NBA to Vote on Expansion to Las Vegas, Seattle

The National Basketball Association is set to vote next week on exploring the addition of expansion franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, a move that could mark the league's first growth in two decades and bring its total to 32 teams by the 2028-29 season.

The decision will come during the Board of Governors meetings on March 24-25, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. This initial vote would authorize the league to open a formal bidding process for ownership groups in the two cities, with industry projections estimating franchise fees between $7 billion and $10 billion each. A subsequent vote later this year would be needed to approve the expansion outright, and both rounds require support from at least 23 of the league's 30 current owners. Sources indicate strong momentum among governors, driven by the potential for long-term revenue gains, as both markets are expected to rank among the NBA's top earners.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has expressed optimism about the cities' viability. In recent comments, he highlighted Las Vegas's established ties to the league, including its hosting of the annual Summer League for two decades and NBA Cup games. "I don't...