The Athletics released the first renderings of their proposed new ballpark in Las Vegas which includes a partially retractable roof and a seating capacity of 30,000.
The ballpark will sit on nine acres at the Tropicana Las Vegas resort site on the south end of The Strip.
“We are excited to share our vision for the A’s potential new home,” A’s president Dave Kaval said in a statement. “As our first conceptual design, we 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.”
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 it had signed a “binding agreement” to build on a 49-acre site owned by Red Rock Resorts, near Allegiant Stadium and the Strip, with the hope of having a new stadium ready to start the 2027 season.
Under the previously announced deal, the team was seeking $500 million in public financing toward the $1.5 billion project. The new agreement is expected to reduce that number to $395 million, according to reports.
On Wednesday, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo announced a tentative agreement was reached between his office, the Athletics organization, Treasurer Zach Conine and Clark County officials to bring forward a funding bill to relocate the MLB team to Las Vegas. The bill is being drafted to be introduced to the Nevada Legislation for consideration and approval, according to a news release.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday in Milwaukee that a vote on the Athletics’ prospective 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 remain in Oakland, Manfred said, “you’d have to ask the mayor.”
“(Mayor Sheng Thao) said she had cut off negotiations after an announcement was made in Las Vegas. I don’t have a crystal ball as to where anything’s going,” Manfred said. “There’s not a definitive deal done in Las Vegas. We’ll have to see how that plays out.”
After April’s announcement, Thao seemingly closed the door on the team getting a new stadium deal done 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 long relationship between the fans, the City and the team,” Thao said in a statement at the time. “In a time of budget deficits, I refuse to compromise the safety and well-being of our residents. Given these realities, we are ceasing 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 takes place. The A’s 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)
