Report: Oakland Athletics move to Las Vegas expected to be approved
Nov 14, 2023, 9:31 AM | Updated: 9:40 am
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: A general view of the outside of the stadium prior to the start of the home opener between the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on April 18, 2022 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Thursday is the day we find out if the Oakland Athletics could leave the Golden State.
As MLB owners get ready to meet in Arlington, Texas, for their annual meeting, the discussion and vote for whether or not the A’s will move to Las Vegas is scheduled for later this week. Despite a flurry of last-ditch efforts by Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, it doesn’t sound like the odds are in The Town’s favor.
According to The Athletic’s Evan Drellich, owners are expected to approve relocation efforts. Not only are they expected to approve the relocation, but he also hasn’t heard of any opposition.
“I haven’t heard anyone who’s against,” someone briefed on the report and ownership thinking, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told Drellich.
The A’s hope 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 earlier this summer, would include a retractable roof and roughly 30,000 seats. But, the earliest projections for when the stadium could open is not until 2028.
Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher needs 75% of MLB owners to say yes to the move. If the team does leave Oakland, they’d be moving to the smallest media market of any major league team. The report given to owners, according to Drellich, also points out a “heavy burden” of success relies on tourism.
One person briefed on the report described the A’s potential for success in Las Vegas as “iffy” but added there was no perceived better alternative, despite Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s contention that the necessary funding can be found in Oakland.
If relocation is approved, there could still be a way to stop the A’s from going to Las Vegas. This past summer, the Nevada State Education Association created a political action committee called Schools Over Stadiums, which is trying to block the use of public funding for a stadium. The PAC’s goal is to have Nevada residents vote on whether or not the team should get its $380 million in public funding.
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