The NBA’s efforts to expand its roster of franchises have recently intensified, with the league focusing on the potential addition of a team in Las Vegas before considering Seattle. This accelerated timeline, driven by multiple competitive bids and the promise of a record-setting expansion fee, reflects the growing interest and lucrative prospects in major basketball markets.
Las Vegas Emerges as Top Priority
At the recent NBA Board of Governors meeting, Commissioner Adam Silver made it clear that Las Vegas is at the forefront of the league’s expansion discussions. More attention was devoted to Las Vegas due to the number of interested ownership groups and the expectation that the city’s franchise could command a higher price tag than Seattle.
Multiple bidding groups are actively seeking to secure the Las Vegas franchise. The pool of contenders includes a group led by Nancy Walton Laurie and her husband Bill Laurie, both with strong business and sports backgrounds. Bill Foley, owner of the NHL’s Golden Knights, is also in contention. Another formidable entry is the Las Vegas Jacks, whose bid features NBA figures Jerry Colangelo and Vinny Del Negro, plus David Levy, former president of Turner Broadcasting. At least one additional, undisclosed group is reportedly still in the running. The process saw groups submit more detailed bids last week, supporting the league’s hope for a bidding war that could push franchise fees past $9 billion.
Arena Questions and Local Leadership
While Las Vegas boasts the well-known T-Mobile Arena—already home to the NHL’s Golden Knights, the WNBA’s Aces, and host of the NBA Cup Finals—Commissioner Silver noted the venue would require “significant improvements” to house an NBA team regularly. Some bids propose constructing entirely new arenas.
Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont, who is both a Las Vegas resident and the CEO of Las Vegas Sands, led discussions during the meeting about potential arena sites. The decision on venue will be pivotal in shaping the long-term infrastructure for any new Las Vegas franchise.
Seattle Expansion: Clearer, but Slower Path
Compared to Las Vegas, Seattle’s situation is more straightforward but on a slower timeline. Samantha Holloway, owner of the NHL’s Kraken and majority holder of Climate Pledge Arena, is seen as the leading prospective franchisee. Silver described Seattle’s arena as nearly NBA-ready. Another group, BlackSun Private Equity in partnership with the Tulalip Tribes, has recently entered the process, proposing a new venue north of the city. However, this effort remains in earlier stages compared to Las Vegas.
Financially, the fee for a Seattle expansion team is expected to be several billion dollars less than Las Vegas, though still substantial. The NBA reportedly aims for $16-17 billion in total expansion fees from both cities, promising sizeable payouts for current franchise owners.
