LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Major League Baseball team owners voted unanimously Thursday morning to approve the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas.
“I want to express my gratitude to the owners and Commissioner for their thoughtful deliberation and positive votes in favor of our relocation to Las Vegas,” said John Fisher, Oakland Athletics managing partner and owner. “Today marks a significant moment for our franchise, and it’s met with mixed emotions – sadness for this change and excitement for our future.”
The vote comes around six months after the A’s reached a tentative agreement for a new stadium in Las Vegas after being unable to reach a deal for one in Oakland. Fans of the team tried to persuade the team owners, who were meeting in Texas, to vote against the move.
Fisher said sincere efforts were made to keep the team in Oakland but it didn’t work out. “The storied history of our franchise includes three cities over the past century,” he said.
Earlier this year, the Oakland Athletics, who have suffered low turnout at games, announced a deal was reached to build a new stadium on the current site of the Tropicana hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Nevada lawmakers even approved $1.5 billion for the ballpark.
The Oakland A’s will play their 2024 season at the Oakland Coliseum and are working with the MLB to evaluate options for interim play in the following seasons. Fisher said the team expects to open the new ballpark in Las Vegas for the 2028 season.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo said the new ballpark and its construction is expected to create more than 30,000 new jobs.
This relocation will bring thousands of new jobs to our state, while also generating historic economic development and providing a return on public investment for the direct benefit of Nevada taxpayers. Las Vegas has proven itself as a sports town, and we’re ready to play ball.”
Gov. Joe Lombardo
