Will Seattle Get An NBA Team?

Many people are wondering if Seattle will ever get an NBA team again. There are a few things that need to happen before this can happen, though.

The Case for an NBA Team in Seattle

The market is there

The NBA franchise in Seattle would make sense for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the market is there. Seattle is the 12th largest media market in the United States, and it is only getting bigger. The city also has a proven track record when it comes to supporting professional basketball. The Seattle SuperSonics were one of the most successful teams in the NBA during their time in the city, and they consistently sold out games at their arena.

secondly, there is already an NBA-ready arena in Seattle. KeyArena, which is currently home to the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, underwent a $100 million renovation in 1995 and would only need minor upgrades to be ready for an NBA team. Lastly, there is significant interest from potential ownership groups who would be willing to invest in an NBA franchise in Seattle.

All of these factors make a strong case for an NBA team in Seattle.

There is enough interest

It has been five years since the Seattle SuperSonics left town, and the city of Seattle is still without an NBA team. There have been various attempts to bring a team back to Seattle, but so far nothing has come to fruition. Recently, however, there has been a resurgence of interest in the idea of an NBA team in Seattle, and there are a few factors that suggest that it may finally happen.

First and foremost, there is enough interest to sustain a team. There have been multiple polls conducted in recent years that show that a significant portion of the city’s population would support an NBA team. What’s more, there is also evidence to suggest that people in the surrounding areas would be willing to travel to Seattle to watch games.

Second, there is a potential ownership group in place. There are a handful of wealthy individuals who have expressed interest in owning an NBA team in Seattle, and they have the deep pockets necessary to make it happen.

Third, there is a new arena being built in Seattle that would be suitable for an NBA team. The arena is currently slated to be the home of the NHL’s expansion Seattle Kraken, but it could easily be converted for use by an NBA team as well.

Taken together, these factors suggest that there is a good chance we will see an NBA team in Seattle within the next few years.

There is enough corporate support

In order to have a successful NBA team, a market must have enough big businesses to buy advertising space and suites, and to some extent, this is where Seattle falls short. However, the recent addition of Amazon’s new headquarters in Seattle could be a game-changer. With their deep pockets, Amazon could help offset the cost of any potential new NBA team, and their presence would also help attract other businesses to the city. In addition, Seattle has a number of large companies that are already invested in the city’s sports scene, such as Starbucks and Nordstrom. These companies could also be potential investors in a new NBA team.

The Case Against an NBA Team in Seattle

The market is not there

Since the SuperSonics left Seattle in 2008, there have been periodic rumors that another NBA team would take their place. However, the market for professional basketball in Seattle just isn’t there.

There are a number of reasons for this. First, the Seattle market is already saturated with professional sports teams. The Seahawks, Mariners, and Sounders all compete for attention and dollars. It’s tough to support another team when there are already three vying for your attention.

Second, the NBA is currently experiencing a decline in popularity. Television ratings are down and attendance at games is also down. It’s not a good time to be starting up a new team in a small market like Seattle.

Third, there just aren’t that many potential ownership groups interested in bringing an NBA team to Seattle. The cost of buying and maintaining a team is considerable, and there doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm for taking on that challenge right now.

For all of these reasons, it’s unlikely that we will see an NBA team in Seattle anytime soon.

There is not enough interest

The NBA has no plans to expand anytime soon, and there are several reasons why a team in Seattle is unlikely. First and foremost, there simply isn’t enough interest in the NBA in the city. Seattle is a basketball town, but it’s not an NBA town. The Sonics left in 2008, and the city hasn’t really shown much interest in the league since then.

There are also no suitable arenas for an NBA team in Seattle. The KeyArena is currently being renovated for the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, but it still won’t be big enough for an NBA team. And while there have been plans to build a new arena in the city, those plans have stalled due to lack of funding.

Finally, the NBA already has a strong presence on the West Coast, and adding another team would just add to the imbalance. There are currently only two teams east of Colorado, and 14 teams west of Colorado. Adding another team out west would further alienate eastern fans.

So while it’s possible that an NBA team could eventually come to Seattle, it seems unlikely at this time.

There is not enough corporate support

One of the primary reasons that the NBA has not returned to Seattle is a lack of corporate support. When the SuperSonics left in 2008, it was partly because there was not enough big business backing to help the team stay afloat. In order for an NBA team to be viable in any market, it needs to have robust corporate support to help with things like luxury suite sales and sponsorship revenue.

While there are some big businesses headquartered in Seattle, such as Amazon and Microsoft, it’s still not clear if there would be enough interest from corporations in supporting an NBA team. This is especially true given that the NHL’s Seattle Kraken will be joining the city’s sports landscape in just a few years. It’s possible that corporations may choose to put their resources behind the NHL team instead of an NBA team, which could make it difficult for an NBA franchise to survive in Seattle.

Conclusion

It is unlikely that Seattle will get an NBA team in the near future. There are currently no plans to expand the league, and there are no teams that seem likely to relocate to Seattle. The league has said that it is interested in putting a team in the city at some point in the future, but it is not clear when that might happen.