Forget 2028-29 for a Las Vegas NBA team, folks, because The Athletic is reporting it might be 2029-30 before they even tip off, and Commissioner Adam Silver basically confirmed why our Emerald City is already miles ahead. While the league initially hoped both Seattle and Vegas would launch franchises for the 2028-29 season, Vegas’s timeline is looking a whole lot longer.
Seattle’s Court Is Hot, Vegas Is Still Window Shopping
Adam Silver himself spilled the tea after a Board of Governors meeting, basically saying Seattle is ready to ball and Vegas is… not. He mentioned there wasn’t nearly as much discussion around Seattle because “we have had operational groups out to Climate Pledge. You clearly have a state-of-the-art arena there. It may require some modifications for NBA basketball. If we were opening in five weeks, we could be ready in Seattle.” You hear that, 12s? Our arena, Climate Pledge, is *state-of-the-art* and pretty much good to go. Vegas, on the other hand? Silver admitted, “it’s not even clear what the site will be, let alone the arena yet. Therefore, it’s a much longer timeline before we can throw the ball up for NBA basketball.” It’s a stark contrast: we’ve got a court, they’re still looking for a parking spot.
Vegas’s Arena Hunt: More Like An Odyssey
The real hang-up for Vegas isn’t finding owners; it’s finding an actual place to play the game. All three potential ownership groups are looking to build a brand-new arena, probably as the anchor for some massive resort and entertainment complex. But here’s the kicker: the exact location for this new arena and resort is totally undecided. You know how long it takes to design, get approval for, and then actually build a state-of-the-art arena? That’s the core of their delay right there. Sure, Vegas has T-Mobile Arena, home to the Golden Knights and Aces, where the NBA has even hosted the midseason NBA Cup finals. But according to the report, that arena would need up to $400 million in renovations just to host an NBA team. That’s a serious chunk of change for a temporary fix when they’re planning a shiny new palace anyway.
The Green Light Is Coming: Who’s Getting The Keys?
Even with the arena drama in Vegas, the NBA is still set to make some big calls soon. We’re talking about a $10 billion expansion fee just for the rights to a team, plus a couple billion more for building a new arena. So, it’s a massive investment, but the ownership groups are lined up. For Vegas, the league is choosing between Golden Knights owner Bill Foley with former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo; Nancy Walton Laurie and her husband, Bill Laurie (who owned the St. Louis Blues); or former Bucks owner Marc Lasry, former Turner Broadcasting president David Levy, and Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos. The good news for us? Commissioner Silver expects a formal decision on both Seattle and Las Vegas expansion, and who will own these teams, by the end of the year. So, grab your calendars, Seattle. This is getting real, and we’re ready when they are.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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