Oakland A’s Scouting Bally’s Site for Stadium

The Oakland A’s are still in talks with their hometown on a new stadium, but are also drawing up plans to flee to Sin City.

The team is reportedly eyeing the site of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The 35-acre parcel is currently leased by Tropicana owner Bally’s, which would have to approve any bid made by the A’s.

Major League Baseball has endorsed the A’s exploring new markets for relocation.  

The team is also looking into a golf course at Wynn Resorts. It had explored land owned by Caesars Entertainment, but that possibility has reportedly been ruled out.

• Bally’s pays $10.5 million per year on a 50-year deal with Gaming and Leisure Properties to occupy the land.
• A move to that site would require a public-private partnership such as the one that helped fund the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders left Oakland in 2020.
• The A’s said previously they could build a $1 billion ballpark in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, a plan that would keep the A’s in Oakland made progress in October when the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve county funding for a $12 billion project to build a new stadium and develop the surrounding area.

County supervisor Nate Miley said he expects the situation to resolve in the next six months. A key next step is for the city to certify an environmental impact report.