He Athletics released the first renderings of its proposed new ballpark in Las Vegas, which includes a partially retractable roof and a 30,000-seat capacity.
The stadium will sit on nine acres at the Tropicana Las Vegas resort complex on the south end of The Strip.
“We are excited to share our vision for the A’s potential new home,” A’s president Dave Kaval said in a statement. “As our first concept design, we will continue to refine the appearance of the stadium over the next year. We hope our project will go beyond a traditional ballpark and serve as a catalyst for community development and engagement.”
Earlier this month, the A’s reached an agreement with Bally’s Corp., a gaming, betting and entertainment company. to build a $1.5 billion stadium in Las Vegas. The team announced in April that had signed a “binding agreement” to build on a 49-acre site owned by Red Rock Resorts, near Allegiant Stadium and the Strip, in hopes of having a new stadium ready to kick off the 2027 season.
Under the previously announced deal, the team was seeking $500 million in public funding for the $1.5 billion project. The new deal is expected to bring that number down to $395 million, according to reports.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo announced Wednesday that a tentative agreement has been reached between his office, the athletic organization, Treasurer Zach Conine and Clark County officials to introduce a funding bill to relocate the MLB team to Las Vegas. The bill is being drafted to be submitted to the Nevada Legislature for consideration and approval. according to a press release.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday in Milwaukee that a vote on the A’s possible move could occur between June 13 and 15, when MLB owners meet in New York.
Asked if there was any chance the team would stay in Oakland, Manfred said, “You’d have to ask the mayor.”
“(Mayor Sheng Thao) said she had broken off negotiations after an announcement was made in Las Vegas. I don’t have a crystal ball as to where it all goes,” Manfred said. “There is no definitive agreement made in Las Vegas. We’ll have to see how that plays out.”
After the April announcement, Thao apparently closed the door on the team getting a new stadium contract in their current city.
“I am deeply disappointed that the Athletics have chosen not to negotiate with the City of Oakland as a true partner, in a way that respects the longstanding relationship between the fans, the City and the team,” Thao said in a statement at the time. . . “In a time of budget deficits, I refuse to compromise the safety and well-being of our residents. Given these realities, we are ceasing negotiations and moving forward on alternatives for the Howard Terminal redevelopment.”
Las Vegas will be the franchise’s fourth city if the proposed relocation goes through. The A’s played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954 and Kansas City from 1955 to 1967 before moving to Oakland in 1968.
required reading
(Top photo: Courtesy of the Oakland Athletics)