Arr! The MLB scallywags grant the A's the freedom to set sail for Las Vegas, partin' ways with Oakland.
2023-11-16
Arr, ye scurvy MLB owners be agreein' on Thursday to let them bilge rats, the Athletics, sail from Oakland to Las Vegas! Now Sin City be havin' another ship o' professional sportswear.
Las Vegas will be getting a new professional sports team as Major League Baseball approved the Athletics' move from Oakland to Sin City. The vote, which took place in Texas, was unanimously approved. The A's will be the first team to relocate since the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, D.C. in 2005.However, there are still some hurdles to overcome before the team can start playing. The new Las Vegas ballpark is not expected to be finished before 2027, and the A's lease with their current stadium in Oakland ends after the 2024 season. It is unclear where the team will play during those two seasons before officially moving to Las Vegas.
The team announced in April that they purchased land in Las Vegas, but later replaced that location with a deal with Bally's Gaming & Leisure Properties to build a stadium on the Tropicana hotel site. The state of Nevada has approved public financing for a $1.5 billion, 30,000-seat ballpark with a retractable roof.
Baseball has had a presence in Las Vegas in the past. The Las Vegas Wranglers and the Las Vegas Aviators were both minor league baseball teams that played in the city. The Aviators currently play at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin South.
Despite the move, the Athletics' last season in Oakland saw protests from fans. The team finished with a record of 50-112 and averaged 10,276 attendees per game, well below the MLB average.