Overview
- The Board of Governors will consider authorization at its March 24–25 meeting, with 23 of 30 votes needed to advance.
- Approval would allow the NBA to solicit bids exclusively for prospective teams in those two markets, with a separate final vote expected later in 2026.
- Industry estimates place expansion fees at $7 billion to $10 billion per franchise, offering a one-time payout to current owners as they weigh dilution from 1/30 to 1/32 equity.
- The target debut for the new clubs is the 2028–29 season, which would trigger planning for an expansion draft and likely conference realignment that could move a current Western team to the East.
- Both cities have viable venues—Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena and Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena—and figures such as Magic Johnson, LeBron James and Bill Foley have been publicly linked to potential bids.