According to reports, MLB’s Oakland Athletics is making a big move to raise a $1 billion domed stadium on the Las Vegas strip. Currently, they are in talks with multiple site owners, and if everything goes well as planned, the stadium construction could materialize.
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In recent years, Vegas has emerged as a prime destination for professional sports teams. The NFL’s Raiders call the city home now, while the Golden Knights of the NHL have also seen success therein.
The A’s are thought to be looking to follow the Raiders from Oakland to Vegas and are reported to be in talks with multiple site owners in the city while also looking to build a new domed stadium which, according to sports business journalist Mick Akers, would cost $1 billion.
The MLB franchise is reported as having narrowed its search down to Tropicana and the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. However, they remain focused on constructing a ballpark at the Tropicana venue.
Despite all of this, there are questions over whether the Athletics actually want to leave Oakland, with suggestions they could be playing the two cities against each other for leverage.
Should they go ahead with plans for a $1bn stadium, it will seat around 30,000 fans.
It is looking more and more like the A’s won’t be staying in Oakland.
The Oakland Athletics will have their relocation fee waived if they decide to move to Las Vegas, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says 2023 is a big year when it comes to the future of the franchise.
The A’s have played at the Coliseum since 1968 and their lease expires after the 2024 season. After withdrawing plans for ballparks in Fremont and San Jose, the team announced in November 2018 it had found a waterfront location for a new ballpark at Howard Terminal, close to the Jack London Square neighborhood.
But the city of Oakland missed a key October deadline for finalizing an agreement with the A’s on the $12 billion project. The A’s also have been exploring a move to Las Vegas.
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