At a time when Adam Silver looks to make the league better, the NBA decided that expansion is a possibility to move the league forward. There are three destinations rumored to be ahead of the rest. Do they make sense? Is there a case of “been there, done that” for at least one of them?
3 Most Likely NBA Expansion Markets
Las Vegas
Tourists and Entertainment Dollars
Las Vegas is the favorite destination for expansion. Las Vegas is a city that brings a lot of tourists as it has avenues of entertainment. Of course the world’s most attractive betting market with free spins no deposit opportunities at every corner.
Furthermore, the city has acquired NFL, NHL, WNBA, and now an MLB team.
It makes sense for the league to make this move to Nevada. The Summer League occurs there every summer, and the league would generate more revenue by expanding to a popular city like Las Vegas.
Big Market
The NBA needs bigger markets to compete in the super-team era, and Las Vegas is a big market. There are big boxing matches and Raiders football games. Moreover, fans get to watch the previous WNBA Championship winner, the Aces, and the Stanley Cup Champion Golden Knights. More importantly, the NBA is one of the most watched sports leagues in the United States, so a big market only creates more viewership.
T-Mobile Arena
Additionally, the league seeks a modern arena to promote a new team. The T-Mobile Arena meets the criteria. The arena attracts the Pac-12 to play their conference tournament there with great success, so basketball could definitely fit the market.
Las Vegas is a sports city where fan entertainment maximizes. And in the world of pro sports, money talks.
Seattle
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Seattle is another obvious choice for league expansion. For one, Seattle used to have a dominant team in the NBA in the 1990s. The Supersonics played in the NBA Finals and had star players like Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. Seattle also has WNBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL teams that found success within the past 20 years.
Rebuilding the Sonics Fan Base
Adding an NBA team to Seattle would rebuild a once great fanbase, who suffered the loss of the Supersonics to Oklahoma City. Seattle is a rich sports city because they have loyal and energetic fans. The NBA needs another market in a well-known city, and Seattle is that city. More importantly, there is a basketball arena in Seattle primed for another basketball team to play in.
Close to Vancouver Market
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Perhaps Vancouver should be an entry unto itself. The proximity to a metro Vancouver, British Columbia area is a huge selling feature for a Seattle bid. Vancouver is Canada’s second largest city and it won’t be lost on fans that it once had an NBA franchise. With a rapidly growing population, the future is bright. Being close to this city and a once strong basketball fan base could prove a tipping point.
Mexico City
NBA to be Global
Now, the NBA looks at all potential markers, but Mexico City is another likely destination for an NBA team. Silver wants to make the league a global league and is proud of that development during his tenure. Mexico City makes the NBA global.
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Infrastructure
Additionally, the league plays games down in Mexico City during the regular season. In December 2022, Silver commented that there is a strong consideration for expansion into Mexico City. He mentioned their “state-of-the-art” facility, and how “hard” the city is working to put themselves in a position to foster an NBA team. Their arena can fit 22,300 people, satisfying the NBA criterion.
Population
Mexico City has a huge population as well. A big population allows for a big market which gets more revenue for the league. With around 130 million people, Mexico City’s appeal is similar to Toronto and the Raptors. The idea of a team representing a whole country is something that the league looks at closely.
Final Thoughts on NBA Expansion Cities
All of these cities offer potential excitement for expansion. The NBA gets cities with eager sports fans and allows the league to become global. Unfortunately, the NBA needs to get their TV deals done before this expansion occurs. Nevertheless, the idea of expansion is an exciting and interesting idea for the future of the NBA.
