Alright, Seattle, listen up because this is huge. While the headlines might be screaming about Vegas, the real news for the Emerald City dropped on March 25. That's when the NBA's Board of Governors officially voted to explore expansion teams in *both* Las Vegas and Seattle, with the goal of those teams beginning play in the 2028-29 season. You heard that right, a date is on the calendar for a potential NBA return!
Vegas Is Making Its Move, But Seattle Is Right There
Yeah, the news hitting the wires most recently, on July 8, is about Jerry Colangelo, the 86-year-old former Phoenix Suns owner, leading a private equity group to bring an NBA franchise to Las Vegas. Colangelo's been pushing for Vegas since the 1980s, firmly believing it pays for the league to be there. And you gotta respect the guy's "Midas touch" track record. He's a legend, launching successful expansion teams in the NBA (Suns in '68), WNBA (Phoenix Mercury in '97), and MLB (Arizona Diamondbacks in '95), after starting with the Chicago Bulls in '66. If Vegas gets someone like that pushing their bid, it just shows the kind of heavy hitters getting involved in expansion. But what Colangelo's move really highlights is that the league is serious about expansion, and our city, Seattle, is explicitly named right alongside Vegas in their plans! We're not an afterthought, we're a primary target.The Private Equity Angle: What It Means for the League and Us
Colangelo's move is tied directly to the growing trend of private equity (PE) involvement in sports. His group is a private equity one, and it's a big deal. Front Office Sports reports that nine NBA teams are already owned by PE groups. And get this: JP Morgan reported last year, in 2025, that almost one in five teams across all four major leagues , NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL , now have some PE involvement. Colangelo even spoke to The Arizona Republic, noting the rise of these PE groups is changing NBA team ownership. He even expressed some bewilderment about it, which is fascinating coming from a guy who’s seen it all! This shift means the financial landscape for owning a team is evolving, and any group looking to bring the NBA back to Seattle will definitely be navigating this new reality. It means big money, big organizations, and a serious business approach, which could be exactly what we need. So, while Colangelo and Vegas are making their plays, let's not lose sight of the incredible fact that the NBA Board of Governors made a move on March 25 that explicitly includes Seattle. The 2028-29 season might feel like a ways off, but for us 12s, the countdown for our Sonics to return has officially begun. We've got a shot, and it's a real one. Keep watching, Seattle. This is far from over!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.