TLDR The NBA Board of Governors voted to officially explore expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas Expansion fees could range between $7 billion and $10 billion per franchise Seattle has been without an NBA team since the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 Las Vegas already has NFL, NHL, and WNBA teams and is getting an MLB team in 2028 New expansion teams could begin play as early as the 2028-29 season
The NBA took a major step toward adding new teams on Wednesday. The Board of Governors voted to officially explore expansion into Seattle and Las Vegas. The vote required approval from at least 23 of the league’s 30 team owners.
Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the news in a press conference. He said the league wants to reach a final decision by the end of 2026. Silver made clear that no deals have been made and no promises have been given to either city.
The price to join the NBA will be steep. Silver told team owners that expansion fees could land between $7 billion and $10 billion per franchise. That would make these among the most expensive franchise launches in professional sports history.
The league recently completed a new media rights deal and a new labor agreement. With those contracts locked in, the NBA can now turn its attention to growth. Some current owners have questioned whether expansion is necessary right now.
Expansion Fees Could Offset Revenue Sharing Concerns
Despite those concerns, the potential windfall from expansion fees is hard to pass up. A team executive said the money generated by adding franchises would more than make up for splitting television revenue among more teams. The long-term financial upside appears to be driving support among ownership groups.
Seattle has been without an NBA team