BASEBALL
Oakland A’s release first rendering of Las Vegas ballpark
May 26, 2023, 10:36 AM
Courtesy of the Athletics
The Oakland A’s have released the first renderings of their potential ballpark in Las Vegas.
According to a press release from the team, “the ballpark will feature a variety of seating options, a partially retractable roof, and a fan capacity of 30,000.” The outfield looks to be open at the corner of Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard, with a view of the MGM Grand just past right field.
Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval said in the release the team will continue to refine the look and feel of the ballpark over the next year.
“We hope our project goes beyond a traditional ballpark and serves as a catalyst for community development and engagement,” Kaval said. “It follows in the footsteps and success of the professional sports teams that come before us, in creating union jobs, stimulating economic growth, and fostering investments in the community.”
NEW: The first look at the Oakland A's proposed $1.5 billion Las Vegas ballpark:
(h/t @reviewjournal) pic.twitter.com/f1x84N0jCZ
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 26, 2023
Oakland A’s relocation timeline
Earlier this year, the A’s announced its first binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land in Las Vegas, where a new stadium could have been built. Less than a month later, a second binding agreement was announced, this time between the A’s and Bally’s Corp. As time progressed, the two sides formally announced an agreement for a new baseball stadium along the Las Vegas Strip.
In the agreement between the team and Bally’s Corp., the Oakland A’s will have access to nine acres on the 35-acre site located at Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue to build a 30,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof. The Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc. [GLPI] also agreed to fund “up to $175 million towards certain shared improvements within the future development in exchange for a commensurate rent increase.”
If all goes according to plan, the team could break ground on the new stadium in 2024 with games beginning in Las Vegas as early as 2027.
Total construction is estimated to be around $1.5 billion. As part of the agreement between the team and lawmakers, “the public-private partnership includes public financing constituting less than 25 percent of the cost.” The agreement doesn’t specify how much the public is on the hook for with the new stadium, but it’s estimated to be less than $375 million.
Paperwork hasn’t been officially submitted to Nevada lawmakers with less than two weeks to go before the Legislature adjourns.
If the move comes to fruition, Las Vegas would be the fourth home for the franchise. The team originates from Philadelphia where they played from 1901-1954. The Athletics then moved to Kansas City until 1968, when they relocated to Oakland. The A’s have been looking to either update or move out of the Oakland Coliseum for years.
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