The Sonics Are Coming Home: NBA Sets Historic Vote for Seattle Expansion
After more than a decade of heartbreak, Seattle is finally getting real movement on bringing back the SuperSonics. The NBA will vote next week to officially explore adding expansion teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, and sources say it's basically a done deal. This is the first time the league has actually named the cities and set a timeline. We're talking about teams hitting the court in the fall of 2028 for the 2028-29 season. This is really happening.
The Vote That Changes Everything
The NBA Board of Governors will meet March 24 and 25, and the expansion vote is on the agenda. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the vote is considered "a formality" to get the ball rolling. This is massive because there's finally no more guessing about whether Louisville or Mexico City might get a franchise instead. Seattle and Las Vegas are it. If 23 of the 30 owners vote yes, which everyone expects they will, the league moves forward with setting the terms for expansion bids. The fees could run $7 billion to $10 billion per franchise, which would put the Sonics in rare company for franchise sales in North American sports history.
A $10 Billion Year for Seattle Sports
The timing is wild. If the Sonics expansion bid hits that top number, Seattle could see not one but two massive franchise deals this year. The Seahawks are on the market too, with estimates putting their sale price at $10 billion to $11 billion for the Super Bowl champions. To put that in perspective, last year's sale of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers set the record at $10 billion. This is historic territory for the Emerald City.
What Happens Next
This first vote is just the start of a multistep process. If the bids come in and meet the league's minimums, a final vote could happen later this year. Climate Pledge Arena, built to NBA specifications with all those luxury suites downtown, is ready and waiting. After 18 years since Howard Schultz sold the Sonics to Oklahoma City in 2008, Seattle finally gets to say: "Bring back our Sonics." The wait is almost over.
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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.