Oakland Athletics Readying for Move to Las Vegas
The Oakland Athletics announced on Thursday that the franchise purchased land in Las Vegas that would serve as the home for a new ballpark for the team.
The Athletics released a statement through their web site.
"We know this is a really difficult day for our fans in Oakland and the Oakland community,” team president Dave Kaval told MLB.com. “We put an incredible six-year effort into trying to get this waterfront vision for a stadium approved. At the end of the day, the progress has not been fast enough. We're still maybe seven or eight years away from being even able to open a stadium [in Oakland] with the lawsuits and referendums and timing challenges."
The Las Vegas Journal-Review reported that the Athletics hope to break ground next year and, assuming the Nevada Legislature approves, hope to be ready to play for the 2027 MLB season.
A new stadium would be expected to seat 35,000 and would be down the street from Allegiant Stadium, which is the home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders were formerly in Oakland as well.
Should the Athletics move, Oakland would be without major professional sports. The Golden State Warriors moved to a new arena in San Francisco a few years ago.
Earlier this year MLB commissioner Rob Manfred weighed in on the move.
“I think [A’s owner John Fisher] wants to make the best deal to secure the future of the A’s, whether it’s in Oakland or in Las Vegas,” Manfred said. “They need a new stadium. I think that’s kind of beyond debate.”
The Athletics play in the American League West with the Texas Rangers. Assuming divisional alignments don't change, the Rangers would make two road trips to Las Vegas in the coming seasons. Texas and Oakland open a three-game series at Globe Life Field starting on Friday.
Las Vegas is also home to the Athletics' Triple-A affiliate, the Aviators. It's not clear where the Aviators would play should the A's move.
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