A new ownership group took the Seattle Supersonics out of Washington and brought them to Oklahoma City, where they would become the Thunder. Itâs at least possible someone could pay $2.5 billion to own a team in one of those markets. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the NBA has floated an expansion fee of $2.5 billion apiece for two new teams, with multiple offers expected from Las Vegas and Seattle-based groups. Despite all the success other Seattle sports might have, the Sonics are still Seattle’s favorite sons. O’Neil: A Seattle NBA team needs to be acquired, not poached from Memphis, “I think I’ve always said that it’s sort of the manifest destiny of the league that you expand at some point,” Silver said during a preseason press conference, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. Climate Pledge Arena certainly solves the issue that triggered the relocation away to Oklahoma City. The NBA hasn’t expanded since the inception of the Charlotte Bobcats — now Hornets — in 2002, with the team beginning play in 2004. We’ve been putting a little bit more time into it than we were pre-pandemic. Written By. The NBA needs Seattle to get an NBA team back to Seattle. Seattle. The NBA is exploding in terms of popularity and there is talent everywhere. Seattle was awarded an NHL team which is set to begin play in 2021, the Seattle Kraken, and Key Arena has been renovated and is now Climate Pledge Arena. The NBA is a 30-team league and it has been for nearly two decades, but broadly speaking, a city needs to fit several benchmarks to meet the NBAâs criteria and Seattle ⦠Suns, Clippers, Lakers, Suns, Kings. The NBA is exploding in terms of popularity and there is talent everywhere. NBA expansion: According to recent reports, the league has apparently asked Seattle and Las Vegas $2.5 million each for expanding the league after 16 years. “One of our focuses as the league office is always on how do you create better competition. In 2008, the NBA turned its back on Seattle. With the 2020-21 season underway, the NBA is now apparently looking to expand â hoping to soften the blow of COVID-19-caused losses. As with other professional sports leagues as well as businesses in general, the NBA has lost money due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Bontemps writes that it’s “notable” that Silver acknowledged the potential of expansion because any expansion franchise would come with a “hefty sum” likely exceeding $1 billion, which would be be passed on to the league’s 30 teams. Both cities will warrant strong consideration, but the NBA’s history with Seattle should prevail. When the Sonics left for Oklahoma, the move was allegedly a financial one, as the owners thought they might find a more lucrative market elsewhere. Seattle reportedly expected to bid for NBA expansion franchise and the price tag is eye-popping originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest. Seattle is booming as a sports town. The city has a redeveloped stadium ready and waiting in Climate Pledge Arena (formerly known as the Key Arena), which will host the NHL's Seattle Kraken when the expansion franchise begins play in 2021-22. SportsCenter. Devika Pawar. Written By. The league almost returned to the Pacific Northwest in 2013, when the Sacramento Kings were up for sale, though they ended up remaining ⦠The answer to the Seattle problem is a somewhat simple one — expansion. © 2021 Bonneville International. Itâs almost impossible to imagine the NBA expanding without returning to Seattle, who saw their SuperSonics relocate to become the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. (AP). Both cities have WNBA teams, and both also play host to teams from the NFL and NHL. The only larger city that could garner consideration from the NBA is Montreal. The Sonics had been in Seattle since 1967, and brought the city a championship in 1979. The first priority for that expansion needs to be Seattle. Kevin Garnett and other NBA legends and current stars have voiced support for the NBA returning to Seattle. But certainly not to the point that expansion is on the front burner.”. For many fans, it felt, and still feels, like a betrayal. Former NBA MVP Kevin Durant played his rookie season as a Sonic, and has been a strong advocate for the city’s return to the NBA. Basketball fans around the NBA want the Sonics to come back, but it doesn’t need to be at the expense of another team. City of Seattle announces NBA expansion franchise. Brian Windhorst of ESPN wrote he has heard the NBA league office has "floated the price tag of $2.5 billion each for two expansion teams in the near future" with Seattle and Las Vegas among the expected bidders. The NBA has been very non-committal in talks towards expanding the amount of NBA teams beyond 30 teams. The Sonics need to come back, and besides, a little more green and gold never hurt anybody. Adam Silver offered a little candor Monday when asked about the possibility. Vegas is the only city that poses a real threat to Seattle as the top candidate for the NBA. Nuggets, Timberwolves, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Jazz. Vancouver. Devika Pawar. 