NBA Set to Vote on Las Vegas and Seattle Expansion Next Week
The NBA will conduct its first expansion vote at next week's board of governors meetings, with sources confirming to ESPN that the league is exploring adding franchises exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle. The two new teams are targeted to begin play in the 2028-29 season, marking a significant step forward for league growth in both markets.
Strong Momentum Behind the Vote
Multiple sources indicate considerable momentum within the board of governors and league office to approve moving forward with expansion bids for Las Vegas and Seattle. Industry executives project franchise proposals in the $7-10 billion range for each team and estimate that both markets would rank among the NBA's top eight revenue generators. The appeal of these markets, combined with the current collective bargaining agreement's parity-friendly structure, is expected to generate robust interest from potential buyers.
In the voting process, 23 of 30 governors must vote in favor to approve. This first vote will allow the league to focus exclusively on Las Vegas and Seattle and launch the bidding process. A potential final vote later in the year could finalize the expansion to 32 teams, also requiring 23 of 30 votes.
Why Now? Market Strength and Recent Precedent
A growing number of owners support expansion due to projected long-term revenue growth from both markets. However, some owners remain hesitant about diluting their league equity from 1/30 to 1/32 and want to see final bid valuations and individual franchise fees before committing.
Las Vegas and Seattle have proven attractive to other major leagues. The NHL's Golden Knights arrived in Las Vegas in 2017 and the Kraken came to Seattle in 2021. The NFL's Raiders relocated to Las Vegas in 2020, while MLB's Athletics are moving there for the 2028 season. Las Vegas has hosted the WNBA's Aces since 2018—three-time champions in 2022, 2023, and 2025. Seattle has been without an NBA team since 2008, when the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. The Sonics' departure stemmed from a lease dispute over KeyArena, which underwent major renovations from 2018 to 2021 and now operates as Climate Pledge Arena, home to the Kraken and WNBA Storm.
Timing and Recent Valuations
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced in December 2025 at the NBA Cup championship in Las Vegas that the league would decide in 2026 on expansion. Franchise valuations have surged dramatically in recent years: the Boston Celtics sold to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion, the Los Angeles Lakers went to Mark Walter for $10 billion—the largest sum ever for a U.S. professional sports franchise—and the Portland Trail Blazers sold to Tom Dunod in August 2025 for $4.25 billion. The NBA last expanded in 2004 with Charlotte.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.