Decision from October 26, 2015

The VTB United League Directorate has reviewed the question of the location for the Krasny Oktyabr and Tsmoki-Minsk game on October 31.

Notes from the league directorate meeting:

The VTB United League Directorate made the following decision on October 19, 2015:

"Due to insufficient capacity, as well as limitations on the TV broadcast, Volgograd's Alianz-Basket arena--located at the following address: ul. Pugachevskaya, 7G, Volgograd--may not be used for VTB United League games.

Krasny Oktyabr is required to respond in writing to the VTB United League Directorate by October 22, 2015 on the issue of where it will play future home games. The ensuing arena inspection will be completed in three business days with a decision to be made on whether or not the arena may be used for home games.

Krasny Oktyabr is required to respond in writing to the VTB United League Directorate by October 22, 2015 concerning the construction timeline for Volgograd's Alfa Arena--located at the following address: pr. imeni V.I. Lenina, d.110, Krasnooktyabrsky region, Volgograd--as well as the expected date for the club's first home game at Alfa Arena.

If visiting clubs incur any additional expenses (flights, lodging, etc.) due to the change in location of Krasny Oktyabr home games, BC Krasny Oktyabr will be required to cover the expenses."

On October 26, 2015, the VTB United League received a letter from BC Krasny Oktyabr, requesting provisional authorization of the Alianz-Basket arena for one game against Tsmoki-Minsk with a decision on Krasny Oktyabr's home arena to be made following the contest. The club requests a second inspection of the Alianz-Basket arena and promises to increase seating capacity at the arena to 1200 by October 31, 2015.

BC Krasny Oktyabr notes in the letter that talks are being held with the Volgograd Regional Board of Trade Unions concerning use of the Volgograd Trade Union Sports Palace for BC Krasny Oktyabr home games.

Volgograd Oblast deputy governor V.I. Galushkin has communicated that keeping the team and hosting games in Volgograd is very important for the city. He asked for time to finalize negotiations over holding BC Krasny Oktyabr home games at the Volgograd Trade Union Sports Palace (the only arena in Volgograd that meets league standards) and to play the upcoming game against BC Tsmoki-Minsk on the road.

The VTB United League also received documents from Volgograd Oblast deputy governor V.I. Galushkin, including a letter from the director of the Volgograd Regional Board of Trade Unions, addressed to Volgograd Oblast deputy governor V.I. Galushkin (#402 from 26.10.2015), spelling out the conditions which must be met for Krasny Oktyabr to hold games at the Volgograd Trade Union Sports Palace.

Krasny Oktyabr also notes the impossibility of playing in Minsk due to visa requirements for USA and European Union citizens when visiting Belarus (the team will be in Lithuania until October 29, 2015) as well as expenses incurred by both teams in order to play the game in Volgograd.

Additionally, the VTB United League received a letter from BC Tsmoki-Minsk (#01-04/830 from 26.10.2015), which notes that American and German members of the Krasny Oktyabr roster and coaching staff will receive the necessary support from Tsmoki-Minsk in order to receive entry/exit visas to Belarus at the Minsk-2 National Airport on October 30, 2015 under the following conditions:

1. Passport info must be received by 10 am on October 27, 2015
2. American and German citizens must arrive on a flight from one of the Schengen countries.

On the basis of this information, the VTB United League Directorate has ruled:

- to hold the Krasny Oktyabr - Tsmoki-Minsk game on October 31, 2015 in Minsk with tipoff scheduled for 5:00 PM;
- to move the location of the Tsmoki-Minsk - Krasny Oktyabr game, scheduled for February 21, 2016 from Minsk to Volgograd.

This decision takes effect on October 26, 2015.

- The VTB United League is absolutely invested in Krasny Oktyabr playing its home games in Volgograd, - VTB United League general director Andrey Shirokov told VTB-League.com. - As of today, the only arena that meets league regulations is the Volgograd Trade Union Sports Palace, where the team played the previous two seasons. There's nowhere else to play in Volgograd.

At the current moment, the league is doing everything it can to return the team to that arena. We are in constant communication with the oblast administration and the club. But the league can't do it on its own; the club will also need to make an effort.

Today's decision to move the upcoming Krasny Oktyabr - Tsmoki-Minsk game to Minsk will give the club time to resolve the arena issue in Volgograd. In that regard, I want to thank Tsmoki-Minsk for its understanding and willingness to swap road and home games with Krasny Oktyabr, as well as help with technical issues related to hosting the game in Minsk.