A’s release renderings of proposed new ballpark in Las Vegas
The Athletics released the first renderings of their proposed new ballpark in Las Vegas, which includes a partially retractable roof and a 30,000-seat capacity.
The ballpark will span nine acres at the Tropicana Las Vegas resort on the southern end of The Strip.
“We are excited to share our vision for the potential new home of the A’s,” A’s president Dave Kaval said in a statement. “As our first conceptual design, we will continue to improve the look and feel of the park over the next year. We hope our project will go beyond a traditional park and serve as a catalyst for community development and engagement.”
(Photo: Courtesy of Oakland Athletics)
Earlier this month, the A’s agreed to a deal 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 it 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 begin the 2027 season.
According to the previously announced agreement, the team was seeking $500 million in public funding for the $1.5 billion project. The new deal is expected to reduce that number to $395 million, according to reports.
On Wednesday, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo announced that a preliminary agreement had been reached between his office, the Athletics organization, Treasurer Zach Conine and Clark County officials to bring forward a funding bill to move the MLB team to Las Vegas. The bill is being drafted to be introduced into the Nevada Legislature for review and approval, according to a news release.
(Photo: Courtesy of Oakland Athletics)
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday in Milwaukee that a vote on the Athletics’ potential move could happen as early as June 13-15 when MLB owners meet in New York.
When asked if there was any chance the team could stay in Oakland, Manfred said, “you’d have to ask the mayor.”
“(Mayor Sheng Thao) said she had stopped negotiations after an announcement was made in Las Vegas. I don’t have a crystal ball as to where anything is going,” Manfred said. “There’s no final deal made in Las Vegas. We’ll have to see how it plays out.”
After the April announcement, Thao apparently closed the door on the team to complete a new stadium deal in its current city.
“I am deeply disappointed that the A’s 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. . “At a time of budget deficits, I refuse to jeopardize the safety and well-being of our residents. Given these realities, we are terminating negotiations and moving forward on alternatives for the redevelopment of Howard Terminal.”
Las Vegas will be the franchise’s fourth city if the proposed relocation happens. A played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954 and Kansas City from 1955 to 1967 before moving to Oakland in 1968.
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(Top photo: Courtesy of the Oakland Athletics)
