In a much-anticipated decision, MLB team owners voted unanimously to allow the Oakland Athletics to relocate to Las Vegas.
The move comes after more than two decades of failed attempts by the Athletics to secure a new stadium in Oakland.
Despite concerns about the team’s immediate future and stadium plans, the proposal received unanimous approval from team owners.
The Oakland Athletics have been unanimously approved by owners for relocation to Las Vegas, per multiple sources. pic.twitter.com/wzIrF6WF3O
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 16, 2023
However, potential legal hurdles loom large, with a teachers union in Nevada filing legal challenges against the $380 million committed by the state for the construction of a $1.5 billion stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.
While these challenges could still thwart the move, gaining approval from MLB owners marks a significant step towards Oakland losing its last major men’s professional sports team.
Before the vote, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao expressed disappointment, but stated “we do not see this as the end of the road.”
Thao also stressed the city’s commitment to keeping the Athletics branding and name in Oakland, asserting that they will continue to pursue expansion opportunities.
The A’s lease with the Oakland Coliseum expires after the 2024 season, and the team has yet to finalize plans for their interim home before the Las Vegas stadium’s completion in 2028.
The decision to move to Las Vegas was made in April 2023, following the team’s announcement in 2021 to consider stadium deals in both Oakland and Las Vegas.
Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that MLB would waive the estimated $300 million relocation fee.
The move has been met with immediate and consistent backlash from A’s fans, with chants of “sell the team” directed at owner John Fisher becoming a regular occurrence at home games.
A June “reverse boycott” saw over 27,000 fans urging Fisher to sell. In a recent letter to half the MLB owners, Mayor Thao revealed that the city had secured $928 million in funding for a stadium and surrounding development.
The Athletics move raises concerns beyond the lack of a home for three seasons. Leaving for a smaller media market and remaining a revenue-sharing recipient are points of contention.
The new Las Vegas stadium, located at the old Tropicana hotel site, is slated to be built on a 9-acre parcel, one of the smallest in MLB … The absence of plans for a dome or retractable roof to combat summer heat further raises questions.
Despite these concerns, the vote received unwavering support after the league’s relocation committee endorsed it.
The uncertainty surrounding the Athletics’ future has persisted since 2001, with various stadium plans in Oakland falling through and legal obstacles hindering progress.
Meanwhile, the A’s must finalize plans for the construction of a 33,000-seat stadium in Las Vegas, the smallest in MLB by nearly 2,000 seats.
What do you think about the A’s (most likely) moving to Vegas???