The Oakland Athletics are scheduled to relocate to Las Vegas, Nevada, following a unanimous vote by Major League Baseball owners in November 2023. The franchise plans to construct a $1.5 billion, 33,000-seat retractable-roof stadium on the current site of the Tropicana Las Vegas, with an anticipated opening for the 2028 MLB season.
Stadium Development and Funding
The project is a public-private partnership. According to the Nevada Governor’s Office, the state legislature approved up to $380 million in public financing through Senate Bill 1, which was signed into law by Governor Joe Lombardo in June 2023. The remaining costs are to be covered by the team’s ownership, led by John Fisher.
The stadium will occupy nine acres of the 35-acre site currently held by Bally’s Corporation. The Tropicana resort officially closed its doors in April 2024 to clear the land for the project, marking the end of a 67-year history for the hotel-casino.
Transition Timeline and Temporary Home
The Athletics completed their final season at the Oakland Coliseum in September 2024. As the new Las Vegas stadium remains under construction, the team will play their home games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California, from 2025 through 2027.
This temporary arrangement is a partnership with the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. The team will maintain the "Athletics" name during this transition period but will drop the geographic identifier "Oakland" from their branding.
Economic and Infrastructure Impact
The move represents a significant shift in the professional sports landscape for Southern Nevada. The Las Vegas Stadium Authority is tasked with overseeing the development, which officials project will create thousands of construction and permanent jobs.
The stadium site sits near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue. Local transit officials have noted that the location will require significant traffic management planning, given its proximity to the existing Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, and the T-Mobile Arena.
Key Facts About the Relocation
- Final Year in Oakland: 2024
- Interim Home: Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento (2025–2027)
- Projected Las Vegas Opening: 2028
- Public Funding Cap: $380 million
- Stadium Capacity: 33,000 seats
The transition marks the first time an MLB franchise has relocated since the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, D.C., to become the Nationals in 2005.
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