The Oakland Athletics’ long-awaited decision on their future rests with Major League Baseball owners this week.

The owners are scheduled to vote on the team’s proposed relocation to Las Vegas during their annual meetings, which began Tuesday and end Thursday in Arlington, Texas. The A’s need at least 75 percent of the 30 owners to approve their move to Southern Nevada.

Commissioner Rob Manfred is expected to speak with the media Thursday morning, when the results of the vote are likely to be announced.

The A’s have been seeking a new ballpark in the Bay Area for years, but their efforts have been unsuccessful. In 2021, Manfred gave the A’s permission to explore relocation options, and the team has since focused its efforts on Las Vegas.

The A’s have proposed building a $1.5 billion, 33,000-seat ballpark on 9 acres of the Tropicana site in Las Vegas. The team has also secured $380 million in public funding from the state of Nevada.

Oakland officials and fans have been urging the A’s to stay in Oakland, but it appears that the team’s fate is out of their hands.

If the A’s are approved for relocation, they would still need to enter into several agreements with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, including a development agreement, a non-relocation agreement, a community benefits agreement, and a lease agreement.

The A’s would also need to find a temporary home to play in while their new ballpark is being built. The team has three options:

• Play at their Triple-A affiliate’s ballpark in Las Vegas.
• Extend their lease with Oakland at the Coliseum.
• Share Oracle Park with the San Francisco Giants.

The decision on where to play will likely be influenced by MLB and the players association.

The A’s are currently locked in to play at Oakland Coliseum for the 2024 season. Their future home after that is still uncertain.

The vote on the A’s relocation is a significant moment for the team, the city of Oakland, and the Major League Baseball landscape.

Credits: Review Journal