NBA Expansion

[SNPA]

The league needs the expansion money. But the idea that they care which city associated ownership group pays up is laughable. It’s all about expansion fees. Whoever pays the most wins. Don’t sleep on San Jose.

[Cactus Jack]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/rumor-nba-teams-going-move-120029893.html

Rumor: If an NBA teams is going to move cities it would be Pelicans

It's NOT happening.

To be clear, [owner Gayle] Benson is deeply connected to New Orleans and not currently seeking to sell

As Hollinger notes, the NBA’s expansion plan changes that dynamic, somewhat. The league is going to protect those massive expansion fees that will be coming in and would not let the Pelicans move to Seattle or potentially Las Vegas (Seattle is a lock for a new team when the vote comes up in 2022, Vegas appears to be the current frontrunner for the other one).

None of the existing teams are moving. Expansion is on the horizon.

The league might not let them move to Seattle, but there are bunch of potential markets like Vancouver, Kansas City, Vegas which could all be in play depending on which other city gets the 2nd expansion.

The owner is a another matter.

Seattle & Vegas are both getting expansion teams. The league owners will vote (expansion) & begin the process next year. But both cities are a virtual lock.

Other places like Vancouver & Louisville are going to have to wait a while before their turn is up. The league is not going to approve relocation for the foreseeable future. There simply aren't any teams in dire need of a new facility.

The league is not going to approve a Pelicans move.

[DutchManDanFan]

Sadly, the WNBA took the absolute best name for a Las Vegas team (Aces), but they could go with my favorite expansion team name, the Las Vegas Outlaws.

Aces and Kings are given, so Queens are next: Las Vegas (Drag) Queens

[DoItALL9]

The league didn't approve of the Clippers last move to LA.

Sent from my LM-G710 using RealGM mobile app

[kombayn]

It'll be Seattle and Las Vegas for sure. Vegas is getting a massive influx of businesses moving their headquarters there, the hospitality industry is returning and it fits the tourism aspect of the city. I think the A's will move to Henderson if the deal is right, MLS expanding to Las Vegas makes too much sense and they could probably add an NWSL team. If the NBA comes too. They'll have all major sports there. It makes a lot of sense for Vegas to get the 2nd expansion team. They love basketball and the Golden Knights have shown the locality is willing to support sports. I'll be interested in how the Black Hole looks once they play their first game in front of fans. NorCal and SoCal Raider fans will flock to Vegas for a weekend to see a game and the Raiders have a nice fanbase in Portland too.

[durantbird]

Is there any official confirmation as to when an expansion is scheduled?

[DeBrick]

I don't think the Raptors would be in favour of any canadian expansion. I think after the success of the Vegas Golden KNights they should look at putting a team there

[LakerLegend]

It's NOT happening.




None of the existing teams are moving. Expansion is on the horizon.

The league might not let them move to Seattle, but there are bunch of potential markets like Vancouver, Kansas City, Vegas which could all be in play depending on which other city gets the 2nd expansion.

The owner is a another matter.

Seattle & Vegas are both getting expansion teams. The league owners will vote (expansion) & begin the process next year. But both cities are a virtual lock.

Other places like Vancouver & Louisville are going to have to wait a while before their turn is up. The league is not going to approve relocation for the foreseeable future. There simply aren't any teams in dire need of a new facility.

The league is not going to approve a Pelicans move.

No, Vegas is not a lock and no one has claimed it is.

Louisville is never getting a team as long as the Pacers exist and play 100 miles away.

[Cactus Jack]

Is there any official confirmation as to when an expansion is scheduled?

The owners will vote on it next year (Summer 2022).

When will the teams start play? That's still not yet known. The NBA's current television deal is up after the 2024/25 season. A rumor is that expansion would likely occur around that time (2025).

[Cactus Jack]

No, Vegas is not a lock and no one has claimed it is.

Louisville is never getting a team as long as the Pacers exist and play 100 miles away.

Vegas is the clear frontrunner. They're virtually a lock.

Louisville won't get a team. But they have an active group.

[Ducklett]

I think Tampa has a chance. They tried it with the Raptors and the city had NFL and NHL championships (GO BUCS) in the last year, have the chance at repeating (GO LIGHTNING) and the Rays are the best team in baseball after making the World Series last year.

It is the second biggest US market after Seattle without an NBA team. Orlando (who has the Magic) has roughly the same exact market size (over 3 million each), so they won't need each other to make the team work.

Strike while the iron is hot.

[LakerLegend]

I think Tampa has a chance. They tried it with the Raptors and the city had NFL and NHL championships (GO BUCS) in the last year, have the chance at repeating (GO LIGHTNING) and the Rays are the best team in baseball after making the World Series last year.

It is the second biggest US market after Seattle without an NBA team. Orlando (who has the Magic) has roughly the same exact market size (over 3 million each), so they won't need each other to make the team work.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Tampa will not get a team as long as the Magic exist, they are far too close.

