Governor of Nevada Approves Athletics' Stadium Legislation
Recently, Nevada's Governor, Joe Lombardo, signed Senate Bill 1, authorizing $380 million from the public for building a $1.5 billion baseball stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. This final step removes only one obstacle: the acceptance from major-league owners, which seems almost guaranteed. The previous steps included the approval of both state houses for the funding.
Earlier, the Oakland Athletics were only a couple of minor hurdles away from being officially relocated to Las Vegas. Lombardo, who sponsored this bill, is now the one who needs to sign it, and the owners are already fed up with the Oakland situation.
On Wednesday, the Assembly approved the bill with a 25-15 vote after the Senate's 13-8 approval on Tuesday. The legislation underwent multiple changes to secure enough votes, including promises from the Athletics to provide $2 million annually in community benefits and an amendment about paid family and medical leave.
This new stadium, accommodating 30,000 spectators with a retractable roof, is anticipated to be ready in 2028. The Athletics will contribute the rest of the $1.5 billion cost, along with any additional expenses.
Location and Plan
The new stadium's construction will demand the demolition of a 66-year-old casino resort, the Tropicana, on the Las Vegas Strip. As part of the agreement, Bally's Corporation, the site's owner, will provide the land to the team for free. Then, the land will be transferred to a public agency to avoid property tax payments. The agency will rent the land to the team at no cost.
The Athletics' existing lease at the Oakland Coliseum will expire at the end of the 2024 season. They will then temporarily share a field with their Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators, until their new stadium is built. The Summerlin Ballpark, with a capacity of 10,000 seats, has registered an average attendance of 9,137 spectators per game this season despite the team's poor performance.
The Oakland Athletics have been struggling this season, ranking as one of the worst teams in major league history with only 19 wins and 50 losses. They are clinging to their dismal record, barely surpassing the 1939 St. Louis Browns, who had 43 wins and 111 losses.
The last instance of an MLB baseball team relocating was in 2004 when the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, D.C., to play at a temporary venue for three seasons while their new ballpark was under construction.
