What happened with the Oakland Athletics in Nevada on Wednesday?
Jun 15, 2023, 8:49 AM
An exterior view shows the Tropicana Las Vegas on April 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bally's Corp. has agreed to purchase the Las Vegas Strip property from landlord Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. in a transaction valued at about $308 million. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Oakland Athletics on Wednesday took another step closer to relocating to Sin City.
Here’s what we know:
What happened in Nevada Wednesday?
According to the Associated Press, the Nevada state Assembly approved SB-1, $380 million in public funding for a new stadium along the Las Vegas Strip, by a vote of 25-15. The bill was then sent back to the state Senate, which accepted and approved the changes made by the Assembly and sent the bill to Nevada Gov. Joe Lombarado to sign.
What’s next for the Athletics?
The bill awaits Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo’s signature. His signature, according to the Nevada Independent, paves the way for up to $180 in transferable tax credits, roughly $120 in county bonds and another $25 million in credits from Clark County for infrastructure needs.
That is expected to happen and once it does, then it’s on MLB owners, with 75% needed for approval.
Did the team or Oakland say anything about the latest news?
Yes, the Athletics released a statement thanking “the Nevada State Legislature and their staff for their hard work, due diligence, and attention to detail as we work to bring the Athletics to Las Vegas.”
#Athletics issue a statement that neglects to mention Oakland or Bay Area fans who are devastated right now. Completely classless and tone deaf. pic.twitter.com/BvmTaYtxfj
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) June 15, 2023
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao also released a statement after Wednesday’s news, saying the A’s belong in Oakland and if MLB wants a team in Las Vegas, then it should “seek an expansion team and leave the A’s in Oakland.”
Oakland A’s stadium deal timeline
The team began the process of relocating to Las Vegas earlier this year, when they announced not one, but two binding land deals.
First, the A’s announced an agreement with Red Rock Resorts to purchase 49 acres of land in Las Vegas. Less than a month later, a second binding agreement was announced 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 at the site of the Tropicana Hotel.
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 the plan goes through, the team could break ground on the new stadium in 2024 with games beginning in Las Vegas as early as 2028. Total construction is estimated to be around $1.5 billion.
The team released stadium renderings before the Memorial Day weekend, with the sole joint-committee hearing taking place on the Memorial Day holiday. While the initial bill, SB-509, didn’t pass the Nevada Legislature before they adjourned Monday, June 5, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo called a special session for the Legislature two days later.
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 lease with the Oakland Coliseum ends after the 2024 season.
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