The Oakland Athletics (A’s) have made a major step towards the potential construction of a new stadium in Las Vegas, with the signing of a “binding purchase agreement” to buy land near the Las Vegas Strip (CNN). The A’s previously had talks with the city of Oakland to build a new stadium, but negotiations ultimately fell through after the team and the city disagreed on terms (NBC Sports).
The A’s purchase of land in Las Vegas came after months of searching for a new stadium site, and marks a significant moment for the team, which has been in Oakland since 1968 (San Francisco Chronicle). The 49-acre land purchase gives the team the option to acquire additional land if necessary (CBS Sports). The A’s plan to build a new retractable roof ballpark and move into it by 2027 (Los Angeles Times).
The move to Las Vegas has been met with mixed reactions. While some are excited for the new stadium and potential for economic growth, others are sad to see the team go (The New York Times). The city of Oakland has already announced that they will be “ceasing negotiations” with the team, indicating that they are resigned to the A’s departure (NBC Sports).
The move to Las Vegas is not a done deal, however. The stadium construction still needs approval from MLB, and the A’s will also need to convince other teams in the league to support the move (CBS News). Despite this, the acquisition of the land and the signing of the purchase agreement demonstrates the A’s commitment to the move (AP News).
The A’s are not the only team moving to Las Vegas. The NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders relocated to the city in 2020, and the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights have called Las Vegas home since 2017 (The Nevada Independent). With the addition of the A’s, Las Vegas continues to become a more attractive location for professional sports teams.
