NBA Expansion Vote Looms | Seattle News

Seattle News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 16, 2026 · 1m

NBA owners are voting to explore expansion into Las Vegas and Seattle—cities with deep NBA roots and strong fanbases. While private groups are already bidding for franchises in both markets, approval requires a supermajority vote. Meanwhile, Portland’s Trail Blazers face potential relocation if the city balks at stadium costs, a scenario expansion could help mitigate by reducing teams’ leverage for public funding. With expansion fees potentially totaling $16 billion and strong merchandise sales in Seattle, the league is weighing whether new teams can offset declining TV revenue. A final…