Report: Oakland Athletics want to play eight home games away from Las Vegas

Jun 5, 2024, 9:41 AM

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Many inside–and outside–the baseball world are skeptical that the Oakland Athletics will ever play a game in Las Vegas, but that isn’t stopping the club from continuing to make head-scratching headlines.

According to a report from Howard Stultz of The Nevada Independent, the Athletics are “requesting to play up to eight home games a season away from the team’s future $1.5 billion Las Vegas ballpark.”

Oakland president Dave Kaval claims that the club wants to play “neutral site home games” to build the franchise’s brand and attract players and sponsors.

The Las Vegas Stadium Authority board is slated to vote on the arrangement on July 18th.

“The Athletics should not be arriving in Las Vegas with one foot already out the door.”

Critics seize upon team’s proposal to play more home games at sites outside of Vegas than the norm.@howardstutz:https://t.co/ocv5ytIYYX

— Nevada Independent (@TheNVIndy) June 5, 2024

The Oakland Athletics are requesting to play up to eight home games a season away from the team’s future $1.5 billion Las Vegas ballpark, a move that could significantly undercut the financial projections presented last year when the team sought $380 million in public financing for the project.

The request to play more than a half-dozen home games away from Las Vegas is contained within the team’s 37-page proposed 30-year non-relocation agreement and is at least double the amount of negotiated neutral site home games agreed to by other Major League Baseball franchises in their non-relocation agreements.

The Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board — which oversees the operations and oversight of Allegiant Stadium and the planned A’s ballpark — is expected to vote on the agreement at its July 18 meeting.

Howard Stutz of The Nevada Independent – June 5, 2024

It’s unclear at this time where the Athletics would play these proposed neutral site games, but this adds another layer to what has been a confusing and frustrating relocation process for an Oakland team that is already packing its bags for Sacramento.

Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, the Athletics will relocate to Sacramento for the 2025-27 seasons as they wait for constructions on their Las Vegas ballpark to be completed.

Shovels have yet to hit the ground in Nevada, but Kaval and Oakland owner John Fisher are already looking for ways to promote their “brand” outside of their future home.

Make it make sense?

More on the A’s move to Las Vegas and Sacramento

Just after the start of the 2024 MLB season, the A’s and Sacramento Kings announced that the Athletics will call Sutter Health Park home from 2025-28 with an option for a fourth year. Sutter Health Park is the current home of the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats, located in West Sacramento.

Last November, Major League Baseball unanimously approved the Athletics relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas. The team plans to build a $1.5 billion, nine-acre stadium where the Tropicana Hotel currently stands. The ballpark, which was granted $380 in public funding for construction in the summer of 2023, could open as early as 2028 if everything goes according to plan.