Oakland A’s Relocation to Las Vegas Still Faces Hurdles Despite MLB Approval

LAS VEGAS – Following the news Thursday that Major League Baseball owners voted 30-to-0 to approve the planned relocation of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas, a number of issues remain unsolved.

First, the A’s will need a place to play following the 2024 season. The team has a lease to play in Oakland at the aging Coliseum through next baseball season, but it will need a venue for the following three seasons before the Las Vegas Strip ballpark is finished.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed that during a press conference in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday.

“We’re exploring a variety of alternatives, including staying in the (Oakland) Coliseum for the remaining years during the interim,” Manfred said.

Other locations that have been mentioned include Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin and the minor league stadium in Reno.

We also don’t know exactly when the Tropicana Las Vegas resort will close. That will have to be razed to make way for the planned $1.5 billion ballpark that the A’s want to build at the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue.

Construction on the ballpark is likely to begin in early 2025.

In addition to these hurdles, the A’s will also need to finalize a development agreement with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority. That agreement will outline the terms of the A’s lease of the new ballpark, as well as the team’s financial obligations.

Despite these challenges, A’s owner John Fisher is confident that the team will be playing in Las Vegas in time for the 2028 season.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to bring Major League Baseball to Las Vegas,” Fisher said. “We think it’s going to be a great thing for the city and for the team.”

The A’s relocation to Las Vegas is a major event for the team, the city of Oakland, and the Major League Baseball landscape. The team’s fate is now out of the hands of Oakland officials and fans, and it is up to the A’s and MLB to work out the details of the move.

Credits: KTNV