NBA commissioner hints at Mexico City expansion

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Mexico City could potentially be included among the NBA’s next expansion locations thanks to the growing popularity of basketball in the capital. 

However, the expansion wouldn’t be immediate, Silver said. 

Next season’s Mexico City NBA game will pit the Denver Nuggets against the Indiana Pacers

“We’re still a few seasons away from actual expansion taking place. We’ve been public about the fact that we’re looking at Las Vegas and Seattle. Maybe down the road there’s Mexico City, which is the largest city in North America,” he stated. 

One of Silver’s arguments for potentially expanding into Mexico City is its relative proximity to other markets in the league, highlighting that it is actually closer to travel between Mexico City and New York than New York to Los Angeles.

“It’s a shorter flight from New York to Mexico than from New York to Los Angeles, so you can see why we’d be interested,” Silver noted. 

Silver also mentioned discussions regarding sports infrastructure in the capital, which would factor into the decision.  

“They are talking about building a new arena in Mexico City; it’s not in the immediate plans, but there is great potential there in the long term,” he said.  

The possibility of a new arena was previously mentioned in an Oct. 16 ESPN report. According to the outlet, at least one Mexico City-based group approached PJT Partners — the firm advising the NBA on its expansion — with a proposal to establish a franchise and develop a sports complex centered around a new basketball arena. 

ESPN said no construction plans have been confirmed or announced yet.