The NBA’s Board of Governors voted Wednesday to formally explore expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas, advancing the league’s first addition of new franchises since 2004. The vote, which required approval from 23 of 30 franchise owners, opens a bidding process that could bring professional basketball back to Seattle for the 2028-29 season — 20 years after the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City.

The Bid

The vote authorizes the league to evaluate ownership bids exclusively for the two cities. Expansion fees are expected to range from $7 billion to $10 billion per franchise, delivering roughly $500 million to each existing owner. Seattle Kraken owner Samantha Holloway positioned for the bid days before the vote, forming a new parent company called One Roof Sports and Entertainment and acquiring majority ownership of Climate Pledge Arena from Oak View Group. Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke is expected to lead the expansion effort. Gov. Bob Ferguson, who met with Commissioner Adam Silver twice in the weeks preceding the vote, said he spoke with both Holloway and Leiweke on Wednesday and called the Sonics’ return “a top priority.”

The Arena

The original departure hinged on the aging KeyArena, which the city declined to renovate to NBA standards. That facility underwent a $1.15 billion private reconstruction and reopened in 2021 as Climate Pledge Arena, now home to the Kraken, the Seattle Storm, and the Seattle Torrent. The arena seats 18,100 for basketball, removing the infrastructure obstacle that drove the Sonics to Oklahoma City in 2008.

What Happens Next

The Board of Governors must hold a second vote to finalize any expansion transactions. Commissioner Silver said the league will evaluate bids over the coming months, with a final decision possible by this summer. If approved, Seattle would rejoin the NBA after the longest absence of any former franchise city in league history.