[LakerLegend]

Good rule of thumb: Unless you're talking about a mega market like LA or NY, if there is an existing NBA team within 100-150 miles of a city you think would be good expansion candidate that city will NOT get a team.

The NBA won't cannibalize itself like that.

[Ducklett]

I think Tampa has a chance. They tried it with the Raptors and the city had NFL and NHL championships (GO BUCS) in the last year, have the chance at repeating (GO LIGHTNING) and the Rays are the best team in baseball after making the World Series last year.

It is the second biggest US market after Seattle without an NBA team. Orlando (who has the Magic) has roughly the same exact market size (over 3 million each), so they won't need each other to make the team work.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Tampa will not get a team as long as the Magic exist, they are far too close.

Why? There is no cross pollination in the market shares and each of the markets has 3 million people in it, making them both top 20 markets each. Not to mention 100 miles in between them.

[LakerLegend]

I think Tampa has a chance. They tried it with the Raptors and the city had NFL and NHL championships (GO BUCS) in the last year, have the chance at repeating (GO LIGHTNING) and the Rays are the best team in baseball after making the World Series last year.

It is the second biggest US market after Seattle without an NBA team. Orlando (who has the Magic) has roughly the same exact market size (over 3 million each), so they won't need each other to make the team work.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Tampa will not get a team as long as the Magic exist, they are far too close.

Why? There is no cross pollination in the market shares and each of the markets has 3 million households in it, making them both top 20 markets each.

The NBA will not cannibalize itself like that. Orlando is what, 90-120 miles from Tampa? Of course they draw fans from Tampa.

It doesn't make any business sense to put a team there over more isolated markets.

100 miles is nothing, I think realistically the NBA wouldn't any new team within 200 miles of an existing team.

[Ducklett]

Tampa will not get a team as long as the Magic exist, they are far too close.

Why? There is no cross pollination in the market shares and each of the markets has 3 million households in it, making them both top 20 markets each.

The NBA will not cannibalize itself like that. Orlando is what, 90-120 miles from Tampa? Of course they draw fans from Tampa.

It doesn't make any business sense to put a team there over more isolated markets.

100 miles is nothing, I think realistically the NBA wouldn't any new team within 200 miles of an existing team.

I'm glad you said that. Seattle to Portland is only ~160 miles, so they shouldn't get a team either.

[Cactus Jack]

Why? There is no cross pollination in the market shares and each of the markets has 3 million households in it, making them both top 20 markets each.

The NBA will not cannibalize itself like that. Orlando is what, 90-120 miles from Tampa? Of course they draw fans from Tampa.

It doesn't make any business sense to put a team there over more isolated markets.

100 miles is nothing, I think realistically the NBA wouldn't any new team within 200 miles of an existing team.

I'm glad you said that. Seattle to Portland is only ~160 miles, so they shouldn't get a team either.

175 miles to be precise. It's closer to Vancouver B.C.

Tbf you have to leave the State.

[Ducklett]

The NBA will not cannibalize itself like that. Orlando is what, 90-120 miles from Tampa? Of course they draw fans from Tampa.

It doesn't make any business sense to put a team there over more isolated markets.

100 miles is nothing, I think realistically the NBA wouldn't any new team within 200 miles of an existing team.

I'm glad you said that. Seattle to Portland is only ~160 miles, so they shouldn't get a team either.

175 miles to be precise.

Tbf you have to leave the State.

I didn't set the rules, he did lol.

[Promezclan]

I think Tampa has a chance. They tried it with the Raptors and the city had NFL and NHL championships (GO BUCS) in the last year, have the chance at repeating (GO LIGHTNING) and the Rays are the best team in baseball after making the World Series last year.

It is the second biggest US market after Seattle without an NBA team. Orlando (who has the Magic) has roughly the same exact market size (over 3 million each), so they won't need each other to make the team work.

Strike while the iron is hot.

Tampa will not get a team as long as the Magic exist, they are far too close.

Why? There is no cross pollination in the market shares and each of the markets has 3 million people in it, making them both top 20 markets each. Not to mention 100 miles in between them.

3 million is tiny, though, if that's the complete population hemmed in by two other teams. The average team should have 330 million US population/30 teams = 11 million in its market. For example, the Cavaliers are a small market, yet Ohio has almost 12 million people.

[Ducklett]

Tampa will not get a team as long as the Magic exist, they are far too close.

Why? There is no cross pollination in the market shares and each of the markets has 3 million people in it, making them both top 20 markets each. Not to mention 100 miles in between them.

3 million is tiny, though, if that's the complete population hemmed in by two other teams. The average team should have 330 million US population/30 teams = 11 million in its market. For example, the Cavaliers are a small market, yet Ohio has almost 12 million people.

Bro... only two markets in the US have more than 11 million people. What are you talking about?