• Loading stock data...
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Fox Analyst and Media Entrepreneur Greg Olsen to Speak at Tuned In Get your ticket now!

NBA Returns to Seattle for Preseason Game, Fuels Sonics Speculation

  • Climate Pledge Arena will host an NBA ‘Rain City Showcase’ preseason game for the second straight year.
  • Seattle and Las Vegas are top candidates for expansion after the NBA settles its next media rights deals.
Seattle and Las Vegas are top NBA expansion options.
Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Another NBA preseason game will be held this October at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, fueling speculation that an Emerald City expansion team may not be far behind. 

The Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz will play October 10 in a preseason matchup branded by the NBA as the Rain City Showcase. Last year’s preseason saw the Clippers play the Portland Trail Blazers in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,440 fans at Climate Pledge Arena, home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and WNBA’s Storm.

“Seattle is a world-class sports town, and fans continue to be hungry for NBA basketball,” Climate Pledge Arena GM Steve Mattson said in a statement. 

Seattle, home of the NBA’s SuperSonics from 1967 until their 2008 move to Oklahoma City, has been considered a top option alongside Las Vegas for NBA expansion. Las Vegas is home to the NBA Summer League and will host the upcoming WNBA All-Star Game, while Oak View Group is leading a $10 billion project to build a basketball arena in Las Vegas.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said that the league will “turn to expansion” once its next slate of media rights deals are completed. Silver said those negotiations are expected to begin next spring before the NBA’s current broadcast deals expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

2000, Jupiter, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Montreal Expos pitcher Hideki Irabu in action on the mound against the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium during Spring Training

Dead Sports Franchises Are Alive and Well on Twitter

The Expos, Sonics, and Whalers have active social media accounts.
Adam Silver

Silver Warns RSN Uncertainty Could Slow NBA Expansion

The commissioner said Tuesday that the league will study the issue.

Silver: NBA Local Media Woes Could Hurt Expansion Momentum

Las Vegas and Seattle have long been rumored as expansion cities.
Jun 1996; Seattle, WA USA; FILE PHOTO; Seattle Supersonics guard Gary Payton (20) lays the ball up against the Chicago Bulls during the 1996 NBA Finals at Key Arena.

5,000 Pieces of Thunder History Are Hidden in Seattle

Sonics championship banners, trophies, and retired jerseys are all in one place.

Featured Today

Aug 23, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) leads the team onto the field for warm ups before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

Slow Burn: The NFL’s Private-Equity Era So Far

Three deals have been struck to date. But the league is bullish.
Tennis
September 5, 2025

The US Open Is Groaning Under the Weight of Its Own Success

New York’s tennis major is more popular than ever.
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gets ready to take the field prior to a game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
September 5, 2025

How Brazil Game Fits Into NFL’s Plans for World Domination

Friday night’s Chiefs-Chargers game in São Paulo is big by design.
Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.
September 2, 2025

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.
Valkyries

Valkyries Are Only Latest WNBA Team To Be Displaced in Playoffs

Several important playoff series have been moved over the years.
Walker Cup
September 4, 2025

Prestigious Cypress Point Is Hosting Biggest Golf Event in 35 Years

Fans get a rare glimpse at one of the most exclusive courses.
September 5, 2025

MLB Attendance Is Holding Steady, but Gap Widens Between Teams

Recent attendance data varies widely from market to market.
Sponsored

Trailblazer Cal Calamia Is Racing for ‘Advocacy, Storytelling, and Performance’

The marathoner wants excellence—not just inclusion—to be the goal for non-binary athletes.
September 4, 2025

NBA Hopes Global Format Can Revive 2026 All-Star Game

A new, globally themed format is in development for the midseason showcase.
September 3, 2025

Scheffler, McIlroy, but No LIV at Trump Jupiter Made-for-TV Showcase

The eight-player team showcase will take place Dec. 17 in primetime.
Caitlin Clark
September 3, 2025

Podcast Deletes Episode With Big3 Announcer’s Claim of $15M Caitlin Clark Offer

Clark’s WNBA contract was less than $80,000 in her first season.
September 3, 2025

Barcelona, AC Milan Abroad? Fan Groups Reject Travel Plans

Supporter groups warn of a “Pandora’s box” if overseas games happen.