The Oakland Athletics have taken a significant step towards potential relocation to Las Vegas by finalizing a land deal to build a new stadium, according to reports by The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/21/sports/baseball/oakland-athletics-las-vegas-stadium.html) and CBS News (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oakland-athletics-las-vegas-stadium-deal/). The agreement to buy land in Las Vegas was signed by team president Dave Kaval. The team’s plan is to build a 35,000-seater stadium in Vegas, costing $1.5 billion, as reported by SportsPro Media (https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/oakland-athletics-new-ballpark-las-vegas-billion).
The move has been met with blowback from some, including Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis, who blasted the A’s proposed move to his city, as reported by USA Today (https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/04/22/oakland-athletics-vegas-move-mark-davis-flip-flop/7318931001/). On the other hand, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has often been seen to prioritize money and may see a future in the Yankees moving to Vegas, according to The Nation (https://www.thenation.com/article/society/mlb-a-yankees-las-vegas/).
This move has long been speculated due to the A’s struggles to secure a new stadium in Oakland. They had explored options in other parts of the Bay Area, but Vegas is a more feasible option for the team at this point, as reported by Athletics Nation (https://www.athleticsnation.com/2023/4/23/22435009/oakland-as-news-contemplating-a-post-oakland-as-future). The A’s have been a signature professional sports club in the Bay Area since 1968 and have a loyal following, but according to The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/2553512/2022/04/22/the-oakland-as-will-be-mourned-despite-what-the-owner-wants-you-to-believe-carig/), fans will surely mourn their loss, despite the owner’s beliefs.
The deal to purchase land in Las Vegas is a big move towards the A’s potential relocation, but there is still a long way to go before the team is settled into their new home. The Las Vegas stadium will cost over $1 billion, and the A’s will need to navigate various logistical challenges and potential pushback from fans and other team owners. Nonetheless, the A’s are hopeful that their potential move to Las Vegas will help them secure a new chapter of the franchise’s history.
