Despite protests and political efforts both in Oakland and Arlington, where MLB owners are meeting this week, the relocation of the A’s to Las Vegas is set to become official on Thursday.
While nearly every pro team relocation is fraught with division and hard feelings, the situation surrounding the A’s takes that dynamic to a new level.
After nearly two decades of unsuccessful attempts to develop a successor facility to the Oakland Coliseum in the Bay Area, the club is now heading to what will be MLB’s smallest market — despite Las Vegas’ current status as a sports boomtown.
The $380 million in public funds toward a proposed $1.5 billion ballpark project along the Las Vegas Strip also remains the subject of a potential referendum by an education advocacy group. Questions also remain on where the A’s will play during the 2025-27 seasons, and union leaders have been critical of the planned move.
Approval of the relocation requires support from at least 23 of 30 team owners, a threshold expected to be cleared easily.
Fisher Meets With Protestors
On Tuesday, typically reclusive A’s owner John Fisher made the unusual step of meeting with a trio of protestors who traveled to Oakland to plead their case for the team to stay in Oakland.
Fisher was said to have been polite with the fans, but made it clear that the nearly two decades of unsuccessful stadium development efforts in California had to come to an end.
“It’s been a lot worse for me than you,” Fisher told the fans.
