The Oakland Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas moved forward considerably this week as the Clark County Commission voted unanimously to issue permits for the team's proposed new baseball stadium. The vote overcame a key obstacle to the Athletics' proposal to build a new state-of-the-art facility on the site of the recently imploded Tropicana Las Vegas hotel and casino on the Strip's southern end.
Key Insights
- Athletics’ permit was received with unanimous approval from the Clark County Commission
- The proposed stadium would seat up to 33,000 fans over 35 acres
- MLB follows in the footsteps of the Super Bowl and F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix as Las Vegas tries to rebrand itself as a premier sporting destination.
The approved permits involved aspects essential for early-stage construction, including ground and deep utilities installation. The aspects detailed in the mid-March commercial building permit filed with Clark County are quoted at $45.6 million.
The new stadium would seat approximately 33,000 fans and occupy nine of the Tropicana property's 35 acres. Bally's Corporation, the previous owner of the Tropicana, will occupy the remaining land to construct a resort.
The combination of a resort and an MLB sports facility will be a massive draw for tourists and locals. This is part of Las Vegas' overall attempt to become a premier destination for professional sports and Nevada sports betting, following events like the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, which generated $934 million in revenue for Nevada last year, and Super Bowl LVIII.
Wednesday's commission hearing garnered support from some community stakeholders and members, who wore Athletics apparel. Public comment emphasized hopes the stadium would revitalize the local sporting scene and stimulate economic activity in the area.
Supporters also pointed to the potential for the project to create jobs, stimulate tourism, and further commercial development as a byproduct.
Local support for move rows
Among the voices of commendation was Jason Caldwell, president of the board of directors for the Henderson Little League. Caldwell mentioned the Athletics' financial support to local youth baseball leagues, including donating to a team representing Nevada at the Little League World Series.
Sandy Dean, interim president of the Athletics, attended the meeting and briefed the franchise's long-term view for its new home city. Dean cited the team's planning for future player signings and acquisitions for the 2028 season when the stadium would be finished and opened to the public. The timeline is within MLB's franchise relocation approval granted to the A's in 2023.
Financially, the $1.75 billion stadium project has a substantial public funding component, topped out at $380 million from a mix of Nevada state and Clark County funds. However, the most essential condition of the financing deal is that the Athletics must put up the initial $100 million before any public funds are disbursed.
According to team sources, over $50 million has been invested in pre-construction planning, design, and initial site work. The just-approved foundation work, which was pegged at $45.6 million, should assist the team in reaching the needed threshold.
The Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas is another evolution of the city's growing sporting landscape, following the recent addition of the NFL's Raiders and the NHL's Golden Knights.
Sports leagues were previously resistant to Nevada-based sports teams, when Nevada sports betting had a monopoly in the U.S. However, since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, sports betting has spread across the States, and attitudes towards the NV market have relaxed.
