A’s Pursue Oakland, Vegas Projects Amid Election Upheaval

The Oakland A’s remain in discussions for a new ballpark in both their home city and Las Vegas, but their negotiation partners are changing. 

“I know [team president Dave Kaval’s] working tirelessly in both spots,” said A’s general manager David Forst. “We’re just looking forward to having a new ballpark somewhere.”

• Last month, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said that a new stadium in Oakland “just doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.”
• He later partially modulated his outlook, saying, “We’re in a stadium situation that’s really not tenable. I mean, we need to do something to alter the situation.”

Oakland is waiting to see how much funding it receives from the Department of Transportation and other sources to help cover infrastructure costs related to a potential $12 billion development at Howard Terminal.

Elections Have Consequences

Though the A’s are unlikely to strike a deal with Oakland before mayor Libby Schaaf leaves office, she is projected to be replaced by Loren Taylor, who also supports the project.

Both Taylor and runner-up Sheng Thao abandoned city council seats to run for mayor.

Meanwhile, the Nevada governor’s race remained too close to call with incumbent Steve Sisolak trailing Joe Lombardo with 77% of the vote counted.

Sisolak has told Kaval and Manfred that there is little appetite in Nevada to offer public funds for an MLB ballpark, which could dampen the A’s prospects of moving there.