UFC’s Dana White says joining NBA expansion ownership group not out of the question

UFC president and CEO Dana White said joining an NBA expansion ownership group is not out of the question. Speaking with media after a tour of the UFC’s upgraded Meta Apex facility, White remarked, “It’s weird you conscionable asked maine that question,” White said. “(A group) virtually reached retired to maine this greeting astir it. So, I wouldn’t accidental no, but I’m not saying yes.” White has overseen the UFC’s transformation from a once‑contested promotion into one of the world’s largest sports leagues, securing an approximately $8 cardinal broadcast agreement with Paramount in August. His extensive ties to Nevada casino operators, sports organizations and elected officials would be an asset for any consortium pursuing an NBA expansion franchise. The NBA commenced formal discussions about adding teams in Las Vegas and Seattle back in March. Commissioner Adam Silver indicated last period that he anticipates the expansion process will be wrapped up by the close of the year. Several interest groups have surfaced for a potential Las Vegas NBA squad that White could align with. One consortium is headed by Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, whose hockey club shares T‑Mobile Arena with the UFC. Another, the Las Vegas Jacks, is led by former NBA proprietor Jerry Colangelo and includes ex‑player and coach Vinny Del Negro, Scott Colangelo (president and managing partner of Prime Capital Financial), media executive David Levy, American Century Investments CEO Jonathan Thomas, and former NBA lottery pick turned analyst Jay Williams. Additional contenders feature a group led by Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie and her husband Bill Laurie, as well as a pairing of former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture‑capital billionaire Joshua Kushner. The MAGI organization, guided by former NBA star turned businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson, has also declared its intent to pursue a Las Vegas expansion team earlier this year. Beyond the ownership circles, roughly a dozen Las Vegas‑ready arena concepts have been floated in various forms over recent years.