• Loading stock data...
Saturday, October 18, 2025

A’s Double Down on Vegas: Stadium Updates, New Hires, Extensions

Skepticism has long surrounded the A’s and their planned relocation to Las Vegas, but a set of moves seeks to address that, both on and off the field. 

Athletics

The surprising A’s have made a series of significant moves this week to establish themselves further in their forthcoming Las Vegas home, including hiring a former skeptic as team president, releasing a new set of stadium renderings, and locking up another key player. 

The efforts arrived as the team Friday began taking ticket deposits for a planned $1.75 billion ballpark along the famed Las Vegas Strip that is due to open in 2028. 

Leadership Shuffle

The A’s named former Raiders president Marc Badain to the same position with the MLB club, succeeding Dave Kaval, who left at the end of last year, and interim president Sandy Dean, who now moves to a vice chairman role. Badain previously spent 30 years with the Raiders, helping lead the NFL team’s similar relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas, before being pushed out in 2021 amid a series of alleged financial irregularities. Since then, Badain has been involved with Oak View Group in efforts to bring an NBA-ready arena to Nevada.

Perhaps most notable regarding the A’s, Badain previously conveyed sizable doubt about MLB’s likelihood of success in Las Vegas.

“I think it’s a little more challenging,” Badain said in 2023 at a conference regarding MLB’s prospects for success in the market. “The economics of baseball are very different than the other three sports. Regional sports television comes into play here. This is not a huge market for that. And you’re going to have to sell 2.5 million tickets. That’s not easy.”

Now, Badain is offering a somewhat different sentiment.

“The challenges that MLB has versus what [the] NFL has are pretty well documented,” Badain told The Athletic. “You start [addressing that] with the stadium, and then you start with an incredible design, and you start with a great product and a great experience. I have no doubt we’ll be able to achieve that here.”

New-Look Venue

The A’s, meanwhile, released a new set of renderings regarding the Las Vegas ballpark, addressing a series of critical missing pieces in prior drawings, including bullpens, a batter’s eye, and luxury seating. The enclosed stadium design is continuing with the unusual “spherical armadillo” concept first unveiled last year.

“It freed us up from some of the constraints that you might typically have within a ballpark, both in seating and environments,” HNTB’s Emily Louchart, one of the stadium designers, said in a presentation Thursday to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority. 

Another Big Signing

The A’s have also signed outfielder Lawrence Butler to a seven-year, $65.5 million contract extension, according to multiple reports, with the 24-year-old seen as a long-term cornerstone for the team. 

The deal, the third-largest guarantee in franchise history, is the latest in a series of offseason pacts for the A’s, showing a heightened aggressiveness from the club. Other recent deals include a three-year, $67 million contract for pitcher Luis Severino and a five-year, $60 million extension for designated hitter Brent Rooker

Some of that activity likely owes to pressure from the MLB Players Association regarding the use of revenue-sharing funds. The A’s now have a projected luxury-tax payroll of $106.7 million for the 2025 season, well above the comparable $80.4 million figure from last year.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
Hansi Flick

Barcelona Players, Coach ‘Not Happy’ About Miami Game

La Liga is on the verge of relocating a December match.
Dave Checketts

Ex-Knicks President: When David Stern Accused Me of Skirting Cap

The Knicks walked away clean when accused of cap circumvention in the 1990s.
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Semaj Morgan (0) makes a catch for a first down in the first half against the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Michigan Board Publicly Opposes Big Ten Investment Proposal

“The Big Ten does not need to be sold to save college sports.”

Featured Today

May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive
October 10, 2025

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.

For Yankees, It May Be ‘Business As Usual,’ but Title Drought Lingers

GM Brian Cashman says a salary cap is not at the forefront of his mind.
October 13, 2025

RAJ Sports Withdraws Lawsuit Over Trail Blazers Stake

RAJ Sports had sued the Cherng family, owner of Panda Express.
Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Mercedes driver George Russell (63) and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (12) celebrate their first and third place at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
October 15, 2025

Mercedes F1 Team Rides With Russell, Antonelli Despite Verstappen Link

Russell took the Formula One seat at Mercedes in 2021.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
October 13, 2025

Titans Turnover: Brian Callahan Firing Adds to Pattern of Instability

Tennessee fired coach Brian Callahan six games into his second season.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) throws as quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on during rookie minicamp May 9, 2025, in Berea.
October 9, 2025

Browns Paying $41.6M to 8 QBs, but Only 2 Are on Their..

Cleveland traded Joe Flacco to the Bengals this week.
October 9, 2025

The Yankees’ $319M Roster Flopped. Now Comes the Hard Part: 2026

The MLB club’s current contracts limit its flexibility somewhat for next year.
October 6, 2025

Connor McDavid Signs Short-Term Deal, Eyeing Oilers’ Cup Window

The three-time Most Valuable Player signs for below his market value.