Las Vegas, NV – The possibility of Las Vegas landing an NBA franchise moved significantly closer to reality on Monday, as ESPN reported the league will hold a preliminary vote among owners regarding expansion to both Las Vegas and Seattle. The NBA’s Board of Governors will discuss potential franchises in both cities during their meeting on March 23-24, with the aim of launching new teams for the 2028-29 season.
For years, Las Vegas has been widely considered the frontrunner for expansion, and the NBA’s formal consideration of the city shouldn’t come as a surprise. The city already hosts the NBA Summer League, the NBA Cup, and serves as a training camp location for the USA Basketball team. More importantly, Las Vegas has repeatedly demonstrated its capacity to support major professional sports, a point underscored by the fervent fanbase of the Vegas Golden Knights.
“We are looking at this Las Vegas market. We are looking at Seattle,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated in December while in Las Vegas for the NBA Cup Finals, as reported by the Las Vegas Sun. “We’ve also looked at other markets. I would caution against the idea that we’re somehow signaling to these markets, because we’ve been talking about this for a long time.”
The success of the Golden Knights, from ticket sales to franchise value and fan passion, paved the way for the arrival of the NFL’s Raiders and, more recently, the Oakland Athletics. Each team has reinforced a growing understanding: Las Vegas is a sports town. And increasingly, a basketball town.
The Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA provide compelling evidence. The Aces have won three of the last four league championships and, in 2024, became the first WNBA team to sell out its entire season ticket allocation, exhausting a record 15 of 20 home games. The energy surrounding women’s basketball in Las Vegas is palpable, and the NBA is expected to generate a similar level of excitement.
Before discussions turn to franchise names – perhaps the “Las Vegas High Rollers”? – significant work remains. According to ESPN, the Board of Governors will only vote if the league can formally focus its attention on Las Vegas and Seattle, initiating a bidding process for the new franchises. A final vote to expand to 32 teams is anticipated later this year, requiring a qualified majority of 23 of the 30 governors for approval.
The financial commitment to secure a franchise is substantial, estimated at $7 to $10 billion. Equally critical is the question of where a team would play.
An Oak View Group development, planned for Las Vegas Boulevard South and Blue Diamond Road, envisioned a 20,000-seat arena and entertainment complex. However, construction, initially slated to start in 2024, has stalled. Alternative locations include a 22-acre parcel at the Rio and undeveloped land near Resorts World on the north Strip.
Carlos Castro, President and CFO of Resorts World, recently highlighted the potential of their property during a meeting with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, as reported by CDC Gaming. “We have 46 acres in a prime location and believe we are the ideal site for a future stadium,” Castro stated. “We are ready to build a world-class convention center with a hotel expansion. We need to drive demand to the complex, so we are looking for assets that will do that, not just for Resorts World, but for the north finish of the Strip. A stadium is the perfect option for Resorts World and the north Strip.”
The NBA’s formal consideration of Las Vegas arrives at a crucial time. Tourism in the city experienced a downturn in the past year, a trend some Democratic lawmakers have labeled the “Trump Slump,” attributing it to the former president’s trade and immigration policies. Adding a major entertainment draw like an NBA franchise, with 41 home games annually, could provide a significant economic boost.
The new team would also debut shortly before the Oakland Athletics begin play at their new stadium on the former site of the Tropicana. The baseball franchise anticipates attracting approximately 8,000 out-of-market fans for each of its 81 home games in the 33,000-seat venue.
Sports tourism, it appears, could be the engine this community needs for economic recovery.
And, of course, Las Vegas knows how to deliver an unforgettable game-day experience. Ten years ago, the Golden Knights became the city’s first major professional franchise, at a time when many doubted whether the community could consistently support a local team. Las Vegas had a proven track record with one-off events – a Floyd Mayweather fight here, an NCAA Tournament party there – but sustaining that energy week after week was an open question.
The Golden Knights, the Raiders, and the Aces have since dispelled those doubts, creating game experiences that feel less like sporting events and more like two-hour Las Vegas productions. The Golden Knights set the standard with their pre-game spectacle, featuring pyrotechnics and sword fights. The Raiders have transformed halftime into a series of concerts, featuring artists like Lil Jon, Ice Cube, Too $hort, and Carlos Santana, among others.
That electric atmosphere has translated directly into financial success. The Raiders, currently valued at $7.7 billion by Forbes, have more than doubled in value since relocating to Las Vegas in 2020, when the franchise was valued at $3.1 billion.
Las Vegas was once a city that major professional sports franchises flirted with – expressing interest, generating buzz, and then ultimately falling short. Now, the city is on the verge of being home to franchises in all four major professional sports.
This is a testament to everyone in this city – not just the tourism officials and legislators who develop it possible, but also the stadium workers and servers who go the extra mile on game day to demonstrate that no one does it better than Las Vegas.
This is a moment of pride for our city and for the people who call it home. We are not just a great basketball city, but a great community – one where it’s worth living, raising a family, visiting, and cheering.
We look forward to cheering on the Las Vegas High Rollers.
The NBA’s Board of Governors is scheduled to meet on March 23-24 to discuss the expansion proposals. Further updates will be available on NBA.com following the meeting.
