Kraken Owner Just Made a Power Move That Could Bring the NBA Back to Seattle
This is happening. Samantha Holloway, the owner of the Seattle Kraken, just announced she's purchasing a majority stake in Climate Pledge Arena, and the timing is impossible to ignore. The NBA expansion vote could be coming as soon as this week, and Seattle is about to make its strongest pitch yet to bring professional basketball back to the Emerald City.
On Monday, Holloway unveiled One Roof Sports and Entertainment, an umbrella brand that consolidates ownership of the Kraken, Climate Pledge Arena, the One Roof Foundation, Krake Community Iceplex, Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center, the Coachella Valley Firebirds (the Kraken's AHL affiliate), and Acrisure Arena in the Palm Springs area. The move gives her greater financial control over the arena while keeping Oak View Group on board to operate the facility. "We're committed to this community, and this parent brand brings together everything we've done, from a privately financed arena to the Seattle Kraken," Holloway said in a statement. "Increasing our ownership in Climate Pledge Arena allows us to consolidate operations and sets us up for future opportunities."
Why Now Matters
Forty eight hours before the NBA could formally announce an expansion process. That's not a coincidence. Seattle has been waiting for this moment since the SuperSonics left town in 2008, and the infrastructure is finally in place. Climate Pledge Arena opened in 2021 after a $1.2 billion redevelopment of the old KeyArena site. It's not just a hockey and soccer venue anymore. It's hosted NCAA championship events, three different NBA exhibition games, and league officials even carved out a future NBA locker room in the building that's currently being used for storage.
Commissioner Adam Silver dropped a huge hint in December when he said Seattle and Las Vegas were the markets "most clearly in the mix" for expansion. In February, he confirmed the league had cleared the major hurdles: the collective bargaining agreement is done, national media deals are finalized, and Silver has made it clear relocation is off the table. Seattle's only path back is through expansion.
The City That Never Forgot
Here's the thing about Seattle: the connection to the SuperSonics never fully went away. The 2008 settlement preserved the city's right to the Sonics' name, colors, history, and memorabilia for any future NBA team. The banners, trophies, and retired jerseys are still here, locked up and under the supervision of the Museum of History and Industry, waiting for the day they come down from storage.
There have been false starts before. The Kings relocation effort in 2013 fell apart. Chris Hansen's SoDo arena deal expired without breaking ground. But this feels different. Silver himself said the NBA expects to make expansion decisions in 2026. That's now. Holloway just put her money where her mouth is. Seattle's moment might finally be here.
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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.