The NBA Board of Governors voted unanimously in March 2026 to officially explore expansion — and to limit that exploration to exactly two cities: Seattle and Las Vegas.
The 30-0 vote represents the most concrete institutional commitment to expansion the league has made in over two decades, and it effectively ends any speculation that other markets might enter the conversation. Seattle and Las Vegas are the only cities on the table.
What the Vote Means
The vote authorizes the league to formally evaluate ownership groups, financial structures, and arena situations in both markets. It does not guarantee expansion will happen — Silver has been careful to note that the owners could ultimately decide the economics don't work — but it sets the machinery in motion.
PJT Partners, the investment bank the league hired to evaluate the process, is now actively vetting prospective ownership groups in both cities. The franchise fee is expected to land in the $7 billion to $10 billion range per team, which would shatter all previous expansion records.
Why Seattle and Las Vegas
Seattle's case rests on three pillars: a passionate, proven fanbase that has waited 18 years since the Sonics' relocation to Oklahoma City; a modern, NBA-ready arena in Climate Pledge; and an established ownership group in One Roof Sports and Entertainment.
Las Vegas brings a different kind of argument — it's the fastest-growing sports market in America, already home to the NHL's Golden Knights, the WNBA's Aces, the NFL's Raiders, and the incoming MLB Athletics. The city hosts the NBA Summer League every year and has become a de facto second home for the league.
The Road Ahead
Silver has set a year-end 2026 deadline for the expansion decision. If approved, new teams would target the 2028-29 season as their first year of play — giving ownership groups roughly two years to hire front offices, participate in an expansion draft, and prepare for opening night.