Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman spoke with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver "after he publicly acknowledged that the league was examining the ramifications of expansion beyond 30 teams," though she "does not believe expansion is imminent," according to Gordon & Shoro of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Goodman said that Las Vegas is "eager to be considered" should the NBA decide to expand. Goodman: "(Silver) knows we're right there. That's what I know directly from him, which I think is most significant." Las Vegas hosted the NBA All-Star Game in '07 and the G League's annual winter showcase in '18 and '19, and Goodman was "effusive in her assessment of the league's relationship with the city." She said of her persistence in seeking an NBA franchise for Las Vegas, "I'm more annoying to (Silver) than anybody else. ... I know he sees the advantage of the Las Vegas area for an expansion team at the right time." Meanwhile, Gordon & Shoro note as for acquiring an NBA franchise in Las Vegas, eyes "turn toward MGM Resorts International, given its ownership" of the WNBA Aces. MGM Resorts Int'l did not comment on the possibility (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/23).
PLANNING AHEAD: Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke yesterday said that Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena will be "ready to go for the NBA from a design, revenue and organizational perspective as soon as the league announces expansion plans." But Leiweke said that he "isn't making assumptions about that timeline," despite Silver's statement on Monday." Leiweke said of the league's expansion timing, "We're not anticipating anything. The league knows the leadership on our side -- from ownership to our management of the building -- are NBA 'family' members. They're well aware of that. They're well aware of the steps we’ve taken so that if and when they come knocking on our door, our building will be 100% ready." In Seattle, Geoff Baker notes nearly $50M of the arena's cost "has gone toward outfitting it with particulars the NBA insists upon." That includes "home and away locker rooms of specific sizes and proximity to the court along with secure player access." They are also designed so opposing players "can't cross paths in the arena tunnel or back-of-house areas." Leiweke said that all arena-related investments "have an NBA component within those deals in case the league puts a team in Seattle again." He added that way, any future Seattle NBA owner "will be guaranteed revenue streams 'in the top percentile of the league' even though the city will actually continue to own the building" (SEATTLE TIMES, 12/23).
RENEWED HOPE? In Louisville, Tim Sullivan writes Silver's statement "revived hope that a professional basketball franchise might eventually land in Louisville more than four decades after the demise of the ABA's Kentucky Colonels." NBA2LOU President Dan Issel said, "I have not talked to the commissioner, but I was obviously excited to hear his comments." Sullivan notes both Issel and J. Bruce Miller, who has been trying to bring a team to Louisville for 44 years, said that NBA owners "could be tempted to create more franchises by the lure of expansion fees that could top" $1B and "do not need to be shared with the players." Though Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban "has characterized expansion fees as a short-term loan repaid through revenue sharing, a quick infusion of cash could have strong appeal to those NBA owners who are accessing lines of credit to pay their bills" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 12/23).
