One of the more interesting off-the-field storylines during the early portion of the MLB season is the future of the Oakland Athletics. The A’s have called the Bay Area home since 1968 but have been eyeing a new stadium for years now with their lease at the 55-year-old RingCentral Stadium set to expire after the 2024 season. A’s officials have been communicating with partners in Las Vegas for a handful of years now and are progressing with a narrowed focus on five potential sites for a new venue. In fact, according to reports, one of those sites will be integrated with a new resort and casino.
Below, SBS takes a deeper dive into this story, what it means for the future of Las Vegas and also for gaming in the city.
According to a report earlier this week from the Sports Business Journal and also FanSided, the A’s are making steady progress on new stadium talks – be it in Vegas or in Oakland. An announcement is likely coming in the next two to four weeks regarding a final site that integrates with a casino in Las Vegas, nearly a year after Major League Baseball instructed the A’s to explore relocating to another city. This process has been ongoing for the A’s in case their proposal for a new Oakland ballpark falls through due to lack of support from the local government in the Bay Area.
However, it would also look like the A’s are making an effort to stay in Oakland too but they are running into various obstacles. Per the Sports Business Journal report, there are still several hurdles to clear here for the A’s in trying to secure funding for the $12 billion ballpark proposal. The project, called the Howard Terminal, also includes residential and commercial development at the waterfront site.
There also have been three different lawsuits filed against the A’s that are all similar in that they all focus on rail and maritime safety risks at the proposed 55-acre site in Oakland. Moreover, fans of the A’s in Oakland have not been showing up to support their team with only 17,503 appearing at their home opener, their lowest home opener attendance in more than 30 years. With the team’s future uncertain, many supporters have become flustered with the tactics shown by A’s management.
According to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal last Wednesday, some senior A’s officials were in Las Vegas for additional meetings regarding the future of the team. Owner John Fisher, President Dave Kaval and other high-ranking A’s officials were in Sin City for meetings with landowners as the MLB club continued to pursue a new domed stadium in Southern Nevada. In the same article from the LVRJ, the small crowds in Oakland combined with these high-ranking A’s dignitaries in Vegas has led many to speculate that the Coliseum situation has become unmanageable. Though there has been nothing concrete yet when it comes to a confirmed deal in Southern Nevada, the A’s have already seen what a change moving from the Bay Area to Vegas looks like. This is due to watching their former Coliseum roommates, the Raiders, making the move in 2020.
In a report from KTNV in Vegas, the Raiders moving to Southern Nevada is expected to eventually generate an economic benefit of $620 million annually. Though the home of the Raiders cost nearly $2 billion, it will eventually pay dividends for those in the Silver State. Could this be the case for the A’s in the future? Perhaps, especially if they are able to integrate all of the casino and gaming avenues that Las Vegas offers.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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