MLB’s Oakland Athletics are now one step closer to becoming the Las Vegas Athletics. Three weeks after the A’s reached a binding agreement to purchase a lot of land for a new stadium just off the Vegas strip, the organization has switched things up midstream.
Instead of continuing with the project located on Tropicana Boulevard and Dean Martin, the A’s have reached an agreement with Bally’s Corp. to build a $1.5 billion stadium on a portion of the Tropicana Las Vegas site.
Under this agreement, Bally’s plans on demolishing Tropicana, allowing the A’s to build a 35,000-seat retractable roof stadium on nine acres of the 34-acre site. Bally’s would then build a new state-of-the-art casino and hotel as part of a broader project.
According to the respected Nevada Independent, this move would lower public financing from $500 million to under $400 million. It’s been somewhat of a point of contention since the Athletics originally announced their intentions to relocate to Las Vegas back in April.
“This is now the deal. This is what we’re working on,” an Oakland Athletics source close to the situation told the Nevada Independent.
Oakland Athletics relocation plan and timeline for a new stadium
The plans are for construction to begin in 2024 with an expectation that the A’s will play their first MLB game in Las Vegas on Opening Day 2027. That said, there is also some wriggle room when it comes to that timeline. It could be extended until 2028.
The A’s are able to get out of their lease with the Oakland Coliseum after the 2024 season. The MLB’s organization’s inability (or refusal) to come to an agreement on a new venue with political leaders in Oakland has forced Commissioner Rob Manfred to back the Vegas relocation plan at nearly every turn.
“Las Vegas is a viable alternative for a major league club, and there are other viable alternatives that I haven’t turned the A’s loose to even explore at this point,” Manfred said about potential Athletics relocation back in 2021.
As for political leaders in Nevada, new Republican Governor Joe Lombardo has surprisingly backed the plan despite previously being against public financing and tax hikes.
“Welcoming the A’s to Las Vegas would be great news for Southern Nevada as well as our entire state. The prospect of bringing new jobs, more economic development and a historic MLB franchise to Las Vegas is exciting on many levels,” Governor Joe Lombardo said in a statement.
That certainly clears one major hurdle.
As for the A’s current situation in Oakland, it’s just not sustainable. Through 18 home dates this season, the A’s are averaging just north of 10,000 fans per game. They currently boast the worst record in baseball and are on pace to go 36-126.
Meanwhile, embattled owner John Fisher has gutted the roster in recent years. Oakland headed into the 2023 MLB season with the lowest payroll in baseball at $60.12M. That’s $125M less than the cross-bay rival San Francisco Giants.
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