The 2024 European North Basketball league Final Four will take place on April 9-10, at the Sparekassen Danmark basketball center in Aarhus, Denmark.
Sparekassen Danmark basketball center – formerly a Vejlby-Risskov Hallen – was inaugurated in 1969 and is a part of Vejlby-Risskov Sports centre.
Capacity – 1 950.
The home of the Bakken Bears is occasionally used as a music and event venue – The Rolling Stones, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and The Who have performed there.
The hall has its current name since June 27, 2022.
Aarhus
Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark. Urban population – 290 000. Municipal population – 360 000.
It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland peninsula at the Kattegat sea area, approximately 190 kilometres northwest of Copenhagen.
Aarhus is located approximately 100 kilometres from Billund airport (BLL), while the driving distance from Copenhagen airport (CPH) is around 300 kilometres.
Bakken Bears Aarhus
Basketball club was formed in 1953 under the name of Aarhus Basketball Forening, or simply ABF.
From 1962, the club was known as Skovbakken Basketball. From 1999 – as Bakken Bears.
It`s the most winning sports team in the history of Aarhus and the most winning team in the history of Danish basketball.
The Bakken Bears have won the Danish championship 21 times: 1958, 1997, 1999-2001, 2004-2005, 2007-2009, 2011-2014, 2017-2023.
Aarhus club added 14 triumphs in the Danish Cup: 2000-2001, 2004-2005, 2007, 2009-2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020-2021, 2023.
The Bakken Bears are regular participants in the European competitions since 2004, including three seasons in the Basketball Champions league: 2016-2017, 2020-2021 and 2022-2023.
History was made on March 27, 2018, when the Bakken Bears qualified for the first time to a semifinal of a European competition – by eliminating ESSM Le Portel in the quarterfinals of the FIBA Europe Cup.
Bakken Bears repeated this achievement in 2020 and 2022.
The 2024 ENBL Final Four is the fourth time when the Bears have reached the semifinals of a European competition.
The FIBA Europe Cup semifinals and finals feature a two game home-and-away series so this will be the first time when the Bears will host the Final Four of a European competition.
Claus Hommelhoff is the president of the Bears.