NBA expansion explained: teams in Vegas and Seattle, LeBron’s role and hungry billionaires
The NBA’s board of governors voted to move forward with the cities as targets for its first expansion since 2004. Here’s what it means for the future of the league
Since becoming commissioner in 2014, Adam Silver has floated Seattle and Las Vegas as targets for the NBA’s next franchises. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images The NBA has moved a step closer to adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas. The league’s board of governors met this week and voted to explore bids and applicants for teams exclusively in those two cities, beginning the process for its first expansion in more than two decades.
Bids are expected to be in the $7bn to $10bn range per franchise. Commissioner Adam Silver had previously described this year as a target for a decision on expanding the 30-team league, which last added a new franchise in 2004. The league will now evaluate bids over the next several months.
“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,” Silver said in a statement Wednesday. “We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties. ” Here’s a breakdown of what this expansion would mean for the NBA.
Wait, the NBA has new teams? It soon may. The NBA’s board of governors voted this week to approve a formal exploration of adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.
Continue to the original source for the full article.