Gap in Las Vegas Funding Leaving Door Open for A's in Oakland?
Since the A's initially announced their plan to relocate to Las Vegas by announcing a binding deal at the Wild Wild West site a month ago, they have switched sites to the Tropicana, their request for funding has been met with more than a few sideways glances, and we're still awaiting a bill to be introduced to the legislature--a bill that was said to be coming out a week ago.
Thursday morning, the Nevada Independent reported "Nevada lawmakers have not yet introduced legislation to bring the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas because they are only willing to contribute up to $195 million in transferable tax credits for stadium construction funding, not the full $395 million the team is seeking."
That is a $200 million gap between what the A's are asking for, and what they're being offered. It has also been reported that the A's walked away from Oakland over a difference of $88 million--and that was for waterfront property that would also include owner John Fisher's ancillary developments.
After the morning report, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao went on ABC 7 in the Bay Area and said that she'd still pick up the phone if the A's called.
When asked how quickly we could see shovels in the ground at Howard Terminal if a ballpark deal was struck, Thao said that it could happen within two years.
Here is her full response: "You know, once the deal is agreed upon, mind you, Howard Terminal, it's already entitled. And so I want the A's to stay here. If the owners called us back and say 'let's get back to the table' we are very close to a deal. If someone wants to buy the A's, and that happens, we are very close to a deal. And so I would say that we will be able to break ground as soon as possible.
"In regards to, you know, the process after having that deal, whatever that looks like, it could be two years. And if we do have a deal, this is something that I would want to expedite because it would be great for the city. It would be great for not just the fan base, but for the economic potential as well."
This is a very shrewd statement from Mayor Thao, and a well-timed one as well. Given the difference in what the A's are asking for and what they're apparently being offered in Las Vegas, she just reminded them that they're still just (reportedly) $88 million apart. She also touted that they could break ground in two years, which is important given that A's President Dave Kaval has been bellowing about how they need to move quickly to get a ballpark done because the Oakland Coliseum "is well past its useful life."
This also comes just one day after Bally's, who operates the Tropicana site, released a FAQ for their employees. One of the questions they answered was how long it would take to build a new ballpark once the plans are finalized.
Their response: "A new casino hotel resort and baseball park would take several years to design, develop, and build."
Oakland and Las Vegas could be on parallel timeline paths.
It's also worth noting that Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting that the number that the state and county are ready to offer in a ballpark deal with the A's currently sits at $320 million, leaving a $75 million gap.
Akers is also reporting that the long-awaited bill "is now tracking to be introduced next week."
Once the bill is introduced, we will have our answers to how far apart the A's and Las Vegas truly are, and what other holdups may present themselves. There are just 20 days left in the Nevada legislative period.