Nevada Governor Could Derail Possible A’s Move to Las Vegas

Throughout the Oakland A’s quest for a new stadium, it has been presumed that Las Vegas would happily welcome the team. A recent report called that notion into question.

The team could require public funding in the neighborhood of $275 million for a roughly $1 billion new stadium – something that Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak is reportedly unsure about, per the New York Post. 

• Sisolak, facing a potentially challenging reelection battle in November, is reportedly wary of inciting a backlash. He pushed back on the notion that he is blocking the team from moving.
• MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reportedly wants to maintain a precedent of public funding for new stadiums.
• The Texas Rangers secured $500 million for a new ballpark in 2020, and the Atlanta Braves took in $300 million for their Cobb County stadium, which opened in 2017.

The team still faces challenges to a proposed $12 billion project in Oakland, including multiple lawsuits, the need to redesignate waterfront areas to not be exclusively for port use, and a deal to recover funds through claiming a portion of city taxes related to the development.

The MGM Factor

MGM Resorts, which owns nearly 40% of Vegas hotel rooms through brands such as Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and Luxor, may reportedly have reservations about a new baseball stadium.

MGM only warmed up to the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium, which opened in 2020 after the team moved from Oakland, after being convinced that the team would be a major tourist draw, according to the New York Post. The stadium received $750 million in public funds, supported in part by a $2-a-night hotel tax.

MGM has not made any public statements regarding their position on either stadium.