NBA owners vote to explore Seattle, Las Vegas expansion bids

NBA owners vote to explore Seattle, Las Vegas expansion bidsAll 30 owners voted in favour of exploring the two city bids, according to ESPN, with the 2028-29 season the entry point.The National ‌Basketball Association Board of Governors voted on Wednesday ⁠in favour ⁠of the league exploring bids for expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.“Today’s vote reflects our ⁠Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle – two markets with a long history of ⁠support for NBA basketball,” Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Intercontinental playoffs: Which teams can still qualify for the World Cup?list 2 of 4Benfica fined for fans’ racism at Real Madrid game with UEFA investigationlist 3 of 4Is Salah at the end of road or can Egypt glory be a spur at 2026 World Cup?list 4 of 4Barcelona hammer Real Madrid in Women’s Champions League quarterfinalsend of list“We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.” The vote does not guarantee Seattle ‌and Las Vegas will receive expansion teams, but it allows the league to formally explore those opportunities, with bids expected to command between $7bn and $10bn per team.Seattle lost the SuperSonics in 2008 when ownership relocated the franchise to Oklahoma City after failing to ⁠secure a new arena deal.Las Vegas ⁠has never had an NBA team but continues to grow as a major sports market, already home to NFL and NHL franchises, with Major ⁠League Baseball’s Athletics planning a move there as well.If the league moves forward, ⁠both teams are expected to begin ⁠play ahead of the 2028-29 season, marking the NBA’s most significant expansion step since the Charlotte Bobcats joined in 2004.With both new franchises ‌expected to land in the Western Conference, executives broadly expect either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Memphis Grizzlies to ‌shift ‌to the East to balance the conferences at 16 teams each.