A Requests for More Away Games Outside of Vegas Compared to Usual Home Matchups
In an interesting twist in their 30-year non-relocation agreement with Vegas, the Oakland Athletics are pushing for the right to play up to eight of their home games annually outside of their proposed baseball stadium.
This figure is significantly higher than the three "neutral-site home games" agreed upon by other Major League Baseball teams during similar contract negotiations to construct the most recent stadiums in Atlanta, Miami, and Arlington, Texas.
This demand may result in losses of up to $4 million in extra taxes for Las Vegas/Clark County and approximately $75 million in added spending per year, as detailed in a report by The Nevada Independent.
A's President David Kaval assures The Nevada Independent that hosting these eight games away from Vegas is essential to help the new team grow in terms of player acquisition and sponsorships.
Disturbing Ball
When members of the Nevada Legislature voted to contribute $380 million towards the construction of an A's Vegas stadium last June, they were informed by Applied Analysis, an economic impact analysis firm based in Vegas, that the stadium would draw about 405,000 visitors to the strip annually, generate additional tax revenue worth $36.5 million, and contribute $900 million to the economy.
These calculations were made under the assumption that the A's would play 81 home games at the stadium.
So far, the team has not proposed any form of compensation for the lost revenue, but Kaval tells The Nevada Independent that other events, such as concerts, could potentially cover the financial gap during their time away from Las Vegas.
According to The Nevada Independent, ongoing negotiations are taking place between the club and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, the organization that manages and oversees both Allegiant Stadium and the planned Athletics ballpark, on the specifics of the relocation agreement, particularly the number of "neutral-site home games."
The Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board is expected to vote on whether to approve the agreement next month.
The Athletics have promised to play in Sacramento for three years before moving to their new stadium in Vegas in 2028. However, some skeptics, including the blogger for Vital Vegas, question whether the stadium will ever materialize given the apparent lack of funding.
