The NBA is on the path to 32 teams after voting to explore bids from Las Vegas and Seattle.It will be the first expansion since the Charlotte Bobcats — now the Hornets — joined in 2004 after paying a $300 million fee.Climate Pledge Arena has undergone several facelifts over the yearsGettyKeyArena needed a major overhaul to bring it up to scratchGettyThe price of doing business with The Association has gone up steeply since then with rough estimates coming out in the $7-10 billion range.Per ESPN, the league is looking for the teams to be up and running in time for the 2028-29 season.PJT Partners has been brought on “as a strategic adviser to evaluate prospective markets, ownership groups, arena infrastructure, and the broader economic implications of expansion.”It is now time for prospective owners to put forward their plans.Las Vegas has already outlined a 20-acre plot as Sin City looks to add yet another sport to a growing collection.The NHL‘s Golden Knights hit the strip in 2017, the NFL‘s Raiders arrived in 2020, and the Athletics will add an MLB franchise for the 2028 season.Seattle ready to host NBA after hiatusSeattle, meanwhile, already has a purpose-built arena with the added bonus that it hosted the iconic Supersonics before the controversial relocation to Oklahoma City.Climate Pledge Arena has hosted the NHL’s Kraken since 2021 after a massive $1.15 billion renovation that, crucially, was made to NBA standards and is used to basketball layouts thanks to the Storm.The original facility opened in 1962 as the Washington State Pavilion, designed by Paul Thiry for the Century 21 Exhibition.It was bought by the city and made into a sports arena — the Seattle Center Coliseum, which hosted The Beatles three times in the 1960s.It boasts quality facilities for basketball which will help Seattle’s caseGettyThe Beatles played to three packed crowds in the 60sGettyThe Kraken are delighted with their new homeGettyBy 1964 it played host to the NHL’s Totems and added the newly-formed Sonics three years later.1978 and 1979 saw Seattle host back-to-back NBA Finals, both featuring its own team.A defeat to the Washington Bullets was avenged a year later with victory over the same opponent to claim the franchise’s only title before relocation.Around $127 million was spent bringing the ageing venue up to scratch in 1995 and it was rebranded as KeyArena amid claims the Sonics could walk away.It didn’t work.Ownership transferred from Barry Ackerley to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz in 2002 and he vowed to leave Seattle if the city didn’t grand him a more modern arena.NBA's GreatestGreatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor WembanyamaBest players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurusMichael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totalsBy 2008, his threat had been carried out and Russell Westbrook ended up playing for the Thunder in Oklahoma City having been drafted by Seattle.But thanks to a facelift, Climate Pledge Arena was born and stands ready to welcome top-tier men’s basketball back to Emerald City.Madison Square Garden is by some way the oldest current NBA arena having opened in 1968, but will lose its crown this decade if the expansion goes through as expected.Climate Pledge Arena’s musical roots have not been lost with Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Destiny’s Child and Metallica among the icons to take the stage.The arena seats 18,300 for basketball and has already been sold out for the Storm’s clash with Caitlin Clark‘s Indiana Fever.Stay up to date with the latest from the NBA across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.