Seattle’s push for an NBA team could align with key sports anniversaries, giving new significance to a potential SuperSonics return.
The NBA Board of Governors has voted to allow the league to explore expansion bids exclusively for teams in Las Vegas and Seattle – a major step in the right direction for Seattle Sonics fans.To be clear, Wednesday's vote was about expansion exploration, not expansion itself – that could come at a later date.
The news means that the focus is now on potential ownership groups in Seattle to come to the table with a bid to the league, showing they can afford the expected $7 billion to $10 billion expansion price. Now, a potential SuperSonics return could align with a historic 50th anniversary milestone for Seattle sports, adding symbolic significance beyond the logistics of NBA expansion.It's pretty common for a sports enthusiast to be a little superstitious – or at least have solid pattern recognition. For example, during the last NFL season, there was a theory that gained traction that every time a new pope is elected, the Seahawks go to the Super Bowl. Though this new theory doesn't seem to put faith in divine intervention, a return of the Seattle SuperSonics could coincide with a series of major milestones across the Emerald City's sports landscape.The Seattle Seahawks franchise recently marked its 50th season with a Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots.This year, the Seattle Mariners are celebrating their 50th anniversary with hopes of reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history. If the NBA were to target a 2028-29 debut for a Seattle franchise, that timing would also align with the 50th anniversary of the Seattle SuperSonics' 1979 championship – the first major professional sports title in city history. That overlap of milestones could give added meaning to a possible NBA return to Seattle, highlighting the city's long and storied sports history, which stretches back more than a century and includes an early Stanley Cup championship in 1917-18.Seattle MOPOP exhibit celebrates 50 years of MarinersPreviewing Seattle Mariners' giveaways this upcoming seasonSeattle Mariners unveil T-Mobile Park Value Menu, Value Beers for 2026Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller has setback in oblique injury recoverySeattle Mariners announce new menu items at T-Mobile Park for 2026 seasonTo get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
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