Vegas Golden Knights founder and majority owner Bill Foley has officially launched a bid to bring an NBA franchise to Las Vegas. This signifies a significant step in the city’s pursuit of becoming home to all four major professional sports leagues. Foley announced Monday that he is assembling an ownership group and infrastructure plan designed to secure an NBA expansion team if the league moves forward with its expansion process.
Bill Foley’s Las Vegas NBA Team Bid Takes Shape
Foley’s announcement comes just months after the NBA Board of Governors voted unanimously to explore expansion opportunities in Las Vegas and Seattle. The move opened the door for prospective ownership groups to begin preparing formal bids for new franchises.
The Golden Knights’ founder said he has retained Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as financial adviser and law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP to assist with the bid process. The law firm has previously advised NBA ownership groups involved with transactions concerning the Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs.
Per ESPN, Foley also indicated that his ownership structure would include a select group of strategic minority partners. Those partners would be chosen based on long-term alignment with the franchise’s vision and compliance with NBA ownership rules.
“Las Vegas has earned its place among great sports cities in America, and an NBA team belongs here. We built the Golden Knights into a championship organization from the ground up, and we are prepared to do it again…” Foley said in a statement announcing the bid.
T-Mobile Arena To Be Future NBA Home
According to Foley’s proposal, the future franchise would play its home games at T-Mobile Arena, which has served as the home of the Golden Knights since 2017. The venue seats approximately 18,000 fans for basketball and has hosted numerous collegiate tournaments, exhibition games, and professional basketball events over the past decade.
Foley believes his experience building the Golden Knights into one of the NHL’s most successful expansion franchises strengthens Las Vegas’ case. Since entering the league in 2017, the Golden Knights have reached three Stanley Cup Finals, captured the Stanley Cup in 2023, and established a strong local and national fan base.
Beyond hockey, Foley owns several international soccer clubs, including AFC Bournemouth, FC Lorient, Moreirense FC, and Auckland FC. His growing sports portfolio has positioned him as one of the most influential team owners pursuing an NBA franchise.
NBA Expansion Process Focuses on Las Vegas and Seattle
The NBA formally began exploring expansion in March when league owners authorized a review of potential franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle. Commissioner Adam Silver described both cities as strong basketball markets with established fan support and significant growth opportunities.
As Vegas News previously reported, all 30 NBA owners voted in favor of examining bids from the two cities. League officials are reportedly targeting the 2028-29 season as a potential launch date for expansion franchises, pending future approval votes and ownership agreements.
Las Vegas has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sports markets in North America. The city is already home to the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, and Las Vegas Aces, while Major League Baseball’s Athletics are expected to arrive later this decade.
