NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league expects another round of bids for a potential expansion team in Las Vegas soon, while reiterating that the NBA continues to target a decision on expansion by the end of 2026.
Speaking at the NBA Board of Governors meetings on Tuesday, September 15, Silver said several groups remain active in the Las Vegas process. However, he stressed that the upcoming submissions will not be the final bids.
“There will be next-round bids coming in shortly, not final bids, but next-round bids coming in,” Silver said, via Mike Vorkunov. “My personal view is it’s premature to start locking in a site.”
Silver said the league discussed several potential arena locations in Las Vegas during the meetings. The discussion was led by Patrick Dumont, a Las Vegas resident with extensive business experience in the market, who participated as an independent voice.
One possibility is a renovated T-Mobile Arena, although Silver acknowledged that significant improvements would be necessary if an NBA team were to play there. Other groups have presented plans for new arenas that Silver described as a “modern entertainment palace.”
The NBA also discussed the impact of the Sphere on Las Vegas and how its technology, entertainment offering and economic influence could serve as a model for the type of year-round environment an NBA arena could potentially create.
Silver said the league believes several locations could work for NBA basketball in Las Vegas, meaning an arena site has not yet been selected.
Seattle was discussed less extensively at the meetings, but the NBA has already sent operational groups to evaluate Climate Pledge Arena. Silver described the venue as a state-of-the-art facility, while noting that it could require some modifications to accommodate NBA basketball.
The difference in arena readiness means Seattle could theoretically begin hosting NBA games much sooner than Las Vegas.
“If we were opening in five weeks, we could be ready in Seattle,” Silver said.
By comparison, Las Vegas still faces unresolved questions about both its potential site and arena, making the timeline there considerably longer.
The NBA is currently exploring expansion in both Seattle and Las Vegas, with the potential teams targeted for the 2028-29 season. The league’s Board of Governors formally approved exploration of the two markets in March, and the bidding process has since moved into a more detailed stage.
Silver reiterated that the NBA’s goal remains to reach decisions by the end of 2026. However, no expansion teams have been approved, and the league has not finalized new arenas, team names, expansion drafts or roster structures.
