NBA sets first board vote on Las Vegas and Seattle expansion
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The NBA’s board of governors will vote next week on whether to begin formal expansion talks centered solely on Las Vegas and Seattle, according to league sources.
If the motion passes, the league will open a bidding process for two new franchises that would debut in the 2028-29 season. A minimum of 23 of the 30 team governors must approve the measure.
Industry estimates place franchise proposals between $7 billion and $10 billion each. Executives familiar with the projections believe both markets would rank among the league’s eight highest revenue generators, helped by the NBA’s parity-focused collective bargaining agreement.
Two-step approval process
Next week’s ballot is described as the first of at least two key votes. A second and potentially final vote could come later in 2026, when governors would decide whether to expand the league to 32 teams.
Several owners support expansion because of the long-term revenue potential in both cities. Others remain cautious about diluting their league equity—from one-thirtieth to one-thirty-second—and want to review final bid valuations and franchise fees before making a commitment.
Recent boom in franchise prices
Franchise values have surged in the past four years. Mat Ishbia bought the Phoenix Suns in December 2022 at a $4 billion valuation. In 2025, the Boston Celtics sold to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion, the Los Angeles Lakers transferred from the Buss family to Mark Walter for $10 billion—a U.S. sports-team record—and the Portland Trail Blazers went to Tom Dundon for $4.25 billion.
Context in Las Vegas and Seattle
Las Vegas has attracted several pro teams in recent years, including the NHL’s Golden Knights (2017), the NFL’s Raiders (relocated in 2020), and Major League Baseball’s Athletics, scheduled to move in 2028. The WNBA’s Aces have played in Las Vegas since 2018 and won championships in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
Seattle has lacked an NBA team since the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. KeyArena, the former Sonics venue, was extensively renovated from 2018 to 2021 and reopened as Climate Pledge Arena, home of the NHL’s Kraken and the WNBA’s Storm.
Possible conference realignment
Should Las Vegas and Seattle join the Western Conference, league executives expect either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Memphis Grizzlies to shift to the East, preserving a 16-team balance in each conference.
Europe plans continue
Separately, the NBA is proceeding with efforts to launch a European league, with final bids for prospective clubs due on March 31, sources said.
The NBA last expanded in 2004, when Charlotte re-entered the league.
Source: ESPN
