
- Scafati: €3.7 million
Varese has also recorded significant growth. The increased capacity of its arena has contributed to taking the club’s net salaries from €1.3 million to €3.1 million.
Udine, meanwhile, can count on the support of more than 300 partner companies.
Trieste moves against the trend
One of the few clubs moving in the opposite direction is Trieste, whose budget has reportedly fallen from the €9.5 million included in its 2024/25 accounts to approximately €6 million this season.
Overall, the figures paint a picture of a Serie A increasingly capable of attracting and deploying greater financial resources, although the high number of clubs operating at a loss highlights the economic challenges accompanying that growth.
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