NEW YORK, New York – The NBA Board of Governors Wednesday voted to formally explore potential expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas.
It’s the first big step in bringing an NBA franchise back to Seattle.
The city has been without a team since 2008 when the Sonics were sold and moved to Oklahoma City.
“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,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a news release about the vote. “We look forward to taking this step and engaging interested parties.”
The NBA has engaged an investment bank to evaluate the markets, ownership groups, arena infrastructure and the “broader implications of expansion.”
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson issued this statement about Tuesday’s vote:
For two decades, Washingtonians have mourned the loss of our Sonics.
Today’s vote is a milestone in the effort to bring NBA basketball back home.
The time is right. The state-of-the-art Climate Pledge Arena already hosts professional basketball and hockey with the Storm, Kraken, and Torrent in front of a dedicated fanbase. And we know we have the best fans in the NBA.
Bringing the Sonics back is a top priority, and the state will be a strong partner in this effort. I plan to be there at tipoff with thousands of fellow fans when the Sonics return.
The last time the NBA expanded was in 2004 with the addition of the Charlotte Hornets.
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