Las Vegas closer to making NBA team a reality following governors' vote

• The NBA’s Board of Governors has backed expansion plans, with Las Vegas emerging as a leading candidate for a new franchise, though final approvals and ownership details are still pending
• Expansion could generate $7–10 billion per team, while Las Vegas continues to strengthen its status as a major sports hub alongside teams like the Vegas Golden Knights and Las Vegas Raiders
• Key details such as arena location and ownership remain undecided, with venues like Resorts World and the Rio in contention, while Seattle is also expected to secure a franchise

For those of you who have been holding your breath about the possibility of an NBA Las Vegas team, the wait is (almost) over. The league’s Board of Governors backed a move to expand the NBA with two new franchises, with Sin City set to host one.

Governors give their "aye" for a Las Vegas

The equivocation is over, with the governors formerly throwing their weight behind the proposal, and seeking to expand, with the next steps of the process now looking into the feasibility of different locations, potential owners (LeBron James will not be looking to own a future Las Vegas franchise, it seems), and so on.

The NBA is also set to benefit with each franchise bringing in anything between $7bn and $10 bn for the league, driven by media rights revenue. Las Vegas has been expanding rapidly into the world of sports, with the city hosting a recent Super Bowl event, eyeing a second one, bringing an F1 race to its confines, and overcoming logistical challenges while burnishing its sports credentials.

Las Vegas has been expanding its sports scene at a rapid clip, with the city hosting an NHL franchise, the Golden Knights, as well as the NFL’s Raiders, and the WNBA’s Aces.

Locations yet to be determined, with potential candidates appearing

The WNBA is tipped to continue growing as collective bargaining rights will now push the pay rate for top athletes to ten times their 2025 season rates, and Las Vegas is set to capitalize on this. Las Vegas is also preparing for the MLB’s Athletics, which are relocating to Sin City.

In the meantime, the venue for a future NBA franchise in Las Vegas is still subject to speculation, but there are some favorites already emerging, with Resorts World and the Rio. There are potential rumors for an all-new site by LVXP next to the Fontainebleau.

Apart from Las Vegas, Seattle is also primed to join the league, with both teams likely to become part of the Western Conference, given their geography.

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