Samantha Holloway Is Bringing in the Big Guns to Land Seattle an NBA Team

The Kraken majority owner just made a massive power move. Samantha Holloway has hired two heavyweight investment banks, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Moelis & Co., to help navigate the pursuit of an NBA expansion franchise for Seattle.

This is not a casual exploration. Bringing in firms like JPMorgan and Moelis signals serious intent and deep pockets. These are the advisers you hire when you're ready to do the heavy lifting required to land one of the most coveted sports assets in North America. The NBA does not hand out expansion franchises lightly, and the financial and strategic legwork involved is enormous.

What This Means for Seattle Sports

Seattle already has the Kraken and a passionate sports culture that fills arenas and stadiums year round. Adding an NBA team would complete a major professional sports portfolio for the city and give the Emerald City something it has been missing since the SuperSonics left town in 2008. The combination of investment banking expertise from JPMorgan and Moelis puts real muscle behind the effort. These firms understand how to structure deals, navigate regulatory requirements, and make a compelling case to the league office.

The Road Ahead

Hiring advisers is step one. The real challenge comes next: making the case to the NBA that Seattle deserves a franchise. The league will be looking at arena capability, market size, ownership stability, and fan appetite. With Holloway already owning the Kraken and showing willingness to invest in top financial talent for this pursuit, Seattle is making it clear that this is a serious bid.

The Emerald City has been waiting for this moment. If Holloway and her advisory team can pull this off, Seattle could be on the verge of a massive shift in its sports landscape.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.