Posted by VanCity B-ball Boy February 3, 2021 Posted in Grizzly Articles Tags: nba expansion, nba to vancouver, seattle supersonics. The NBA hasn’t expanded since the inception of the Charlotte Bobcats — now Hornets — in 2002, with the team beginning play in 2004. Cities that get bounced around in NBA expansion discussions often include Las Vegas, Kansas City, Montreal, Vancouver, St Louis and San Diego. 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. 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. So that settles that. Vancouver. Seattle. Seattle previously hosted the Seattle SuperSonics from the 1967–68 season until the 2007–08 season, prior to the SuperSonics' relocation to Oklahoma City, and is a leading candidate to host a potential expansion NBA team. People keep creating these bloody lists of potential NBA expansion cities that don’t include Vancouver. Basketball fans around the NBA want the Sonics to come back, but it doesn’t need to be at the expense of another team. Written By. Suns, Clippers, Lakers, Suns, Kings. 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. 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. 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. “… It’s an economic issue and it’s a competitive issue for us. Seattle reportedly expected to bid for NBA expansion franchise and the price tag is eye-popping originally appeared on NBC Sports Northwest. 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. 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. 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. The NBA hasn’t expanded since 2004, when Charlotte rejoined the league. All rights reserved. Mavericks, Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Spurs. The league is missing part of … The answer to the Seattle problem is a somewhat simple one — expansion. It’s at least possible someone could pay $2.5 billion to own a team in one of those markets. Nuggets, Timberwolves, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Jazz. Both cities will warrant strong consideration, but the NBA’s history with Seattle should prevail. The Sonics had been in Seattle since 1967, and brought the city a championship in 1979. Last year, the NBA faced a loss worth billions of dollars due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. One issue that caused the Seattle Sonics to leave after 2008 was due to the arena they played in, Key Arena. NBA expansion may be just around the corner, and Seattle is ready. For many fans, it felt, and still feels, like a betrayal. The NBA is exploding in terms of popularity and there is talent everywhere. 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. 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. As part of the bid to secure the NHL, Seattle renovated what is now known as Climate Pledge Arena. City of Seattle announces NBA expansion franchise. The Sonics need to come back, and besides, a little more green and gold never hurt anybody. Seattle is the most populous metropolitan area and the second largest American media market without an NBA … It’s too late to undo the OKC move, but the NBA can still make things right. Both cities have WNBA teams, and both also play host to teams from the NFL and NHL. ‘They wanted me to love the horses, not the sport’: Equestrian... Baylor students help police find, arrest armed robbery suspect. “It is very good news for the city of Seattle that they are thinking of an expansion team,” Durkan said Thursday, via KING5. Seattle is a logical home for the NBA's 31st franchise. 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 – Basketball winding down. This week, reports circled around Seattle, with fans on social media excited about the league finally returning to Seattle. 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. 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. It’s time to do right by scorned Sonics fans. The only larger city that could garner consideration from the NBA is Montreal. The NBA could put expansion franchises practically anywhere. This team wouldn’t have to be in the east though, and could go to a city like Las Vegas. 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. Seattle is obviously mentioned when talk of NBA expansion surfaces, and the city’s mayor has fresh optimism about landing a team. The new arena can hold almost 19,000 basketball fans, more than enough for a serious NBA market. “I’d say it’s caused us to maybe dust off some of the analyses on the economic and competitive impactions of expansion,” Silver said. The arena is up to NBA standards in the event that NBA expansion is on the table or a different franchise chooses to relocate. By Steve Dewald @SteveDHoops Jan 8, 2021, 11:11am PST According to Bontemps, should the NBA choose to expand, “Seattle would likely be first in line.”. April 1, 2019. If it was up to me — unfortunately, it is not — Vancouver would … 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. It’ll host the NHL expansion franchise the Seattle Kraken in their first ever season in 2021. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan spoke with KING 5’s Chris Daniels about the city’s chances of landing a NBA expansion team in the near future. 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. We’ve been putting a little bit more time into it than we were pre-pandemic. No, they list cities that have never had a team, never had a pro … Devika Pawar. The NBA hasn’t expanded since 2004, when Charlotte rejoined the league. 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. Seattle Expansion Highlights NBA’s Arena Fetish. Vegas is the only city that poses a real threat to Seattle as the top candidate for the NBA. “I’d say it’s caused us to maybe dust off some of the analyses on the economic and competitive impacts of expansion. Seattle is booming as a sports town. Seattle had a team in the NBA from 1967 to 2008, winning the league championship in 1979, before the SuperSonics relocated … Adam Silver offered a little candor Monday when asked about the possibility. Seattle and its surrounding area is the largest U.S. market without an NBA team. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says Seattle will be at the top of the list when the NBA seriously considers expansion. Every time there’s the slightest hint of a relocation rumor around the league, Seattle is the first name to come up. Devika Pawar. Kevin Garnett and other NBA legends and current stars have voiced support for the NBA returning to Seattle. The first priority for that expansion … Seattle is by far the most likely destination, but the second city is more open – Las Vegas, Kansas City, Louisville, Mexico City and more. In his annual preseason press conference, Silver admitted the NBA is reconsidering its stand on expansion. If there’s ever been a time to add to the league again, this is it. Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp remain icons in the Pacific Northwest over 20 years after their appearance in the NBA Finals. The NBA is exploding in terms of popularity and there is talent everywhere. 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 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. Despite all the success other Seattle sports might have, the Sonics are still Seattle’s favorite sons. SportsCenter. The league almost returned to the Pacific Northwest in 2013, when the Sacramento Kings were up for sale, though they ended up remaining … 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. While Seattle remains a prime location for NBA expansion, league officials don't expect to formally consider the notion until 2022 at the earliest. “I think I’ve always said that … In addition, Seattle has shown great support for its … Bringing Seattle back into the NBA would likely mean that the league would look to add another team to balance out conferences. The NBA needs Seattle to get an NBA team back to Seattle. 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 answer to the Seattle problem is a somewhat simple one — expansion. But certainly not to the point that expansion is on the front burner.”. In 2008, the NBA turned its back on Seattle. With the 2020-21 season underway, the NBA is now apparently looking to expand – hoping to soften the blow of COVID-19-caused losses. The first priority for that expansion needs to be Seattle. Adam Silver Says NBA Is Looking Into Expansion Teams; Seattle is at The Top of List. by Tyler Wicke. The NBA has been very non-committal in talks towards expanding the amount of NBA teams beyond 30 teams. 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 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 NBA’s criteria and Seattle … 0. So that’s one of the things that we continue to think about as we consider expansion,” Silver said, per Bontemps. Written By. “One of our focuses as the league office is always on how do you create better competition. © 2021 Bonneville International. It’s 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). 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. Seattle Center community commissioner Brian Robinson on the latest with Save Our Sonics, and what's driving the renewed talk of NBA expansion. 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. Climate Pledge Arena certainly solves the issue that triggered the relocation away to Oklahoma City. 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. 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. If there’s ever been a time to add to the league again, this is it. 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. A new ownership group took the Seattle Supersonics out of Washington and brought them to Oklahoma City, where they would become the Thunder. 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. 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. "Such a haul could mean about $160 million per team, a windfall that could wipe out the massive debt … In 1979 now known as climate Pledge Arena certainly solves the issue that the. Seattle renovated what is now apparently looking to expand, “ Seattle would likely mean that the league right! 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