Listening to ESPN: BBall Expansion

[ivotuk]

It was brief, but parphrasing: "Seattle expansion, definitely! But Vegas? I went to the Raiders game, and the Stadium was "meh".

 

[Ruminator]

Appears increasingly likely they'll decide in 2026 whether to expand, Seattle and LV named most likely cities:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/68...las-vegas-seattle/?source=user_shared_article

 

[NoGain]

I hear Howard Schultz is interested in putting together an ownership group for Seattle's expansion team.



J/K

 

[IndyHawk]

I hear Howard Schultz is interested in putting together an ownership group for Seattle's expansion team.



J/K

St. Louis or Kansas could use a team from Seattle.

 

[SKitsapHawk77]

Don't care. No longer interested in watching the 4 step shuffle game.

 

[ivotuk]

It still irritates me to see the Okies have success. That team that moved from Seattle had damn good players on it.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

It's interesting times. Economy feels like its about to go into a recession and the expansion fees will be steep. Wonder who would pay for Seattle.

Vegas also seems to be in a bit of a decline as a tourist destination. It's got super expensive to go there and a lot of Canadians aren't going anymore. Used to be a cheap place to go for the weekend with friends etc.

 

[IndyHawk]

It's interesting times. Economy feels like its about to go into a recession and the expansion fees will be steep. Wonder who would pay for Seattle.

Vegas also seems to be in a bit of a decline as a tourist destination. It's got super expensive to go there and a lot of Canadians aren't going anymore. Used to be a cheap place to go for the weekend with friends etc.

It's greed that took the Sonics away and the same greed will bring them
back at the taxpayers' expense, some of the same taxpayers who paid to
have them in the beginning.
It doesn't matter whether you want them or not, you're paying into that
expansion fee and already have for the Seattle center redo.
I don't speak for anyone but if I was still in the Seattle area, I'd be pissed all
over again.
I was once a big Sonics fan, but the reality of the NBA and greed totally killed
me as a fan of the NBA.

 

[Ruminator]

That scary looking alien provided another update on potential expansion today:

 

[Ruminator]

Potential Divisions for NBA Expansion:

EAST

Atlantic:
Boston
New York
Toronto
Brooklyn

Northeast:
Cleveland
Philadelphia
Indiana
Washington

Central:
Milwaukee
Chicago
Detroit
Minnesota

Southeast:
Miami
Orlando
Atlanta
Charlotte

WEST

Northwest:
Golden State
Sacramento
Portland
Seattle

Pacific:
Lakers
Clippers
Phoenix
Las Vegas

Central:
Oklahoma City
Denver
Utah
Memphis

Southwest:
Dallas
Houston
San Antonio
New Orleans

There's growing momentum for Las Vegas and Seattle to receive expansion teams, which could restructure the league with four divisions of four teams in each conference.

(Borrowed from @JWeinbachNBA)

 

[IndyHawk]

Potential Divisions for NBA Expansion:

EAST

Atlantic:
Boston
New York
Toronto
Brooklyn

Northeast:
Cleveland
Philadelphia
Indiana
Washington

Central:
Milwaukee
Chicago
Detroit
Minnesota

Southeast:
Miami
Orlando
Atlanta
Charlotte

WEST

Northwest:
Golden State
Sacramento
Portland
Seattle

Pacific:
Lakers
Clippers
Phoenix
Las Vegas

Central:
Oklahoma City
Denver
Utah
Memphis

Southwest:
Dallas
Houston
San Antonio
New Orleans

There's growing momentum for Las Vegas and Seattle to receive expansion teams, which could restructure the league with four divisions of four teams in each conference.

(Borrowed from @JWeinbachNBA)

NBA is already really thin on talent; I think this idea of expansion will
kill it quicker, viewership is already at record level lows, the Chinese
money is the biggest reason it stays afloat; I hope they cut that off
as well.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

17 years and counting. I've heard this crap for so long, I can't muster up any excitement. IF it happens, awesome. But we've heard rumors for years.

And I was a MASSIVE Sonics fan since I was a little kid. Been to 30 plus playoff games, all of it. I haven't watched one second since they were taken away.

 

[Ruminator]

See below. Heh. Why am I not surprised? Wonder if state legislators will try to finesse their recent high-taxation laws to partially exempt the Sonics if they return.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

So...Politics

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

See below. Heh. Why am I not surprised? Wonder if state legislators will try to finesse their recent high-taxation laws to partially exempt the Sonics if they return.

They get taxed in the majority of cities outside of Florida. Would make no difference.

Seattle has never been a major free agent destination for any sport.