NBA Votes to Explore Las Vegas Expansion Team
Posted on: March 25, 2026, 12:26h.
Last updated on: March 25, 2026, 12:26h.
- The NBA Board of Governors voted on Wednesday to authorize a formal exploration of expansion for Las Vegas and Seattle
- Potential franchise fees could reach $10 billion, reflecting Vegas’ new status as a sports hub
- A final vote later this year is required on whether the teams can debut for the 2028–29 seasons
Las Vegas dribbled a major step closer to hosting its own pro basketball team on Wednesday, when the league’s Board of Governors voted to authorize a formal exploration of expansion bids for the city. The vote allows the league to begin evaluating ownership groups, arena plans and financial proposals specifically for Las Vegas and Seattle, two of the most coveted markets in professional sports.
While the approval does not guarantee expansion, it is the strongest indication yet that Las Vegas could soon land its first NBA franchise.
The financial scale would be unprecedented. Early projections from industry insiders and ESPN suggest the expansion fees could land between $7 billion and $10 billion per franchise. This staggering valuation reflects the league’s booming media rights revenue and the proven success of Las Vegas as a “plug-and-play” sports destination.
Commissioner Adam Silver has spent the last year praising Sin City’s readiness, citing the success of the NBA Summer League and the In-Season Tournament (now the Emirates NBA Cup) as proof of concept.
“Las Vegas has shown an extraordinary appetite for world-class basketball,” Silver noted during his most recent annual Commissioner’s Press Conference.
Final Jewel
Las Vegas already hosts the NHL’s Golden Knights, the NFL’s Raiders and the WNBA’s Aces, and is preparing to welcome MLB’s Athletics. An NBA team represents the final jewel in its professional sports crown, completing its decade‑long shift from a league‑averse gambling hub into one of the leading U.S. sports destinations.
Infrastructure is already a primary selling point. While T-Mobile Arena is the current frontrunner for a temporary home, multiple ownership groups are reportedly vying to build something more permanent. (The most likely new candidates are Resorts World and the Rio, with the LVXP project still claiming it plans to build one on the abandoned All Net arena site next to the Fontainebleau.)
Wednesday’s vote is the first of two required approvals. A final expansion vote is expected later this year and will require support from 23 of the league’s 30 owners. League insiders have described momentum as “strong” and “building,” with many owners viewing expansion as a lucrative opportunity given soaring franchise valuations.
Road to 2028
Seattle, which has been without a team since the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, is the other half of this expansion pair. Both cities would likely join the Western Conference, a move that would trigger a wider league realignment, potentially pushing a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves or Memphis Grizzlies into the Eastern Conference.
A final, binding expansion vote is expected before the end of 2026, requiring approval from 23 of the 30 current owners. If successful, both the Las Vegas and Seattle franchises are projected to begin play in time for the 2028–29 season, marking the league’s first expansion since the Charlotte Bobcats joined in 2004.
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