SEATTLE — Seattle is taking formal steps to position itself for the return of the NBA, with city leaders, sports executives and community advocates signaling their readiness after the league opened the door to expansion.
The NBA’s board of governors on March 25 authorized formal expansion talks with prospective ownership groups in Seattle and Las Vegas, a move widely seen as the strongest indication yet that professional basketball could return to the Pacific Northwest as soon as the 2028-29 season.
At the city’s Transportation, Waterfront and Seattle Center committee meeting on Thursday, Councilmember Rob Saka introduced a resolution affirming Seattle’s readiness for an NBA franchise, declaring Climate Pledge Arena prepared to host a team and emphasizing the city’s intent to play an active role in the process.
“Some said Seattle might get a shot. The truth is, we’ve been ready all along,” said Saka, who chairs the committee.
The committee unanimously advanced the measure to the full council for a final vote.
Seattle has been without an NBA team since the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, a loss Saka described as leaving “a noticeable void in Seattle’s cultural landscape.”
“But the question isn’t if the Sonics are coming back,” he said. “It’s when.”
City officials and stakeholders stressed that while the NBA controls expansion, Seattle intends to influence its chances.
“The city of Seattle refuses to be a passive observer in the process,” Saka said. “We’re stepping up and taking specific, concrete actions and leading with local policy and more to help shape and influence our own destiny.”
Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt pointed to Climate Pledge Arena as a central asset in Seattle’s bid. The venue, a redevelopment of the former KeyArena, was completed through a privately financed public-private partnership that preserved the historic roof while modernizing the facility.
“It stands as one of the strongest public-private partnerships the city has ever delivered,” Surratt said, noting the project included about $1 billion in private investment with no public capital. The city retains ownership while a private partner assumed construction and operational risk.
Since opening, the arena has hosted nearly 1,000 events. Among them have been 90 Seattle Storm contests, NCAA tournament games and NBA preseason matchups. It is also home to the NHL’s Kraken and WNBA’s Storm.
Rosie Selle, a vice president at Climate Pledge Arena, said the facility was designed with NBA specifications in mind, though some upgrades, including dedicated NBA locker rooms, still need to be completed.
Surratt said the arena demonstrates the kind of infrastructure and stability the league evaluates.
Interest from ownership groups is also taking shape. One Roof Sports and Entertainment, led by Kraken ownership, has emerged as the only publicly known group pursuing a Seattle expansion bid, bolstered by its stake in Climate Pledge Arena.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said expansion fees could reach $7 billion to $10 billion, with multiple bids expected in both Seattle and Las Vegas.
Beyond infrastructure, speakers at the council roundtable emphasized Seattle’s deep basketball roots and fan enthusiasm.
Former NBA player and Seattle native Spencer Hawes echoed that sentiment.
“Seattle is a basketball town,” Hawes said. “We love the Seahawks, we love the Mariners, but the Sonics were first and they brought us our first major professional championship.”
Hawes, who played 10 seasons in the NBA, said he has been encouraged by the city’s unified approach.
“Inspired to see the city this time around, their unity around supporting every facet they can to make this thing a reality,” he said, adding that Climate Pledge Arena is “as nice as any arena I’ve been to.”
Still, he cautioned that hurdles remain, including securing ownership financing and final league approval.
“They still got to get a lot of money together. There is still another vote that needs to take place,” Hawes said. “But I think there’s a lot of reason to be excited.”
Beth Knox, president and CEO of the Seattle Sports Commission, said the region has spent years preparing for this opportunity.
“I don’t think there’s anything more we need to do to prepare except to continue to stand at the ready,” Knox said.
She added that Seattle’s track record across multiple professional leagues underscores its viability.
“Seattle is a world-class sports market,” Knox said.
If awarded a franchise, Seattle would become just the sixth U.S. city with teams in the NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and MLS.
Community leaders also highlighted the broader impact of a potential team. Brad Meyers, founder of Rise Above, said an NBA franchise could expand opportunities for youth engagement.
“We think the franchise coming back is a significant opportunity for the nonprofit sector to partner to reach more kids,” Meyers said.
For many, the effort is about more than sports.
“This is bigger than basketball,” Saka said. “It’s about economic growth, community investment and restoring a defining part of Seattle’s identity.”