The Oakland Athletics have confirmed their plans to build a $1.5 billion partially retractable roof stadium near the Las Vegas Strip, where they will move after more than five decades in Oakland. The team expects the new stadium to generate more revenue opportunities and improve the overall game day experience for fans.
The Oakland Athletics have recently announced a deal to acquire a 49-acre land near the Las Vegas Strip, where they plan to construct a state-of-the-art ballpark, team president Dave Kaval said. The site, owned by Red Rock Resorts, is set to be the home of a $1.5 billion partially retractable roof stadium that can seat up to 35,000 fans.
The team’s ownership believes that the new stadium will provide more opportunities to generate revenue, both from ticket sales and other developments like restaurants and an amphitheater. The purchase agreement for the land is already signed, with an option for the team to buy an additional eight acres in the future.
The proposed location is about a mile north of Allegiant Stadium, where the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders play, and a mile west of T-Mobile Arena, home to the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. Kaval said that the organization has spent nearly two years doing their due diligence and working with community leaders, elected officials, and local residents to identify a suitable location for the new stadium.
The team president expressed his excitement about the move, saying, “It’s really exciting to have a site. We’ve spent almost two years doing our due diligence, working with community leaders, elected officials and everyone in town to really determine a location that could be a win for the A’s as well as the community and public officials.”
Commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed his support for the move, and he looks forward to the team finalizing the move to Las Vegas by the end of the year. However, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao criticized the announcement and stated that the city is “ceasing negotiations and moving forward” to other options.
“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. “Yet, it is clear to me that the A’s have no intention of staying in Oakland and have simply been using this process to try to extract a better deal out of Las Vegas. I am not interested in continuing to play that game — the fans and our residents deserve better.”
The Athletics have been based in Oakland since 1968, but according to Kaval, the organization needs to bring closure to its 20-year-long quest for a new stadium. While Oakland has been a great home for the Athletics for over five decades, Kaval says that the team needs a long-term home, and the proposed move to Las Vegas provides that opportunity.
In conclusion, the proposed move to Las Vegas marks a new chapter for the Oakland Athletics as they aim to construct a state-of-the-art ballpark that will not only provide an exciting game day experience for fans but will also open up more revenue opportunities for the team.