0. "Such a haul could mean about $160 million per team, a windfall that could wipe out the massive debt ⦠If there’s ever been a time to add to the league again, this is it. While Seattle remains a prime location for NBA expansion, league officials don't expect to formally consider the notion until 2022 at the earliest. As part of the bid to secure the NHL, Seattle renovated what is now known as Climate Pledge Arena. In his annual preseason press conference, Silver admitted the NBA is reconsidering its stand on expansion. By Steve Dewald @SteveDHoops Jan 8, 2021, 11:11am PST All rights reserved. Seattle has been ready for an NBA team since the day the Sonics left, and the league is in position to give them what they want. Bringing Seattle back into the NBA would likely mean that the league would look to add another team to balance out conferences. âIâd say itâs caused us to maybe dust off some of the analyses on the economic and competitive impactions of expansion,â Silver said. Seattle is a logical home for the NBA's 31st franchise. Mavericks, Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Spurs. Seattle previously hosted the Seattle SuperSonics from the 1967â68 season until the 2007â08 season, prior to the SuperSonics' relocation to Oklahoma City, and is a leading candidate to host a potential expansion NBA team. The NBA hasn’t expanded since 2004, when Charlotte rejoined the league. Seattle was awarded an NHL team which is set to begin play in 2021, the Seattle Kraken, and Key Arena has been renovated and is now Climate Pledge Arena. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says Seattle will be at the top of the list when the NBA seriously considers expansion. So that’s one of the things that we continue to think about as we consider expansion,” Silver said, per Bontemps. The first priority for that expansion ⦠Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has spoken with NBA commissioner Adam Silver and is "pretty optimistic" the city is moving toward landing an expansion franchise to replace the SuperSonics. The Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks have all been tied to the Emerald City at one point or another in the last several years, but it would be a huge mistake on the part of the NBA to allow any team to leave its current market. Itâll host the NHL expansion franchise the Seattle Kraken in their first ever season in 2021. Adam Silver Says NBA Is Looking Into Expansion Teams; Seattle is at The Top of List. Seattle had a team in the NBA from 1967 to 2008, winning the league championship in 1979, before the SuperSonics relocated ⦠He was asked about potential again this week, and this time, he appeared more open to the idea, prompting speculation that the Seattle Sonics could return to the Pacific Northwest. It’s time to do right by scorned Sonics fans. Seattle Expansion Highlights NBAâs Arena Fetish. âI think Iâve always said that ⦠Seattle is the most populous metropolitan area and the second largest American media market without an NBA ⦠The answer to the Seattle problem is a somewhat simple one â expansion. Every time there’s the slightest hint of a relocation rumor around the league, Seattle is the first name to come up. Adam Silver has been the commissioner of the NBA since 2014, and since then, he’s been asked about the possibility of expanding the league beyond 30 franchises, usually answering that the league isn’t really considering it at the moment. Last year, the NBA faced a loss worth billions of dollars due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NBA doesn't have expansion anywhere on its timeline, and Seattle's arena developments weren't discussed for a moment at the fall board of governors meeting two weeks ago, league sources said. Seattle is obviously mentioned when talk of NBA expansion surfaces, and the cityâs mayor has fresh optimism about landing a team. It’s too late to undo the OKC move, but the NBA can still make things right. ‘They wanted me to love the horses, not the sport’: Equestrian... Baylor students help police find, arrest armed robbery suspect. Since then, there have been multiple instances of Seattle Sonics fans getting their hopes up for a team coming back to Washington State, most notably when Seattle nearly got the Sacramento Kings in 2013 before Vivek Ranadive bought the team and kept them in California. The Seattle Sonics left the Pacific Northwest after the 2007-2008 season and became the Oklahoma City Thunder shortly after the franchise was sold to Clay Bennett, who wanted to move the team to his native Oklahoma. The NBA could put expansion franchises practically anywhere. “I’d say it’s caused us to maybe dust off some of the analyses on the economic and competitive impacts of expansion. âIt is very good news for the city of Seattle that they are thinking of an expansion team,â Durkan said Thursday, via KING5. Lariat TV News Today, armed robbery, diversity awareness and National Signing... Don’t Feed the Bears — Depth Chart Reveal, Buzzfeed quizzes go viral, connect people online, Don’t Feed the Bear â Basketball winding down. According to Bontemps, should the NBA choose to expand, “Seattle would likely be first in line.”