The Oakland A’s attempt to relocate to Las Vegas just went into extra innings.
On Wednesday, the Nevada Senate — whose regular legislative period ended Monday — held the first day of a special session called by Gov. Joe Lombardo to consider a bill that would provide $380 million in funding toward a new ballpark.
The senate — which requires a simple majority to pass a bill on to the state Assembly — appears split.
Some senators were excited by the economic opportunities an MLB team could bring, while others were dismayed that they were being asked to subsidize this project while issues such as education and mental health were put on the back burner.
The economic risks to the state and Clark County were a contentious issue throughout the hearing. During one tense exchange, A’s president Dave Kaval repeatedly dodged a question from Sen. Fabian Doñate on whether the team would commit to paying the state’s live entertainment tax.
The bill was identical to one introduced in the regular session, but lawmakers reportedly viewed proposed amendments to the legislation for the first time on Thursday. The senate convened briefly on Thursday before adjourning until Monday.
Wednesday was also the second time that legislators heard comments from the public. Steve Pastorino, the A’s director of corporate partnerships from 2014 to 2017 and a Nevada resident, spoke against the project, warning the legislature, “Don’t trust Dave Kaval.”
