A’s Reach Agreement for Potential $1.5 Billion 30,000 Seat Stadium on the Grounds of the Tropicana Hotel in Vegas

The Oakland Athletics have agreed to build a $1.5 billion stadium on the site of the Tropicana hotel along the Las Vegas Strip.

Bally’s and Gaming & Leisure Properties made the announcement on Monday for a 30,000-seat stadium on the 35-acre site.

The project is expected to cost about $1.5 billion, and the A’s are seeking nearly $400 million in public support from the Nevada Legislature, which could vote on a proposal this week.

Meanwhile, Oakland, California – one of the 50 largest cities in the United States – looks set to lose its last “Big Four” sports franchise in seven years once the move is completed in 2027.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao blasted the A’s for the move after years of working with the organization to try and keep the team on the east side of San Francisco Bay.

The hotel sits on a 35-acre site that will now be used for a $1.5 billion, 30,000-seat stadium

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao condemned A’s for moving after years of working with the organization

“I am deeply disappointed that the A’s have chosen not to negotiate with the City of Oakland as a true partner in a manner that respects the long relationship between the fans, the city and the team,” Thao said in a statement.

Still, it’s clear to me that the A’s have no intention of staying in Oakland and have simply used this process to try and get a better deal out of Las Vegas. I’m not interested in continuing to play that game – the fans and our residents deserve better.’

A statement from the A’s appears to claim that they tried to stay in Oakland, but a deal could not be reached.

“For more than 20 years, the A’s have focused on securing a new home for the club and have invested unprecedented time and resources over the past six years to build a baseball field in Oakland,” the team’s statement said. .

“Even with the support of fans, city, county and state leaders, and by the wider community, the process of building a new ballpark in Oakland has made little progress for some time. We have made a strong and sincere effort to stay here.

“We recognize that this is very difficult to hear. We are disappointed that we were unable to realize our shared vision of a waterfront ballpark.

“As we shift our focus to Vegas, we will continue to share details about next steps.”

The new agreement is a scaled-down proposal, but the location is a shorter walking distance for fans staying in hotels on the south side of the Strip.

The Athletics began playing at the Oakland Coliseum in 1968 after moving from Kansas City

But starting in the 2000s, the Colosseum began to show serious signs of its age

Since the 2000s, the A’s have also failed to win an AL Pennant or come close to winning a World Series

“We are excited about the potential to bring Major League Baseball to this iconic location,” A’s president Dave Kaval said in a statement.

“We are excited to partner with Bally’s and GLPI, and look forward to finalizing plans to bring athletics to Southern Nevada.”

Kaval has said he hopes to break ground on a new ballpark next year and open the venue in time for the 2027 season.

The A’s have a lease at Oakland Coliseum through 2024, and they can play the 2025 and ’26 seasons at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of their Triple-A affiliated Aviators.

Opened in 1957, the Tropicana drew A-listers like Sammy Davis Jr. in its heyday. Now overshadowed by nearby mega-resorts like the MGM Grand, New York-New York, and Mandalay Bay, the Trop will soon likely suffer the fate of so many other historic Las Vegas hotels that are no longer there.

The Tropicana has been a historic staple of the world-famous Las Vegas strip since the 1960s

Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher hold hands as they leave the Tropicana Night Club

Like most hotels and casinos in Vegas, Tropicana offers a wide variety of games to gamble on

In recent years, however, it has been eclipsed by luxury resorts such as the MGM Grand

The Mandalay Bay Hotel has also become one of the most popular attractions on the strip

“We are honored to have been selected to partner with the Oakland Athletics on this monumental step to help bring Major League Baseball to the great city of Las Vegas, and to be a part of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a professional baseball team that a short walk from the Las Vegas Strip,” Bally’s president George Papanier said in a statement.

“The Tropicana has been a Las Vegas landmark for generations and this development will enhance this iconic place for generations to come.”

Despite the obvious excitement from those in Vegas, news of the move has received a highly anticipated reaction of misfortune from more than just Mayor Thao.

A’s legend Reggie Jackson also recently expressed his feelings of obvious anger at the situation.

“The city, I thought, really had to do something. Save the A’s,” Jackson said Sportico.

“You lost the Warriors. You lost the Raiders. What’s the matter with you? Don’t you see that coming? The fans don’t deserve that… I blame the people running the deal. You must keep the team for the sake of the city. They lost all three.’

Fans have gathered outside the Oakland Coliseum to protest the move to Las Vegas

Many brought handmade signs urging owner John Fisher to sell the MLB franchise

They also chanted ‘Sell the team!’ and “Stay in Oakland!” before and during different games

Athletics fans have also mixed “Fisher sucks” chants during games this season

Golden State left for San Francisco’s Chase Center in 2019, while the Raiders packed up and moved to Sin City in 2020.

Fans who showed up at the ballpark have also made their feelings clear by protesting outside the stadium, bringing home-made signs and shirts calling for ownership to sell the team.

Others launched a direct attack on owner John Fisher, shouting from the stands, “Fisher sucks.”

“Obviously they have every right to do what they want and wear the T-shirts they want, to say what they want, because they paid for their ticket,” said A’s second baseman Tony Kemp. “So yeah, it’s a shame it’s come to this.”