. Some have expressed concerns that fans won’t pay to see an expansion team in its formative years, but the average income in the Seattle metro area is over $94,000 a year, more than enough to go see a couple games. The arena is up to NBA standards in the event that NBA expansion is on the table or a different franchise chooses to relocate. The NBA hasnât expanded since 2004, when Charlotte rejoined the league. The league is missing part of ⦠The NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement will expire in 2024, allowing league officials to restructure things to bring a new team into the fold. The new arena can hold almost 19,000 basketball fans, more than enough for a serious NBA market. Posted by VanCity B-ball Boy February 3, 2021 Posted in Grizzly Articles Tags: nba expansion, nba to vancouver, seattle supersonics. If it was up to me â unfortunately, it is not â Vancouver would ⦠In addition, Seattle has shown great support for its ⦠NBA expansion may be just around the corner, and Seattle is ready. April 1, 2019. The Seahawks are in the middle of another strong season under the guidance of Russell Wilson, and the NHL’s newest franchise, the Seattle Kraken, will join the league in the 2021-22 season. by Tyler Wicke. One issue that caused the Seattle Sonics to leave after 2008 was due to the arena they played in, Key Arena. No, they list cities that have never had a team, never had a pro ⦠This team wouldn’t have to be in the east though, and could go to a city like Las Vegas. Prospective Seattle ownership groups that have met with NBA officials were told expansion may not happen until 2025 at the earliest, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst. On Thursday, speaking with NBA vet Jalen Rose on his podcast "Renaissance Man", Silver was asked which city he would like to see next host an NBA team.His response is a nice Christmas stocking stuffer for Sonics fans in Seattle. Seattle is by far the most likely destination, but the second city is more open â Las Vegas, Kansas City, Louisville, Mexico City and more. Seattle and its surrounding area is the largest U.S. market without an NBA team. If thereâs ever been a time to add to the league again, this is it. So that settles that. Seattle is a leading candidate to host a potential expansion team, especially now that Climate Pledge Arena will be built to host both an NHL and NBA team. So it’s one that we’ll continue to study, but we’re spending a little bit more time on it than we were pre-pandemic.”, Any time that there’s rumors or speculation of NBA expansion or a franchise moving cities, the first thing that comes to mind is often whether the Seattle Sonics would be able to become a franchise again as a result. This week, reports circled around Seattle, with fans on social media excited about the league finally returning to Seattle. Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp remain icons in the Pacific Northwest over 20 years after their appearance in the NBA Finals. Seattle Sonics ‘likely first in line’ if NBA expands, which Silver says is possible, The Seattle Sonics may be "first in line" if NBA expands, which seems more likely than before. People keep creating these bloody lists of potential NBA expansion cities that donât include Vancouver. Seattle Center community commissioner Brian Robinson on the latest with Save Our Sonics, and what's driving the renewed talk of NBA expansion. After 11 miserable seasons without our beloved SuperSonics, the city of Seattle rejoiced Friday morning when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the return of an expansion franchise. The main problem some fans and analysts have with bringing back the Sonics is that they think another city might better support an NBA franchise. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan spoke with KING 5âs Chris Daniels about the cityâs chances of landing a NBA expansion team in the near future. Sports Take: It’s time for the NBA to return to Seattle, ‘They wanted me to love the horses, not the sport’: Equestrian athletes grow through connection with their steeds, Lady Bears keep winning streak going with blowout over Kansas, Sports Take: Blue bloods fall out of Top 25 because of pandemic. “… It’s an economic issue and it’s a competitive issue for us. 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